Page 125 of Mistaken Magic

"Sorry,"Ibreathed, leaning back. "Idon't know any of this stuff,Torian.I'mjust trying to figure it out, ok?"

Heslapped his hand against the next pane, working faster this time.Healso kept talking. "Whyare you here,Rain?"

"AtSilverOaks?BecauseAspensaidI'minteresting."

"No, why were you even at theSparks' to getLiam'sattention?Howdid you manage it?" he demanded, still pressing on the glass.

"BecauseIpunched a guy for grabbing my ass,"Isaid. "I'mnot about to just tolerate being groped!"

Heyanked his hand back and turned to look at me. "Doyou see how coincidental it is?Yourrecord was perfect.Justlike a fae's.Agirl in the foster system, can't settle into a home, makes decent enough grades, doesn't have any outstanding problems like assault or drugs, but she just can't settle.That'swhatwealways look like."

"Yeah,I'veheard,"Isaid softly.

"Andnow you're running around with a prince among crows.Abastard one,I'mpretty sure, but still a bird who is more than you can imagine.What.Are.You?"

"I'mnothing,"Isaid softly, taking a step back.

BecauseIdidn't need to deal with his shit.EverytimeIwas aroundTorian, it always went weird somehow.Jackhad to be done by now, but the stupid bird had gone silent.Iscanned the air for him, then my eyes moved to the trees, but finding a black bird in the middle of the night?Yeah, not likely.

Toriansimply moved to the last pane of glass. "You'renot nothing."Hepaused for a long moment, but his next words were enough to keep me from leaving. "Youdon't feel like everyone else."

"Idon't even know what that means,"Iadmitted. "AspensaysI'minteresting.YousayIfeel like something.Jackseems to thinkI'mcool enough.Idon't know how to break it to any of you, butIcan't do magic.I'mnot part fae.I'mjust a normal, ordinary human girl."

Heturned to face me one more time, scrubbing at his face. "Human,I'llgive you," he said, dropping down to sit on one of the many decorative boulders. "Ordinary, you are not.Theproblem is you're covered in darkness, and that scares the shit out of me."

"What?"Thatmade absolutely no sense.

"Doyou remember your shadow?" he asked. "That'snot the first timeI'veseen it move.Themore power around you, the more you seem to flicker.It'swhatAspennoticed, along with the plants trying to greet you.Youdon't thank us.Youunderstand deals and promises.Youhear the lies in our truths - and the evasions.Youare not ordinary."

"ButI'mnot fae,"Iinsisted.

"Weagree on that," he said again.

JustasIwas sure this conversation was going nowhere,Jackdecided it was time to return.Isighed, ready to leave, but then he dropped something before me.

"Jack!" he declared.

"Shh,"Ireminded him. "Thewhole school is sleeping, bud."

Sohe tried it softer. "Jack."Andhe nosed the thing again.

Itwas small, but it sounded like metal against his beak.Thegrass almost hid it, soIbent down to pick up whatever he had.Jackruffled his feathers excitedly, then nosed my hand, guidingme right to it.Feelingaround the grass,Ifound it.Hard, metal, and round.Liftingit up,Ifound a ring.

"Jack, did you find this?"

Caw!

Yeah, whatever that meant. "Weshould leave it so whoever lost it can find it."

ButJacklifted up his little leg.Theone with the band.WhenIdid nothing but squat down before him, he tried again, making grabby motions with his foot.Ishook my head, still unsure of what this bird wanted, so he nudged my hand, nibbled at the ring, and then did the same to my index finger.

"Oh, you want me to wear a ring like yours?"Iasked.

Torianchuckled. "Yep, he's got you trained.Nowonder he likes you.Ithink the bird has a bad case of 'I'llshow you mine if you show me yours.'"

"Funny,"Itold him before talking toJackagain. "So, you want me to try on the ring, huh?Fine, and then we'll take it to the lost and found in the morning."

Yep, that madeJackhappy.Heclicked rapidly, hopping around before me.Justto keep the peace,Ipushed the tarnished-looking ring onto the index finger of my left hand, the same side as the legJackhad banded.

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