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Chapter Eleven

RAIN

T orian had hip hop playing this time. The bass was intense, and the woman's voice was making everyone around us want to bounce. Needless to say, that was all the excuse I needed. Grabbing Aspen's hands, I joined in, with her following only a split-second later.

"Thought you said this wasn't like last time," I teased.

She rolled her eyes. "This is the early crew. Most are going to be fashionably late. Trust me, last time there were only a handful of people compared to the ones who'll come tonight." Then she grinned. "And most people who left for the holidays came back today."

Ok, now that would mean a lot more people.

A huge chunk of the student population had gone to visit their parents - real or foster - for the holidays, so it had been rather relaxing around here lately.

School started soon, so that was an excuse to come back.

Considering no one wanted to spend New Year's Eve with their parents?

I looked over in time to see a stream of people coming in the door on the boys' side of the atrium.

I was pretty sure it wouldn't be much different on our side either, but there were too many bodies for me to see for myself.

Hell, I'd even lost track of Keir and Wilder in the crowd, which already looked to be twice as big as when we'd arrived.

Then the music changed to a slow song. Aspen tilted her head back and laughed before offering me a hand.

"Shall we?" she asked .

"Definitely," I agreed, pulling her up against me so I could wrap my arms around her neck. "But I missed the joke."

She tilted her head, making my eyes follow. Over by the pond, I could see Torian messing with his phone. But just as my eyes landed on him, the guy paused, looking over.

Those spring-green eyes of his slammed into me like a force of nature. His gaze flicked to Aspen, then back to me. Almost belatedly, he smiled - and then pulled his eyes back to his phone.

Clearly, he was the one controlling the music - again. That meant he'd picked the slow song because he knew Aspen and I were here! Ok, that was the "joke" I'd missed. She'd laughed because her brother had just given her an excuse to dance with me.

"So," I said, leaning in to put my mouth close to her ear, "I guess this means he approves of me?"

"Shit!" she said around a laugh. "Rain, he's trying to impress you. Or didn't you stop to think about why he kissed you?"

"To piss off Harper," I insisted.

She leaned back to give me a scathing look. "You're smarter than that."

Ok, maybe, but I didn't want to admit kissing her brother had rocked my world. Never mind that I refused to admit it to him! Torian was an arrogant piece of work, and I definitely hadn't expected him to kiss me! I'd just been trying to help - or at least that was the story I was sticking to.

So I replied, "I'm not about to mess around with your brother!"

"He doesn't seem to agree," she countered.

"And," I went on, "I really don't care if he thinks he deserves everything. I am not a thing. Nor are you, Aspen." Which was really my bigger issue.

"Good," she breathed, hugging me a little closer.

I went with it, wishing she was just a bit taller so I could rest my head on her shoulder. This was that sort of song, and I was used to dating guys who were taller than me. Not that I cared - about the guys or the taller parts - but I was used to it.

The only thing I hated about being with Aspen was the need for secrecy. For most of my life, I'd been bounced around so often, I'd never had the chance to actually date. Go on dates? Sure. Have a hookup, definitely. Be someone's girlfriend? Not really. At least not for more than a week or so.

And now, I'd finally found someone I really liked being with, and I couldn't brag about it to the world. If I did, I'd get moved out of my room so fast it would make my head spin. But I liked Aspen. As a friend, as more, and in ways I couldn't even figure out how to explain.

We'd been trying to take things slow, but nights together had been more frequent than not. Oddly, the thing bothering me the most was not being able to hold hands. It wasn't the kissing or fucking bits that I missed. It was the rest of it! The couple things.

Then a guy moved in, tapping Aspen's shoulder. "We'll dance with you two," he said, gesturing to his friend.

The second guy was smirking at me in a way that screamed "ick." Letting out a huff, I rolled my eyes. Then, just to make sure he got the point, I shook my head.

"I'm good," I told him.

"Right where I want to be," Aspen said, clearly following my lead.

"Bitch," the second guy grumbled at her.

