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Chapter Sixty-Two

KEIR

T he moment Rain's eyes closed, the shadows vanished. Not just the ones wrapped around us, but every shadow in my sight. She also sagged in my arms, her entire body going limp. I gave her a little heave, making sure her head wasn't going to slide off my shoulder, and walked a little faster.

"She's out," I told Aspen.

"She's not used to that much magic," Aspen said. "Most of us had a chance to grow into it. Rain just got it all dumped on her."

But she still managed to tuck Rain's arm over her belly before I reached the door. Torian held it wide so I didn't risk bumping her as I got her inside. Hawke hurried to call the elevator, and Wilder trailed behind me, looking like he was ready to take over if she got too heavy.

The whole ride up to the fourth floor, everyone was quiet.

There was something heavy in the air. I wasn't sure why, but I certainly felt it.

But when we reached Rain's room, Aspen pulled out a key and unlocked it.

Evidently, Rain had given her girlfriend a key at some point, and that may have been the cutest thing I could think of.

But I didn't say anything because I had my little Morrigan to gently ease down onto the bed.

The moment she was out of my arms, Aspen started emptying her pockets. "Wilder, her charger is by Glow." She passed him Rain's phone. Then, "What's..." Her brow furrowed, and she removed a stone pendant shaped like a crow in a circle. "Why did she have this? "

"No clue, but it was glowing," I said.

"Yeah, the moment she grabbed her sword," Wilder added. "It shined through her jeans."

As I was busy pulling off her shoes, Hawke went around the bed to pass over another pillow. Aspen made sure Rain was propped up well. The whole time, Torian stood quietly at the side, watching.

"Is everyone ok?" I asked.

"All good," Aspen replied.

Hawke dropped his ass down on the bed, reaching over to clasp Rain's leg. "Why the fuck were you outside, Aspen?"

"Um, Rain's shadow stood up in front of Ms. Rhodes, and I realized she probably needed power, so..."

"So she ran into the middle of that," Torian said, "not caring about her own safety!"

"Ms. Rhodes was with me!" Aspen insisted. "I stayed behind her, just like she said!"

"And I could've powered her up," Torian countered.

"She's my girlfriend!" Aspen snapped.

"And you're my fucking sister!" Torian grunted like that should've been obvious. "Harper put that enchantment out so they'd get you , Aspen. Not me. Not Wilder, or Keir, or Hawke. You."

"He's got a point," I said, but gently. "And Wilder was keeping her going."

"But I'm supposed to help!" Aspen snapped, those cold eyes of hers flaring with an inner spark. "I am not weak. I am not helpless! I refuse to sit down, shut up, and be the obedient little bitch while the boys handle everything!"

"It's called being smart," Torian growled.

Her head snapped over to face him. "Because it's ok for everyone else to get hurt, huh?"

"Yes!" Torian flopped his hands as if that should've been clear. "Asp, you know this."

"I know your conjuration failed!" she yelled. "My control is getting better, but yours has fallen apart! Let me stand on my own two feet for once, Tor!"

"She has a point," Wilder said.

"Don't get in the middle of this," Torian warned him.

"He's just trying to help," Hawke soothed. "Tor, you weren't there. You didn't see what Rain did. She got us weapons. She charged in to save Nevaeh and those guys. She fought for us, Torian. For you ."

"And that's why I went out to help her!" Torian huffed. "I just think that if Harper is trying to come at me - "

"It's not about you!" Aspen broke in. "This isn't even about me. This is about Rain, and she needs a little magic. You were supposed to show Keir how to - "

"I can't!" Torian roared, gesturing to his head. "I can't think. I can't concentrate. Every time I think I'm used to it, you start yammering again, non-stop! How the fuck am I supposed to focus like that? Don't you get it? I can't get my shit together because of you!"

"Out!" I yelled, standing up to place myself between Aspen and her brother.

"Ms. Rhodes wanted me here."

"Then go wait in Aspen's room," I said. "You will not blame your own sister for your problems, Torian.

And you know what? Earth isn't a museum.

Things aren't perfectly controlled here.

They are chaotic, and beautiful, and that is what you get to work with, so figure it the fuck out, because you will not silence Aspen to make your fucking life easier! "

"Keir..." Aspen gently touched my arm. "It's ok."

"You deserve better than that," I told her. "I like him, but you're my partner. Or, well, I'm hoping it ends up like that."

"Definitely like that," she assured me. "I think you just need to stop taking your time and push a bit. Rain's still not fae."

