Page 151 of Mistaken Magic

Keirgestured at her. "Rain, this isCora.Cora,Rain."

Coraturned her eyes to me. "I'manEnticer.You?Oh, that's right, you're aLegacy, aren't you?"

Isighed, her attempts to make herself look good a little too transparent. "Yeah, comes with being the human girl."

"Andshe's a friend to the wildlings,"Keircountered before moving on again.Whenwe were a few steps away, he sighed. "Sorry."

"Ex?"Iasked.

Hisjaw clenched. "Yeah."

"Haveyou slept with every girl in this school?"Iteased.

"Noteveryone," he insisted. "Imean, you,Aspen?"

"And?"Iasked.

"I'mnot that bad!" he groaned. "I'vealso known most of these girls for four years.You'vebeen here a few months.Don'teven try to compare."

Iwas laughing about that whenInoticed something in the shadows outside the fire.Movement.Thatwas what had caught my eye, but the flash of blonde hair made me keep looking.Myeyes finally landed onHarper, but who was she trying to push around?Darkhair, olive skin...WasthatTorian?

"Keir?"Iasked.

"Yeah,Isee it too," he agreed. "Leaveit alone,Rain."

"She'spissed at him becauseIjust made a fool of her,"Isaid, pulling away. "Whereare the guys?"

"Idunno," he admitted. "Gofind them andI'llgiveToriana little backup."

"Whichis a recipe for disaster,"Icountered asIturned, taking a backward step towardTorianwhile still talking toKeir. "Thelast thing she needs are both her exes ganging up on her.Youfind the court.I'llgive her a better target.Stillhave iron."

"Rain..." he tried, butIspun and headed that way.

ThemomentIleft the circle of trees,Icould hearHarper. "Youignored me forAspen.That'swhyIwas pissed.Igave you everything,Tor, so you owe me!"

"Thereis no debt," he told her. "Therewas never an agreement.Iowe you nothing you haven't already enjoyed.Theonly reason people know you is because of me.Theonly reason they ever cared about you was because of me.Imade you,Harper, andI'veignored you as much asIcan."Hestepped right into her face. "Butkeep pushing this andIcan take it all away."

"Youthink being pure makes you special?" she snapped.

"No, but you do," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Youhate being part human so much that you can't stop being angry.Nevermind the power you have - "

"Enoughto make you want me!" she insisted.

"Idon'twantpower," he told her. "Ialready have it."

Whichwas whenIreached them.Withoutslowing,Istepped right up toTorian'sside and hooked my arm around his waist.Theother went against his chest asIpressed up against him like a lover.Asif he knew whatIwas doing,Torianturned to smile down at me.

"Gettired of playing with your little toy?" he asked, smugness wrapped all around the words.

"Wereyoujealous,Torian?"Iteased, making it sound like he should have a reason to be.

Torianleaned a little closer, blatantly ignoringHarper. "Yes.I'msupposed to be the center of your attention."

"Her?"Harperasked. "You'rehooking up withher?"

Torianlaughed once. "Youhate being part human so much, and you haven't yet figured out it's the most interesting thing about you," he told her.

Andthen he did the last thingIwould have ever expected.Theguy caught the side of my face - hard - and pressed his mouth to mine.Therewas no time to think.I'dcome over here to convinceHarperthatTorianwas taken.Togive him an excuse to bow out gracefully.Instead, he was picking the kind of fightIliked, and that meantIhad to play along.

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