Page 91 of Mistaken Magic

"Sucksto be you,"Wildertold him, "because that was hot."

"Very,"Hawkebreathed, glancing over atWilder.

Wildernodded, that pair sharing some secret thought, but it didn't take a genius to figure it out.Boys!Irolled my eyes at the both of them, and went back to my own meal.Itreally was good, but so was the fae food.Sadly,Icouldn't survive well on nothing but sugar and fruit.I'deither blow up like a blimp or fade away to nothing.Possiblyboth at the same time - too much whereIdidn't want and not enough whereIdid, knowing my luck.Itwas the bane of being a girl.

"So,"Hawkeasked a little while later, "when are you going to spar against me in offense,Rain?"

"I'mdoing pretty good to not hit myself with those sticks,"Iadmitted.

Hegrinned. "Ican help you learn, you know.Youdon't have to keep running toKeir."

"FuckingKeir,"Toriansaid.

"No,"Isnapped, cutting him off. "Don'tstart that.Iwill have you knowIstand up for my friends.Rightnow, that'sAspenandKeir.Hawke'sworking his way higher.You?"Ilooked at him pointedly. "You'reacting like the same kind of brat asHarper, andI'mstill not scared of whatever mystical power you have over this school."

"Benice,Tor,"Aspenwarned.

SoTorianleaned in, dropping his elbow on the table as he looked right in my face. "Areyou fucking with my sister?"

"Nope."Ilifted my chin and dared him to keep going.

"Good.Don't," he warned. "There'sjust one little downside to your plan, though.Idon't share with family."

Wait, what?Whatthe actual fuck was he even talking about?Ijerked back, confusion taking over my face, and shook my head.AspengrabbedTorian'sarm and yanked him back, pressing him into his chair.Thespark in her eyes had just become the dangerous kind.

"Unlikeeveryone else here,Raindoesn't have a plan.She'snot chasing you,Torian, and you're going to have to get used to that.Shedoesn't need you, and from the way you're acting, she doesn't evenlikeyou.Idon't care what you think you deserve.Hasit ever crossed your fucking arrogant mind that maybeIdeserve a little something too?"

"Aspen..." he tried.

Shejust shoved at him again. "Iwill fight you for this, and it's my season."

"Minetoo," he reminded her.

"Halfyours," she corrected. "Allmine.Leavemy girlfriend alone."

"Whoa,"Wilderbreathed, leaning away a bit. "Tor, you need to back off fast.She'sgetting icy."

"Breathe,Aspen,"Hawkesaid. "He'sjust jealous."

ButTordidn't back off.Heturned to his sister and cupped her cheek. "Iwill never steal from you.Ijust wish you didn't have such good taste.AndKeir?"

"Shelikes him,"Aspensaid.

Myhead was whipping between them, trying desperately to keep up. "Pleasetell meIdidn't make some fae fuck-up?"

"You'refine,"Wilderassured me. "Thistime, it'sTorwho blew it."

"AndIstill don't know what's going on,"Iadmitted.

"Faepolitics,"Torianassured me. "Thisis the problem when the other half of a soul doesn't agree."HecaughtAspen'shand and lifted it to his lips. "I'mtrying to be good,Asp."

"You'rea shitty baby brother," she told him.

Hechuckled. "It'sthree days.Don'tthink that counts."Thenhe stood. "Tradeplaces with me?"

Thepair shifted their things, moved over, and thenAspenwas beside me.Shealso kept fidgeting with her plate.Ikept eating whileHawkeandWildertried to discuss their plans for the weekend.Igot the distinct impression they were trying very hard to ease the tension that had just flared up.

"WhatdidImiss?"IaskedAspen.

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