Page 165 of Rebellious Royals

"Aspen's got this," I assured him, moving over so he could sit on the bed too.

He eased himself down on the edge. "The problem is, we don't have this. The school's security has been ramped up.Poppy's courtiers are keeping their eyes open, teachers are supposed to be on high alert, and we still don't know who's doing this!"

"Shh," I reminded him, tugging his shoulder so he'd slide back and let the wall work as a backrest. "Tor, there hasn't been another attack."

"But we haven't gotten any closer," he grumbled. "We still don't have a fucking clue who's doing this!"

"But we know who isn't," I pointed out. "That's progress, right? Ruling people out should count."

He scrubbed at his face, taking too long to respond. Then, "Rain, I've had two Winter students ask if I could change them to Summer. Something's happening with the magic, and people have noticed. Never mind the idiots who want to swear their allegiance to me!"

He leaned back, tilting his head up to the ceiling. I watched as his eyes slipped closed, proving he was not handling this as well as he wanted everyone else to think.

"This isn't your fault," I said, shifting closer so my shoulder was beside him. "You're not doing anything wrong, Tor. It's just that people actually believe in you."

"What if you're wrong?"

"Look," I said. "Would so many notes come in trying to help us if people thought Aspen was evil? Would the idea ofonecourt be so appealing if you were? I'm just saying that being made into the scapegoat isn't the same as being at fault, ok? And we don't even know if that's happening. Something is, but we don't have enough information to be sure of what any of this really means. Right now, we're all strung out because of the stress…" I tilted my head toward my room where Aspen was sleeping. "...and we really need a good nap."

He sat there in silence for a little too long. "I made her do this, you know."

"You didn't," I countered. "The Huntsman did, Tor. Aspen took the crown because she was trying to save me. If anything, that means my fuck-up made her do this."

"No," he begged, lifting a hand to stop me. "Rain, I made her come here. I had to see her in person. I was so sure I was protecting her, but what if I was wrong? No one even knew she existed before she showed up at Silver Oaks. Her mother hid her well, and her guardian died keeping that secret - but I didn't want to be alone."

"Neither did she," I said gently. "Lost in a foreign world, with no one around who understood her? I'm sure finding you was the best thing that had happened to her in years."

"And now," he grumbled, "people want to kill her because of it. They're willing to destroy an entire season to make it happen - and they're wrong. All they'll do is put me on her throne, and that's one thing we can't take back."

"So we make sure it never happens," I told him.

He nodded, staring off at the floor in front of him. "Rain, I don't know what to do."

So I pointed at the pillows. "You put your head there, close your eyes, and let the Morrigan handle it for a bit. Sleep for a couple of hours, Tor. This will all seem better when you don't feel like you lack the energy to even think."

He licked his lips, refusing to look at me. "You going to keep reading?"

"Yep," I said. "My dads got me a coffee maker for the room. There's no way I'm sleeping right now."

Finally, those green eyes of his slid toward me. "Am I going to get in your way?"

"Nope." But I reached over to clasp his upper arm. "Tor, do you want me to stay in here or go back to my room?"

His gaze jumped from one of my eyes to the other and his entire body stilled. "Would you..." He paused to clear his throat. "Is it a problem for you to stay?"

I slid my hand down his arm until I held his wrist. "I'm not going anywhere, Torian. Not anywhere."

"Thank you," he whispered, the T-word feeling even more impressive because I knew how hard it was for him to use.

Chapter Fifty-Two

TORIAN

Monday morning started with some eleventh grader falling to his knees before me while I waited for the elevator. Before I could even open my mouth to tell him off, Keir grabbed the kid and pulled him to his feet, letting everyone around us know that groveling for the sake of groveling was not the same as swearing loyalty to a season, a crown, or even a person.

A few heard that and murmured. I couldn't tell if they approved or not, but in first period, Keir asked me what I was going to do about it. The answer was easy: ignore them. I was not the savior these people were looking for. I certainly wouldn't fight with them against Winter. Fuck that! So, for now, my big plan was simply to walk away before anyone actually got the formal vow all the way out.

As I headed to second period, I could almost feel the eyes tracking me. My fellow students dipped their heads respectfully, but I hated it. I wasn't here to be worshipped like some idol. If I'd wanted that, I would've stayed at my mother's side. She'd done a damned good job of making sure everyone understood my power.

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