Page 22 of Pixie Problems

"Probably going to check on the other crows," Rain explained. "He does that every time we're out here. I guess it's a thing? Like checking up on his subjects or something?"

"No clue," I admitted, gesturing to the bench we were aiming for. "I missed out on wildlings, you know. Born here. I mean, I know about the Crow King and all, but Jack's the first one I've actually met."

"Huh." She walked with me until we reached the very snow-covered bench. "That's going to melt right into my pants, huh?"

"Your new coat isn't long enough to prevent it?" I teased.

Right on cue, she held out her arms and turned. "Like it? Liam said my other one sucked, and since I'll be walking back an hour later than last semester, I need a good one."

While she talked, I swiped the snow from the bench, doing my best to clear it off so she could sit beside me. Yeah, I also looked. When she twirled, I couldn't help but appreciate the amazing curves of her body. Fae girls didn't look like that - not even in puffy coats.

Our kind were long and lean. Even us guys. Sure, we had muscles, but we tended to look more like martial artists or athletes than bodybuilders. Our women? They were like Aspen. Tall was common; lean was expected. Curves? Round asses and obvious breasts? Not so much.

"So what else did you get for Christmas?" I asked, wanting to keep her beside me as long as possible.

"Gift cards galore. Liam took me to use those earlier today. I got clothes and more clothes. My dads gave me so much, I can't even remember everything." She claimed the left side of the bench, tipping her head for me to sit too. "It's kinda weird, though. Most years, my foster parents only got me necessities, you know? But Bracken and Liam? They went all-out. Then, today, Liam bought me even more stuff!"

"Because they're excited to finally be dads. At leastBracken is."

"He said that?"

I nodded. "He bragged, Rain. Flat-out bragged to me. I mean, when you started in his class, he said he thought you had potential. When you almost took me out with that practice stick? He warned me you'd be my only competition next year." I glanced over. "Considering all the sentinels are in those classes? That says a lot."

"But I kinda suck."

I murmured, showing I heard her but didn't agree. "You don't know anything. You also don't pretend you do. You don't let arrogance get in your way. Most importantly, you want to learn."

"Yeah, I kinda do." Letting out a sigh, she leaned back. "But I'm going to have a detention class. Eighth period, Keir!"

"Mhm. I also know they'll lighten your load somewhere else. It's how Ms. Rhodes works."

"She's gonna make me learn magic too."

That made me lift a brow. "Really?"

"Good or bad?" she asked.

"Surprising," I clarified. "I mean, eight classes is alot. I'm also not sure where they'll squeeze in anything else. Before lunch, only the college-level students are down in the Never. After lunch, it's the high school students and some upper-level experimental classes." I paused. "Granted, you wouldn't fit in those."

"I wouldn't?"

"Wrong magic." I looked over again, and this time her pretty brown eyes were waiting.

My mind went blank. Brown wasn't a common color for pure fae. The faelings, sure. They often inherited the color from their human parents, but never this shade. Their eyes were golden, or amber. Maybe chocolate, and sometimes even raven black. They weren't brown. Simple, normal, natural tree-bark brown.

The shade was lighter than her hair, but not by much. Those dark tresses curled at the ends, soft waves falling against the emerald green of her coat. I had a feeling it would match her lashes if she hadn't coated them in mascara. The black made her eyes even more beautiful, though.

"So..." she said when the silence stretched on a little too long. "I heard there's a thing for New Year's Eve."

"Every year," I agreed, trying to quickly come up with a good way to ask her to go with me.

But before I'd even come up with some line about sending a note to askAspen's permission, Rain blurted out, "Will you be my official date?" Then she cringed. "Fuck. That sounds dumber than I expected."

"No," I assured her, "it most certainly did not. And yes, I'd love to take you. I've kinda been trying to figure out how to ask."

Her mouth flopped open. "What? And I just made an idiot out of myself?"

"No idiots here," I said quickly. "It's actually really nice to have a girl ask me. Especially considering the whole Aspen aspect. I don't want to step on her toes."