Page 131 of Mistaken Magic

Shecaught my hands. "Rain,Ireally like you.Probablymore thanIshould.Idon't, however, want to own you.Iwant to hear you giggle about it.Idon't mind the idea of seeing you pressed up against some big strong guy either.Iwant to be your partner, not your owner, andIwant you to feel the same about me."

Lickingmy lips,Inodded. "Iwant to.Ijust..."Yeah, how couldIsay this without sounding like a horrible person? "Theidea of you being with someone else scares me.Whatif you like them more?Whatif you decideI'mnot as good?"

"That'snot how it works," she laughed, the sound gentle and comforting. "Rain,Ilike you just likeIenjoyPixyStix.Ialso like oranges and honey.Havingonly one would not be as much fun as having all three, right?"Sheleaned in and kissed me quickly."AndifIever like someone else,I'dtell you first.I'dtalk about it, share it with you, and include you.That'show fae do things."

"Soyou want another girlfriend too?"Iasked, feeling a whole new form of anxiety begin to build.

"No," she assured me. "Nevermind thatI'ma pariah because of my magic.Withouteven considering that most ofSilverOaksis scared of me.EvenifIwas just like everyone else here,Istill wouldn't, because none of these girls make me feel so stupid and happy.Theydon't make me like them,Rain."

"Oh."Yeah, ok, that made me feel better.

"ButIlike you," she promised, her words heavy with the truthIknew she was offering. "Ilike you because you're beautiful, sensitive, and wonderful.Ijustlike you,Rain.Enoughto be happy if you hook a guy as well.Imean, if you like both, why not enjoy both, right?"

"I'msure you'd like it more ifIwas just with you, though,"Icountered.

"No," she assured me. "Theidea of you trusting me with that?Ofletting me be a part of the rest of your life?Itmakes me feel so much more important than having you deny something because you think it's whatIwant.Isimply want to be your other half."

"Ithink you are,"Isaid softly. "Ijust don't want to be greedy."

"Begreedy," she told me. "It'sa very fae trait."Thenshe held up her phone. "Andit seemsI'mgoing to be teaching you biology, which is kinda whyIcame in.You'regoing to make at least aBon all your midterms.Youhave my wor- "

Ikissed her before she could make that promise. "Don'toverestimate my test taking abilities,Aspen.Howabout we just try to study?"

"Everynight until midterms are over," she agreed. "Withonly a little kissing to keep you from getting stressed."

Toprove her point, she kissed me again.Damn, butIliked this girl a lot.MorethanI'dever thought possible.Knowingshe wasn't mad aboutHawkejust proved how amazing she was.Andthe rest of that?I'dworry about it later.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Afterclasses onFriday,Iheaded to the study hall.Midtermsstarted next week.Theweather outside was disgusting - not quite snowing, but too solid to be rain - and the sound of it on the windows was relaxing.Ihad my tablet resting on the provided stand, charging in the available port, andIwas trying to read everythingI'dmissed inHistoryofFaeriebeforeI'dtransferred here.

Myeyes were starting to get tired when a paper cup appeared by my elbow.Iwanted to say magically, but there was a hand attached to it.Followingthat up,IfoundTorianlooking back.Hetipped his head at the chair beside me, soInodded.

"You'renot an easy girl to find," he said, turning the chair to face me. "Aspenthought you were in the library."

"Sohow'd you find me?"Iasked.

Heflicked a finger toJack. "Askedwhere the crow went.Afew girls saw him fly in here."Thenhe reached over for my schedule. "When'syour history test?"

"Tuesday,"Itold him.

"What'sMonday?" he asked.

Igroaned. "Math.TheclassIshare withAspen.Hawke'ssupposed to be helping me with that,Ithink."ThenIpaused. "Yeah, he's probably not anymore, huh?"

"Heis,"Torianassured me. "You'regoing to spend most of your day tomorrow in the atrium.Sundayas well, and every evening until you've passed your midterms."

"Andwho made this decision for me?"Iasked.

Hislips curled into a devious smile. "Well,Idid, of course.Aspenthinks better around the plants.Relaxesher.Ihave a feeling you think better whenJackisn't distracting you."

"Andyou?"BecauseIwasn't sureIliked his tone. "Doyou just think well all the time?Isit some impressive guy-talent you have?"

Hechuckled once. "No,Rain.Istudy in a perfectly silent room with nothing moving, no sound, and exactly zero distractions.Wilderlikes music.Lotsof very loud music."

Icouldn't help myself. "WhataboutHawke?"

"Yeah, he doesn't study,"Torianadmitted. "Bastardsees it and remembers it.Sowhere are the notes for your upcoming exam?" he asked.

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