Page 150 of Mistaken Magic

Harpersneered at her. "Youthink you're so special?Noone cares about you,Aspen."

"Youdo,"Icountered. "Clearly, you do.Otherwise, you wouldn't spend so much time making a big deal over just how much you hate us."

"Us?" she asked. "Sayingthis..."Shewagged a finger between us. "...is a thing?"

"It'sdefinitely a thing,"Iagreed. "Aspenis my best friend, which meansIcare about her, andIdon't really like shallow little bitches picking on her."

Fromthe corner of my eye,IsawAspen'sbody relax slightly.Shehadn't tried to stop me from saying we were together, but she'd braced for it.Mywords, however, walked that fine line of truth.Iwas starting to get pretty good at this.

"Iguess you missed howKeir'sbeen chasing her, huh?"Aspenasked. "Oh, how that must hurt.Nevermind the rest.Withouttrying,Rainmanaged to get the one thing you never could: a place in the court."

Withthe intoxicating effects of the nectar coursing through me,Ijust couldn't help myself.Ireached up and patted the side ofHarper'sface in the most annoying way possible. "Keepmaking yourself look desperate, though.Itamuses us."

ThenIgrabbedAspen'sarm and we headed for the bonfire.Themoment we turned away, both of us broke out into a fit of giggles.Theshocked look onHarper'sface whenI'dpatted her like that?Ithad been worth it!Ijust loved seeing a bully realize she had no power.Thather friends had witnessed it all only made it better.

"Ican't believe you did that again!"Aspensquealed, because it was the same moveI'ddone the last timeHarpertried to give us shit.

Ipressed my face against her shoulder, still laughing. "I'mblaming the drinks!"

"Oh, you can do that any time you want," she told me. "Andgo kissKeirsince you can't kiss me."

Shegave me a little nudge, making it clear the guy in question was standing beside the fire, talking to some of his other friends.Iturned back toAspenwith a playful and overly dramatic gasp, but she shooed me his way.Yep, that was all the encouragementIneeded.

"Hey,"Isaid asIcaughtKeir'swaist, falling in beside him.

Withouteven thinking, he lifted his arm over my shoulders and pulled me against his side. "Youlook flushed," he teased. "Beenhaving fun?"

"Dancing,"Isaid. "Aspenwon't let me have more than a few songs in a row, though.YouseenJack?"

Keirpointed up. "Seehim?No.Hearhim?Often.He'sbeen flitting between the trees, probably trying to keep warm."

ButFincouldn't handle being ignored. "So, is this a thing now?" he asked.

"Definitelya thing,"Keiradmitted. "Notsure what thing, but it'sathing.Why?"

Fingrinned mischievously. "Torian'snot going to like that."

"Idon't give a fuck whatTorianlikes,"Keirassured him.

"Wait,"Iasked, looking between them. "WhydoesTorian'sopinion matter?"

"You'vebeen accepted by the court,"Fintaunted. "Thatmeans you belong to him.He'sthe king, don't you know?"

Igroaned. "Thatdoes not make me a possession,Fin.Nothow that works."

"Cutelittle girl with no magic?" he countered. "Sureit does."

"No,"Keirsaid, "it doesn't."Thenhe steered me away. "Pullyour head out of your ass,Fin, and stop being a dick."

Aswe made our way around the fire,Ijust shook my head at the idiot. "Whyis he your friend again?"Iasked.

"Notthe wordI'duse,"Keirassured me. "Suitemate, sure, but that's a favor forBracken."

Whilethat might be true forFin,Iwas pretty sure some of the other guys were his friends, though.Notlike it really mattered.Intruth, it seemed as if he enjoyed hanging out with the court more - evenwiththe crap he andToriankept giving each other.Guyfun, or something.Ithad to be.

Although, when we made it to the other side of the fire, it wasn'tHawkeandWilderwe ran into.Nope, a group of college girls all turned to smile atKeirjust a bit too sweetly.Onenoticed me and her face turned cold, but the rest only tensed a little.Alovely brunette stepped up.

"Didthe court stick you on babysitting duty?" she asked.

---