"What did you say?" I demanded, giving him the chance to blame the loud music instead of repeating it.

Which was when my crow decided to make his presence known. Jack swooped in from above, flying right in front of the guy's face before landing on Aspen's shoulder.

"Court!" he screamed.

"What the fuck?" the first guy huffed.

"Jack!" the bird cawed again. "Court!"

"Yes, you are," Aspen assured him, reaching up to tickle his belly.

Which was when another voice added, "Time to go. The ladies were having fun without you."

The second guy flinched, shocked to find Hawke standing right behind him - glaring at the first guy. Clearly, that was all the pair needed, because they fucked off.

So I lifted an arm in an invitation for Hawke to come closer. "Dance with us?"

"Yeah?" he asked.

But his words weren't directed at Aspen. That was what I'd expected, yet his focus was completely on me. Those autumn-colored eyes of his were warm. His lips were curled in a soft smile. He also came closer.

"Not breaking up the fun, am I?" This time, his question was for Aspen.

"You're playing the bouncer," she assured him.

Caw! Jack agreed, nodding enthusiastically .

"Yeah, and I can only handle two at once, Jack," Hawke joked. "Go away, bud. You're cramping my style."

Surprisingly, the bird laughed - or made a rattling sound that was the avian equivalent. And then Jack actually took off. I just scoffed and moved to hang on one of Hawke's shoulders. Aspen took the other, and we kept dancing.

Thankfully, the next song was faster. The one after that was heavier. The music changed, shifting through all the genres I could think of, but it was fun. Yet when I got sweaty and bowed out, Aspen offered to join me.

"Keep going," I told her. "Wear yourself out a little so I'll have a chance at keeping up."

She grinned, but let me go. Yet as I waded through the bodies filling every open space, I realized the entire atrium was packed. When Aspen had said "bigger," I'd thought double the size. This? It was basically the whole fucking school!

"Over here."

I heard Torian's voice and turned, not surprised to find a bit of empty space around him. The only confusing part was that he no longer hovered over by the pond. I also didn't see his phone, but it could've been in his pocket.

"I thought you were running this show," I said, jerking my chin to where I'd seen him before.

Torian simply gestured in the opposite direction. "I know how to make a playlist, Rain."

"Uh-huh..." I followed him.

He kept going until we were in a slightly less populated area, then glared at everyone around us. Needless to say, it didn't take long before it became private. Anyone with half a brain left when Torian looked at them that way.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I demanded.

He ran his tongue behind his lips, sucking in a breath. "Apologizing. Well, trying to."

"For?"

"Almost getting you killed."

I lifted a brow. "Oh, that part?"

"Well, the kiss that led to it," he mumbled.

"What was that?" I asked, putting my hand to my ear.

Because the music was loud, and while I was pretty sure I'd heard him, I couldn't believe it. Torian Hunt, the guy who always acted like the rest of us should bow down to him, had just admitted he shouldn't have kissed me?

"Aspen said I should apologize," he shot back, loud enough to carry over the music this time.

"And you just fucked it up," I told him.

Groaning, he shoved a hand through his hair. "Ok, I'm not sorry I did it. I am sorry Harper was willing to kill you for it. Happy now?"

So I leaned into his face. "I. Am. Dating. Your. Sister!" I made sure to keep my words soft enough to stay under the music, but he should've been able to read my lips.

"Which is why I'm trying to be nice!" he snapped. "I thought kissing you would piss Harper off. I didn't think it would get you killed!"

"It didn't!"

"Would've, if you'd been anything but the Morrigan." He canted his head and lifted his chin, daring me to deny it. "You clearly thought hanging on me would work, so I didn't do anything wrong."

I just pulled in a breath and scrubbed at my eyes. "I thought you were my friend, Torian. I thought that meant I should have your back. And in case you missed it, I fucking hate bullies. Ones who go after Aspen are at the top of my list."

"And you."

I twitched, confused by his words. "Huh?"

"She bullied you too," he reminded me. "Or does that not matter?"

