Page 82 of Mistaken Magic

Ishook my head. "Confused.See,Ikinda like someone else too."

Hereyes narrowed. "Keir, right?"

Ijiggled my head. "He'sbeen really nice.Ijust knowTorianhates him, and you andTorianseem to be inseparable, soIhave no clue whatI'mdoing here.Notthe social stuff, not the romance stuff, or any of it.I'mjust trying to keep up with the magical things, andI'mnot sayingIdon't want to."

"Thenwhat are you saying?" she asked, her voice almost timid.

"ThatI'ma mess, andIknowIwant to be friends.I'mnot ruling anything else out, butIdothink of you as my best friend."

"Keir'scute," she pointed out. "Kindalow-born, and his magic is pathetic..."

Ilaughed, feeling all my tension vanish as she teased me. "Yeah, and this other personI'mkinda thinking about has some insane magic."

"Torian?" she asked.

"You,"Ibreathed, the word almost without sound.

Isaw her swallow, and those glacial eyes of hers met mine.Thetip of her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, then the corners flickered back.Itwasn't a smile, but it looked like, if she was a bit less nervous, it would've been.

Herthumb slid over the back of my hand. "Idon't want to lose my new best friend."

"Meeither,"Iagreed. "I'mjust sayingI'mok with whatever this is.Friendswith hand holding.Ikinda like it when you say nice things about me.IthinkIliked when you kissed me, butIwas too shocked, you know?Basically,I'mnot ruling anything out."

"Thisisn't whyItold them to let you into the school," she told me. "Ijust need you to know that."

"Iknow.Ialso don't care,"Ipromised, reaching up to cup the side of her face. "Idon't want you to ever stop being you.Flirtyyou.Angryyou.Plant-loving you.Ilike you because you're you."

Moisturebegan to pool in her large, blue eyes. "I'mso tired of hiding everything," she mumbled. "Allthe things.Torianwarned me about how much people hateWintermagic, too.Theythink that because my magic is different from theirs,I'mevil, or pathetic, or something.Girlsturn their noses up at me, you know?AndthenMs.Rhodesmade it clearIcouldn't talk about my mom or my magic.Ijust..."Sheblinked, trying to hold back the tears. "AllI'vehad are my plants and the guys, and they're always over there whileIhave to be here.Alone!"

"Notanymore,"Iswore.

Shesurged into me, hugging me tightly. "Youdon't care about any of it.You'reso pretty, and so nice, and you barely lie at all.Youaren't scared of me, but you aren't trying to be friends becauseI'mpowerful.You'rejust..."Shepressed her face into my cheek and pulled in a breath. "You'reas lost asIam, but you act like it doesn't bother you, andIlike that."

Iwrapped my arms around her back and held her. "Thenlet's be lost together,Aspen.Bestfriends?"

"Bestfriends," she agreed.

"Usagainst the jesters?"Iadded.

Shehuffed a laugh, struggling to get it through the tears that were trying to take over. "Always."

ThenIguided her back enough thatIcould kiss her brow. "Andflirting's allowed.Justdon't laugh at me too much ifI'mstupid, ok?"

Shesniffed, then reached up to wipe at her eyes. "Igive you my word,Rain.ButifIcan flirt, then you can talk to me about boys.Justdon't laugh at me too much ifImake faces.Dowe have a deal?"

"Wedo,"Idecided.

Andthat tingling thing happened again.Itwas stronger this time than it had been withKeir, making me look up.Theair around us crackled, but there were no sparks.Myhair didn't stand on end or anything, yet it felt like the moment before a lightning strike, as if there was power just waiting to be unleashed.

Becausethere was.

"What'sthat?"Iasked, gesturing to the space around us.

"Faemagic," she explained, letting me go so she could scoot back and grab her tablet. "Powerfulagreements with the court are binding."

"Justthe court?"Iasked, lifting a brow.

Aspenmade a noise, correcting herself. "Backhome, positions on the court were decided by levels of power.Monarch, major nobility, minor nobility, courtiers, and all the way down to peasant.Moremagic meant more status.So,I'mnot talking about the nickname they gave us here atSilverOaks.I'mtalking about the fact that me,Torian, andWilderare all strong enough, magically, that when we feel strongly about an agreement, it becomes a spell."

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