Page 97 of Mistaken Magic

"Becauseif the instructors find out, they'll move you.Couplesaren't allowed to share a suite."

"Well, thenI'msafe, becauseI'mnot sure there is a me andAspen,"Ipointed out. "Oh,Iknow there could be, and she kinda told her brotherI'mher girlfriend, butIfeel like a complete idiot around her."

"Likewhen you had your first crush on a guy?" he asked. "Don'tknow what to say, what to think, but you still like being around her just because she's amazing, or wonderful, or beautiful?Thatsort of thing?"

"Yes!"Igasped. "Howdo you know?"

"Uh,I'vehad a crush on a girl before," he assured me. "Oneor two, at least."

Thatearned him both a gruntandan eye roll. "Youknow the strange thing?"Ishifted to lie on his bed, turning sideways soIwouldn't accidentally flash anything with this short dress. "Idon't have parents to upset.Idon't have anyone to judge me becauseImight like a girl, or not be straight, or whatever.Thereis no reasonIcan't just do whatIwant, and my legal guardian is gay."ThenIsucked in a breath, realizing whatI'dsaid.

Keirwaved me down. "Iknow aboutLiam.It'snot a secret here."

"Sowhy amIsecond-guessing this?"Iasked. "Imean,Icould probably hook up with some guy and it would be a lot easier, butIjustlikeher,Keir.She's..."Ilifted my arm just to let it flop back to my side. "Free, fun, spontaneous, beautiful, and all those other things.WhenI'maround her,Ifeel like the world is a little brighter."

Hemoved from his chair to sit on the end of the bed, then reached over to unbuckle the strap of my shoe. "Becauseyou've probably been told it's wrong.Girlslike boys and boys like girls.Here'sthe thing.Themoment you realized they were attackingAspen, you forgot to worry about anything else.Sixgirls, and you charged right in there."

"Yeah, but - "

"No," he insisted, cutting me off. "Listen,Rain."Heslid my shoe off and dropped it down beside the bed.Thenhe moved to the other. "Whenshe's around,youseem a little brighter.It'snot a friend thing, andIget that.Youlook the same way when you're talking to that stupid bird."

"Jack,"Ilaughed. "IpromiseAspenis nothing like a bird."

"No, but the closer you two get, the more chances there are thatHarperwill notice."

"And?"Iasked. "Ifthere's nothing wrong with it, then why shouldIact like there's something wrong with it?"

"Thinkof it like high school drama with fae arrogance," he explained, removing that shoe just to place it by the first. "See, there are a few things going on here that you need to understand."

"Ok?"

"First," he said, "Aspen'smagic isWinter.Mostof theWinterCourtis dead.Hersis strong and mostly untrained, but still terrifyingly strong.Sinceshe's at her peak power when theSummerCourtis fading?That'sseen as a threat.Combinedwith those who believe theWinterCourtwas killed off soSilverOaksshould be forSummermagic only?"Hecanted his head. "Sowe have magical discrimination."

"Figuredthat out,"Iadmitted. "YetTorian,Wilder, andHawkedon't care?"

"Wilderalso hasWintermagic,"Keirsaid. "Torianis her sibling, andHawkeis, well,Hawke.He'san outlier who's loyal toTorian."

"Gotcha."

"Thesecond problem," he said, "isHarper.She'sthe leader of the jesters right now.No, she's not the first leader, andI'msure she won't be the last.Buther family are well positioned in fae circles.Theyare powerful, have ties to the formerSummerCourt, and strong magic.TheValentinasare one of the most outspoken about banishingWintermagic.Plus,Harperlikes to win, and she's been spoiled enough she never learned there are any other options.Hermother's miracle baby and all that."

"Becauseof courseshe is,"Igrumbled.

Keirgrunted in agreement. "Theproblem isHarperthinks the best way to impress her mother and solidify her future in our society is to pair with a 'real' fae.Ideallya guy, so her children will be more than mere half-bloods.Wealso don't have a pure fae woman around withSummermagic - except the teachers - and her hate forWinteris strong enough to blind her.Thatleaves three options."

"Four,"Icorrected. "You,Torian,Wilder, andHawke."

"Three," he countered. "Wilderalso usesWintermagic, so he's just as bad asAspen."

"Oh."Yeah,Ididn't think that through.

Henodded. "Butshe dumped me to be withTorian.SheandTorianbroke up because he was ignoring her for his sister.Shehoped it would teach him a lesson.Toobad for her, he didn'tcare.Fromthe drama of the breakup - which happened in the dining hall at lunch -Ican tell you it wasn't pretty.Shemade it clear she gave him her virginity.Trustme, she didn't.Heasked why he should care.Shetried to turnAspeninto a frog.Well, she did, butTorianreversed it almost immediately.Thenhe completely lost it."

"Lostit how?"Iasked. "Arewe talking about yelling or spell throwing?"

"Both,"Keirsaid. "Peoplewere running for cover, teachers couldn't stop him, and it was a mess.Theend result was that no one in the court will give her the time of day.Soshe's determined to make them.She'salso realized hurtingAspenhurtsTorian.It'sthe only time he's lost control.Mostof us saw it as a sign to be real nice to the girl.Harperdecided it was his weakness."

"SotormentingAspengetsHarperher revenge,"Irealized.

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