"Kinda doesn't," I assured him. "Torian, I'm a foster kid. Getting picked on is par for the course."

Those nearly-neon eyes of his hung on mine like he was trying to find the loophole. "That feels like the truth," he finally said.

"Because it is!"

"Do you love her?"

Not the question I'd expected. "Who?" I asked, making sure I was following.

"Aspen." His jaw was too tight.

"I like her."

The muscles along his cheek jumped. "Not what I asked."

"I don't know!" I insisted. "I'm still figuring it out, ok? Fuck. Talk about making this awkward!"

And finally, he laughed. "And that's the truth too." But he sounded almost relieved.

"I like your sister," I promised. "A lot. I've also never dated a girl before, so I'm kinda figuring it all out, and I'm scared enough that I'm going to screw up, so I don't really need your help."

He just nodded. "Yeah. And I am sorry, Rain. About the kiss. That it was a fake kiss, that it was dangerous and stupid and a risk I shouldn't have taken."

"There's a big ol' 'but' hanging in that sentence, Torian."

He laughed once. "I'm not sorry I kissed you - or that you kissed back." Then he smiled. "So have fun at the party. You might try drinking some nectar."

I just tossed up my arms in frustration and turned to get me some of the oak syrup. God, that guy could be so annoying. Mostly because of his arrogance. The worst part was, he had every right to it!

Torian was beautiful, sexy, and knew it.

His problem was he expected me to fawn all over him, and fuck that.

I'd been in enough schools in my life to learn the best-looking guys were rarely the nice ones.

Instead, they were arrogant, egotistical, stuck on themselves… Yeah, kinda like Torian most days.

At least the silver oak was easy to find in here, being the biggest tree in the atrium. I also knew it was where I'd find the "nectar," as the fae called it. If I was lucky, Torian wouldn't follow me.

I didn't even make it all the way over before Wilder intercepted me. "Keir has a glass for you," he said, making his way around me in the packed space.

"Where are you going?" I demanded.

"To keep a promise," he replied. But when I caught his arm, ready to demand more, he added, "To handle Tor."

"You're a good man." I released him. "Don't forget to dance tonight?"

"With you?" he asked.

"With both of us!" I grinned and turned, needing that drink now more than ever.

Because I was pretty sure I'd just pissed off Torian, had led Wilder on, and I'd abandoned Hawke. Somehow, this was going to bite me in the ass, I just knew it. Still, Aspen's half-brother had a way of irritating me which I couldn't quite explain.

Thankfully, I found Keir easily. "Drink?" he asked, pushing a full cup towards me.

"Oh, you're amazing," I breathed, lifting it immediately and sucking back one hell of a gulp. Dancing was thirsty work !

"It'll still get you tipsy," he warned. But I kept drinking, causing him to ease my hand back. "Rain? You ok?"

"Fucking Torian!" I hissed. "That prick has a way of screwing up even his nicest moments."

Keir chuckled. "Glad it's not just me. But tell me you're having fun otherwise?"

"I wanted to catch my breath so I could keep dancing," I admitted.

Hooking my chin with a finger, Keir tilted my face up to his - and I felt it. Something warm and comforting radiated out from that touch, and I was pretty sure it wasn't just my imagination.

"Then dance," he said. "See, this is exactly what my shitty healing ability is good for."

Hoping the warm feeling meant he'd fixed something, I turned the glass, holding it between us. "And if I chug the rest of this?"

The corner of his lip lifted. "I give you my word that you will make it back to your bed tonight. I do not promise you'll stay there."

And now I was smiling, because the people around us had likely taken that all wrong, but Keir? Yeah, he'd just made it clear we were on the same page. So, lifting my cup again, I sucked back the rest without pausing and offered him the empty cup.

"You promised me something else tonight too," I reminded him.

His eyes slid down my body. "Trust me, I haven't forgotten. I am, however, glad you mentioned it before the nectar kicks in."

Then he nudged me back towards the dance floor. Yep, I went. I also had a little extra bounce in my step.