Page 147 of Mistaken Magic

"I'mnot," he promised. "Imeant it whenIsaidIwant her to be a sentinel.Sheknows nothing,Liam.Absolutelynothing, but she has the skill.She'slearning, and she's almost keeping up withKeir.Oneday, if she keeps training,Rainwill be great.Iwill fucking burn a favor for that, because theHuntisn't stopping, and what else isSilverOaksabout than training my people how to survive your world?Peoplelike her?They'rethe answer."

"Likeme?"Iasked.

"Humanswho can believe,"Liamexplained. "Therearen't that many of us."

Ijust nodded. "SoI'mfreaking out for nothing?"

"No,"Liamassured me. "You'refreaking out because no one has stood with you before.Wewill.We'refamily, right?"

Damn, butIfelt those tears welling up again.Ijust nodded, not wanting to risk crying.Afamily?Thatwasn't a wordI'dever expected to use.Ihadn't even dared to hope for one.Myplans had been to figure out how to take care of myself, but hearing him say that hit me right in the heart.

"Onemore favor, though?"Iasked. "CanIhide up here untilIstop blubbering soAspendoesn't ask me what's wrong?"

Brackenmussed my hair and leaned back. "LikebadK-dramas?Liamwants to watch stupid human games."

"It'sbasketball,"Liamcorrected.

Brackenjust looked at me like, "SeewhatImean?" then grinned. "Ifyou stay, then it's two to one, andI'lleven start it over from the beginning."

"Idunno..."Isaid. "Isthere popcorn involved?"

"I'llget the caramel corn,"Liamgrumbled. "Fuckingfae!"

Brackenjust grinned at me, because that hadn't been directed at him.Whenhe sat back on the couch and patted the spot beside him,Itook it.Brackenstarted messing with the remote, staring at theTV, and asked, "So, you gonna tell me about this girlfriend you have?"

"She'sperfect,"Istarted, and thenIdidn't know where to stop.Thewhole time,Brackenlistened.WhenLiamcame back, he picked on me a little, but it was nice.Itwas comfortable.Morethan all of that, it was homey.

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Onlya few people left that weekend.Forthe most part, everyone wanted to stick around for theWinterSolsticefestival.OnMonday,AspenandIstarted getting ready early.Shehad a hot date withWilder, andIhad one withKeir.EvidentlyTorianandHawkewould be hanging out with us too.

Fromthe sounds of it, there would be a large bonfire, a lot of hot drinks, and probably a few flasks filled with a little nectar as well.Whilewe both picked out something warm and cute to wear,Aspentold me all about how the students last year had served warmed and spiced nectar, making it like mulled wine or something.Plus, the teachers wouldn't be there to stop usAPkids from drinking some of it.

Liamhad mentioned the instructors had their own celebration.Mostof our school staff - both teachers and everything else - lived in a community down the hill.I'dnever seen it, butAspenassured me that was intentional.Noneof them wanted us wandering around their homes, because teachers needed private time too, but it was still there.Tonight, the courtyard of their little townhouse-style complex would host their grown-up party.

Ours, however, would be a lot more fun.Notwithout rules, sadly.Afew mentors would be wandering around the edge, making sure no one tried to kill themselves and that the minors mostly behaved ourselves.Aspenstressed the mostly part, making it clear that was her interpretation, not theirs, butIunderstood.Nomatter what school function it was, the teachers couldn't watch every dark corner and hidden spot.Adda combination of college students and magic, and it was a recipe for them to fail.

Andfor us to have too much fun.

So, by the time the sun set, the two of us looked as cute as we could.Lipstickwasn't an option.We'dkinda kissed it off each other when deciding what to wear.Inthe end,Ihad on her shirt, she had my sweater, and we both had a couple of layers under that.Bythe time our dates arrived, it was starting to feel a little warm in our suite.

Surprisingly, they showed up together.Wilderknocked atAspen'sdoor, and a second later,Keirtapped at mine.Sincewe were both in my room because ofJack,Iopened my door.Wilderlooked over, smiled, and then moved toKeir'sside.

"So, you'll want coats,"Wildertold us. "Goingto be freezing out there, andI'mpretty sure it's snowing."

"It'strying,"Keirsaid. "Afew flakes falling, but don't plan for any snow angels."

"Thenlet's do this!"Aspensaid, pushing my coat into my arms before pulling on her own.

Therewas a steady stream of people though the building, leading down and out the back.Thefour of us joined it.Aspenhung onWilder'sarm, butKeirwrapped his around me.Thatearned him a warning look fromWilder, soAspenpoked him in the side.

"Stop.They'recute," she hissed.

Wilderjust rolled his eyes. "Yes, dear," he joked.

WhichmeantWilderwas merely being protective of his friend.Theywould've been a cute couple, though.Shewas so pale and delicate, where he was dark all over.Herhead hit right at his shoulder, but he wasn't so broad or muscular as to make her seem frail.Theguy looked like he'd been designed to complement her perfectly - the type of couple who would look good on a dance floor.

Whenwe reached the doors,Jackslipped through, flying over the heads of the people before us.Someonesquealed, shocked at the rustle of his feathers, but others laughed about it.Itseemed my bird was starting to be expected around here, andIkinda liked that.Thenwe made it outside.

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