Page 74 of Mistaken Magic

"Ok!"Irelented, gesturing for him to lead the way.

Becauseit wasn't thatIdidn't want to.Iwasn't mad atAspen.Myproblem wasIdidn't know how to act or what to say now.Iwasn't sure howIfelt about that kiss, and things would be super weird, but clearlyAspenhadn't said anything either.Still, the factWilderwas worried about her andTorianwas grilling her meant she needed a little backup.Aspenwas still my friend, and friends stood beside each other, soIwas going to do this.

WhenImade it to the table,Isaw the collection of sweets and fruit.Overlyaware of what was on my plate,Itook a seat directly across fromTorianandAspen.Basically, the furthest from the faeIcould get.Therewas an empty chair between me andWilder.Samething on the other side withHawke.

"Youlook clean,"Hawkeimmediately teased.

"Ismelledverybad,"Iexplained. "Ifigured that ifIdidn't get a shower, my hair would be crusty when it dried."

"Pleasetell me you're ok?"Aspenasked.

Iglanced up out of habit, and our eyes met.Shewas worried.No, terrified was a better word.Ijiggled my head in a nod, not wanting to actually say anything, becauseIwasn't sure.Thetwo of us knew she wasn't talking about me dancing too much.Shemeant the kiss, and yeah,Iwas ok.Confused, but ok.

"I'mnot in that bad shape,Ipromise,"Itold them all - which was true. "Noone danced me into the ground, let alone to death.Noone hurt me."Iglanced atAspenagain. "Ijust didn't know what to expect."

"So, saying we should have more dance parties on the weekends?"Torianasked.

"Dunno,"Isaid, shifting my attention to him. "Imade a few new friends, andKeirinvited me to eat with him too.LookslikeIhave options."

Hawkesucked in a breath. "Shedoesn't know she's pushing your buttons,Tor."

"Shedoes,"Toriansaid, watching me. "I'malso missing something, andI'mnot sure what it is."

Ijust pointed at my food. "Stilldisgusting?"

"Nomeat,"Wildersaid. "It'sweird, but not disgusting."

SoIbent and took a bite, trying hard not to care if they were watching me. "I'mkinda curious how you managed to eat in foster homes?"

"Vegetarians,"Hawkeexplained.

"Picky,"Toriansaid.

Inodded. "Andis there a reasonLiamdoesn't simply ask about that during his interviews with foster kids?"

ItwasAspenwho answered, her voice a bit softer than usual. "Faelings- the half-bloods or less - eat like you.Foundlingsare more common than you can imagine.Ithink at least half the school came from the foster system."

"Changelings, right?"Iasked.

Wildershook his head. "Wewere changelings.Faechildren slipped into the world and lost among humans.Foundlingsare those from here."

"Becausethat's not confusing at all,"Isaid.

"It'seasy," he assured me. "ChangelingsfromFaerie.FoundlingsfromEarth.Howmuch fae blood they have isn't important."

"So, you're all changelings then?"

Aroundthe table, they nodded. "Wespent different amounts of time in the system,"Hawkeexplained, "but yeah.IthinkAspenwas in the longest."

"SinceIwas five," she admitted. "Myguardian was killed, and so it made sense.Inever thought to look for a fae community."

"ButIwas looking for you,"Toriansaid. "Iknew you were out there somewhere."

Ipointed between them. "Didthe foster system name you or something?"

"No, why?"Torianasked.

"HuntandFox?You'resiblings, but don't have the same last name.Partof whyIthought you were a couple, you know."

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