Torian let out a sigh, and it sounded almost remorseful. "Asp, I'm sorry."

"No, you're right," she told him. "I know you are, and I know I should've stayed inside, but do you know how hard that is?

To sit here, all alone, not sure if you're going to come back?

Any of you? So when Ms. Rhodes said she'd keep me safe, I just..

. I didn't..." She dropped her head to her chest. "I didn't fucking think about it, Torian. "

"I didn't either," he admitted, coming closer so he could wrap his arms around her. "Asp, I'm sorry. I just can't lose you."

"And I can't lose you!" she shot back. "But this isn't about me, Torian. Rain's the one who drained herself dry. She's the one who keeps facing down the Huntsman! She never backs down, and she's fighting for us. Both of us!"

"But it is about you," he insisted.

"Tor..." Hawke warned.

"Court!" Jack said from his roost.

Torian just lifted his hands. "Ok. Bracken's getting her some nectar. Does anyone have power to spare?"

"I..." Glancing back, my eyes landed on her chest, relieved it was still rising and falling steadily. "I don't know how to get it into her."

"Hawke?" Torian asked.

He shook his head. "I zapped her, but I burn it too fast."

"Gave her a rush, though," I told him.

He huffed. "I bet. Wilder?"

He pushed between Aspen and me, reaching down to rest his dark hand on Rain's. Closing his eyes, he pushed, and a white glow spread across her. The problem was that it didn't last very long.

"Any more, and I'm going to need Hawke to carry me home," he admitted.

"Dad!" Jack announced. "Dad, Dad, Bitch!"

"Who?" Hawke asked right as the door burst open and Liam rushed in. "Is she ok?" he demanded, forcing me back so he could see her. "Rain?"

"She's drained," Bracken said, moving behind Liam to wrap his arms around the guy. "She's fine. She didn't get hurt. She just burned a lot of magic that wasn't hers to begin with. Kinda like passing out drunk."

The clack of hard soles announced Ms. Rhodes making her way down the hall.

Torian moved to open the door the rest of the way as she rounded the corner.

This time, she wasn't wearing a business suit.

Her jeans were tight; her shirt fit much too well.

The sound I'd heard came from boots that hit just under her knee, and they looked like they'd been specially crafted.

The sort of thing often found at renaissance faires.

"Hawke, if you'd let me in there?" she asked, but she didn't slow down to wait.

The headmistress marched around the bed, reached down, and placed her hand in the middle of Rain's belly. Vivid green flashed in the room and Rain gasped, sitting up quickly just to sink back against the pillows.

"What the..."

"Oh thank god," Liam said, clutching one of her hands. "How do you feel?"

"Heavy," she answered.

Bracken just thrust a water bottle filled with amber liquid at her. "Drink this, Rain. As much as you can take."

"Nectar?" she asked.

"Yeah, it really does help with the magical burnout. "

On her other side, Ms. Rhodes sat gently on the edge of the bed. "While she finishes that, I want to know what happened. I don't care who tells me."

"We were looking for the Hunt sign," I explained. "Poppy Hawthorne's group has been helping. One of the 11th graders made an interactive map, Poppy has been removing the dots we can identify, and we'd eliminated a few hundred items on the grounds."

"Then Rain saw the storm coming," Wilder explained. "We were walking to the next spot, but that storm came out of nowhere, and I've heard about it happening before."

Ms. Rhodes narrowed her eyes. "You can tell me about it later."

"I can tell you about it now," he assured her. "Keir and Rain both know I'm a duke."

"And your promise?" Bracken asked.

Wilder scoffed. "I didn't promise to keep my title secret.

Rain figured it out because of Jack. Keir has known since New Year's Eve.

He also doesn't care. Neither do I." He gave Ms. Rhodes a look.

"But my father told me stories of when the Hunt started coming after the Winter Court.

He showed me some of the enchanted items used to summon the Wild Hunt.

Often, the enchantments made by Summer nobility wouldn't activate until they were in the presence of Winter magic, so we couldn't see them until it was too late.

Well, the four of us had just passed a few trees outside when Rain suddenly saw the storm, and it reminded me of those stories. "

"Shit," I breathed.

"That's why you asked about the trees?" Rain wanted to know.

Wilder nodded. "Yeah. But that's the thing. Taylor Valentina? Harper's mother? She lived in the palace."

"She had nothing -" Torian's words stopped hard. "She..." He strained. "That woman never saw the Queen!"