Page 133 of Mistaken Magic

"Right..." he agreed.

"Youhave those spring-green eyes, your skin's a cooler shade of olive, and your hair is natural black.Itcould go either way, butI'mguessingSummerbecause of your magic.Wilder'sdark, but a cool tone, so moreWinter.Keir'sSummer, though.Ms.RhodesisSummer.Imean, it seems like most people areSummer."

"WhataboutBracken?"Toriancountered as we reached the atrium doors.

"Oh, that's tricky,"Iadmitted while he held them open soIcould enter first. "Iwant to saySummer, but he's got that icy hair and there's something about his eyes."

Torianpaused to letJackin. "Goodeye.Hehas a parent from each.WhataboutHawke?"

"Autumn,"Isaid without hesitation.

"Thereis noAutumnCourt,"Toriansaid. "OnlySummerandWinter.So, if you had to put him in a court, where would you place him?"

"Summer, but only because he seems permanently attached to your side."Ishrugged. "Granted,NevaehisWinter, but she'sHarper'scousin, andI'mnot sure how that works."

"SheinheritedWintermagic," he explained, "but her father was tied to theSummerCourt.Shegot her grandmother's magic, though."

"So, she'sWinter?"Iasked.

"She'sSummerhere," he said, "but inFaerie, yeah.Shewould've beenWinter.See, it wasn't uncommon to marry a member of the other court for material or political gain.Forpeasants, it made the rural villages stronger, giving them access to power in all seasons.Fornobility, which these fools like to pretend they're descended from, it decided allegiances."

"Andthe color of the magic determines which court?"Iasked.

"It'sa little more complicated than that," he admitted. "Butyes.Summermagic comes out green.Wintermagic is white.That'sdetermined by the tap it comes from, like hot or cold water from a sink."

"Whichis why you have green magic,"Irealized. "Aspen'sis white, but yours is green.Butyou're siblings?"

"Exactly," he said as he led me toward the large weeping willow.There, he sat down and gestured for me to join him. "Rain, canIask you something?"

"Sure, butImight not answer."

Henodded as if that was fair. "WhyKeir?"

Thatwas not at all whatI'dexpected. "He'smy friend."

"Hedoesn't want to be merely your friend, and we both know you're not a stupid girl.WhyKeir?" he pressed.

Iset my tablet in the grass beside me and reached over to pluck a blade. "Becausehe's nice.Heexplains things to me without making me feel stupid for asking - or like he's judging me whenIdon't know something."

"I'mnot judging you,"Toriansaid.

Ishrugged. "I'malso dating your sister, so it doesn't matter either way."

"What?"Thelook on his face was pure confusion. "No.That'snot how this is supposed to work."

"Whichthis?"Iasked, pressing my advantage.

"You," he told me. "Aspensaid you're into guys."

Ithrust out my lower lip and nodded, doing my best to look likeIwas debating that. "Yeah, guys are ok.SoisAspen, it seems.Imean,Keir'spretty hot."ThenItapped my sleeping tablet. "Incase you forgot,I'mout here to study, not get laid.Ihappen to have a willing partner up in my suite forthat."

"TheQueen'sreign," he said, getting back to my lesson, "started well enough.Forthe first century, she was considered to be one of the best rulers, and theSummerCourtflourished under her rule."

"Whathappened?"Iasked.

"Officially?Shefell in love withOberon.Theymet at aWinterSolsticecelebration.Thepair danced.Hecharmed her with glitz and glamour.Shewas a young and vain queen - most fae are vain, so you know - and she adored the attention.WhenOberondecided he should consider an heir, and thus a wife, she put herself forward.Unfortunately, marriage between the crowns isn't done.Itwould've confused the magic."

"Butisn't that what's happening now?"Iasked.

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