Page 98 of Mistaken Magic

Keirnodded. "Yeah.Anythingshe likes,Harperhates.Andjust so you don't find out later, she wanted to get back together with me.EvidentlyI'ma decent backup plan, even ifI'm'only'Earth-born.I'malso not interested in being a trophy boyfriend.Torian'spissed at me because her virginity?"Helifted his hand. "Thatwas me.Thenthe idiot tried to tellTorianIwas better in bed anyway.Hecame at me.Iheld him off, and we ended with a peace treaty of sorts.Iignore him, he ignores me, and theInstitutestays standing."

"SoundslikeImissed a lot last year,"Iteased.

Keirflicked a finger at the spot beside me. "AmIbeing a jerk ifIjoin you over there?"

Ijust shifted over. "Nope.Imay have a girlfriend, though."

Helay down on his back, his arm resting beside mine. "Torianis an asshole,Rain, but he's one for the right reasons.He'salso the most fae person you'll ever meet.He'stempered byAspen, but she's mellowed by him,Ithink.Youdon't get one without the other.Theyact more like twins than half-siblings."

"Half?"ThenIgroaned. "Right, three days apart in age.Theyhave to be."ThenIsat straight up. "Shit.Torsaid something about theMadQueenkilling his dad!ThatwasAspen'sdad too!"

"Shekilled a lot of people,"Keirsaid. "Thousands,Rain."Hereached over to shift a lock of my hair away from my face. "Youknow that right now those guys think we're up here breaking a few rules, right?I'lldeny it, they'll try to figure out howI'mdeceiving them, but the rumor will spread.Itwon't take long before the school thinks we're more than friends."

Iturned my head to look at him. "SoI'myour way of getting even withTorian?"Iwatched his face, praying he'd deny it.

"No," he assured me. "I'msayingHarperwill think you're with me, notAspen.I'mtrying to tell youI'mok with that."

"Why?"Iasked, because there was a little too much evasion in his words.

"IfIsaid it's because you're beautiful andI'mintentionally incurring debts you'll owe me for, would you buy it?"

"Nope."Ilay down, and turned on my side to see him. "Whatare you doing,Keir?"

"I'mbeing intrigued," he admitted, his eyes searching mine. "Thinkof this like chess.We'veall moved our pawns, butI'mplaying for checkmate."

"Keir..."Isighed. "I'mserious."

"I'mlearning more about my new friend?" he tried next, but the curl of his lips betrayed the deception.

SoIsat up and swung my legs off the bed. "Yep.Goodtalk.Toobad for you,I'mnot interested in being a political puppet for stupid drama."

Hecaught my arm. "I'mfuckingprotectingyou," he snarled, that fae temper showing itself for the first time. "Don'tyou get it?You'rehelpless in this fight.TorianandHarpercould bothdestroyyou and you'd never stand a chance.Ilike you,Rain.Ikeepsaying it,andIdon't know why that's so hard for you tofucking understand, butIdo.Ilike you enough thatI'mbeing as human asIcan.I'mmaking sure you're not walking around this school blind.I'malso stepping right intoTorian'ssights to make sure the girlI'minto doesn't become his target!Ilike you,andI'mwaiting for you to figure out if you like me back."

"ButAspen…"Itried.

Hetugged me back toward him just enough so he could lean into my face. "Whichis whyI'mcalling myself your friend.Figureout if you're playing by human rules or fae.I'llrespect either one.I'malso making sure that if anyone wonders, the pretty new girl at school isn't spending all her time locked alone with public enemy number one."

"Becauseyou're scared ofHarper,"Irealized.

"Thereare three people in this school who aren't," he assured me. "Torian,Aspen, andWilder."

"Andme,"Iadded.

"Thenyou're a fool."Hereleased his grip. "Harperhas no limits, a fae temper, and the power to make sure she's never caught.Letme be your friend and your beard until you figure out what you're doing.Ilikeyou,Rain.Iwill even say it again.Idolike you, enough thatI'mnot pushing.I'mjust moving a pawn soI'llwin either way."

Iscanned his face, convincedIwas missing something, but his answer had always been the same.Themore complicated all of this got, the more consistentKeirwas.Hedidn't seem to mind at all thatIlikedAspenromantically.Hedidn't have a problem with telling me how he felt.Sowhy couldn'tIjust accept this and move on?

"I'min over my head, aren'tI?"Irealized.

Henodded slowly. "Yeah, butIactually think you can handle it.Youget this.I'mnot sure how, but not even the faelings can grasp the nuances as easily as you do.Thereare politics, power, and popularity dynamics here.Magicisn't just for makingsnowflakes swirl over dinner,Rain.Mostof us have heard the stories of life inFaerie.Weknow how easy it is to go too far.Unfortunately,Harperdoesn't have limits, and you just got her in a lot of trouble."

Inodded to showIunderstood. "Sowhat doIdo?"

"TellAspenabout this talk.Leteveryone else think what they will.It'sone less reason for the jesters to come after you.It'sone more reason for me to get a little time with this crazy girl who is nothing likeIexpected."Thenhe shifted a little closer, lifting onto his knees to do it. "You'vebeen in my bed now,Rain.Youwere lying with me.I'mwilling to tell those truths, if that's what you want."

Heloomed over me, our positions forcing me to look up at him.Therewas power in his expression, but also a gentlenessIcould almost feel.Myproblem wasn't what he'd said.Itwas thatIhad no clue whatIwas doing.Idid likeAspen.Ididn't want to ruin things when we'd just started talking again.Ialso likedKeir.Hewas so... manly.Strong, powerful, beautiful, and slightly dangerous.Thekind of guyI'dalways been drawn to.

Unfortunately, it felt likeIwas going to make a mess of this no matter whatIdid, soIreally had nothing else to lose.ThingswithAspenhad been nice lately.Imight feel nervous about it, but she always made it easy - and likeIwas being cute instead of stupid.Keirwas the same, but the other way.Itwas this mess with jesters, courts, and magic that messed it all up.

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