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Chapter Sixty-Three

RAIN

T hey were right - I was tired. More than that, I hurt all over. On Sunday, my dads took turns checking on me. I offered to go pass out at their place, just to make it easier, but Aspen would have none of it. She insisted on helping, and my bed was much more comfortable than the couch.

But she didn't get out of class to babysit me. I slept through most of Monday, though, so it didn't really matter. At lunch, Hawke came up to deliver my meal. Evidently, he was the only person brave enough to carry a burger. He also said it smelled good, which made me giggle a bit.

The moment my belly was full, I fell asleep again.

Ms. Rhodes stopped by after classes to check my recovery.

That came with another bottle of nectar.

When Liam showed up with the complete Wheel of Time series, I decided this recovery thing might not be too bad.

Sadly, I didn't make it ten chapters in before I fell asleep again.

Tuesday was a repeat of that, but on Wednesday, I woke to the sound of a man's voice whispering in my room.

Jerking my eyes open, I found Keir talking softly with Jack.

The chair Wilder had made for me was next to Jack's perch, and it had come in handy lately.

Yet the moment I rolled over, Keir was up and heading my way.

"Hey," he said gently. "How do you feel?"

"I keep passing out," I admitted even as I pulled myself up so I could lean against the pillows. "Also, the bathroom is very far away lately."

He chuckled, but offered a hand. "I am good to lean on, I hear."

"That's so wrong," I grumbled, throwing off the blankets.

Keir just ran his eyes over my legs. I had on shorts, but they were the sleeping kind, so pretty short.

A little curl took over his mouth, and he didn't pull his hand away.

Deciding I wasn't too proud to take the help, I let him pull me up and off the mattress, but I waved him away before he could escort me to the toilet.

But the moment I closed the door, another opened. A second later, I heard Aspen's voice. "Is she awake?"

"Taking a piss," Keir said. "Jack seems to think she's going to be ok, but I'm worried about her, Aspen."

"Yeah, me too," she breathed. "She can't keep doing this!"

"She's going to," he warned. "The Hunt will keep coming back and Rain will keep running headfirst into them. I just need to know what's going on and why they're really after you."

"Keir..."

"I know," he said gently. "You can't tell me. I'm more interested in what you can tell me, Aspen."

"Torian says I'm the reason why his control is cracking, and I think he's right."

"So how do I help?" Keir asked.

"He needs to learn how to focus when things aren't perfectly quiet and controlled," she said. "He needs someone to shake things up, who isn't scared of him."

"Sounds just like me."

"Mhm," she agreed as I finished.

But when I flushed the toilet, they both fell silent again. I stepped out of the bathroom area to see both of them looking. I shook my head at their worried faces, then headed to the sink to wash my hands and brush my teeth.

"I'll go get her some dinner," Aspen said while I did that. "Make sure she doesn't fall down or anything?"

"Mot wah whek" I mumbled around the toothbrush.

"Not that weak," Keir clarified.

Aspen just made a production of rolling her eyes. "You probably are, but it's ok, baby." Then she snuck in and kissed my neck. "I'll even take my time so you can get pampered by that rock of man-flesh you like."

I jerked the toothbrush out of my mouth. "Aspen! "

She winked, then fucking skipped out of the bathroom, waggling her fingers at Keir. "Your turn!"

I spit, rinsed, then made my way back into my room. "No, this isn't awkward for me at all, thanks for asking."

"Feel like you just ran a marathon?" he asked, offering his hand again.

I took it, mostly because I needed it. "Why am I so tired?"

He helped me back to my bed, then sat beside me.

"Magic allows us to bend the laws of physics.

That does not mean it removes them. So, when you pick up a half-dozen hunters and sling them into the next county?

You're using your mind to control it. Your body is burning calories to fuel the magical chemistry that happens.

Your muscles are strained because they're being starved for oxygen, sugars, and whatever else muscles use. "

"So it's a full-body workout?"

He nodded. "Have you seen a lot of fat fae?

No? Because we all have magic, and the more magic we can use, the more it burns off our bodies.

The control we need to focus works like yoga, toning our muscles as we stand, hold, and work against unseen resistances - which are caused by our own bodies.

You, Rain, are tired because you're not made for magic. "

"Morrigan!" Jack grumbled.

"And she's still human," Keir countered.

Jack just ruffled his feathers. "Jack-Morrigan."

"I think he's saying he handled it. Maybe when he gave me magic, I adapted?"

Jack nodded on his perch. "Jack-Rain."

Keir murmured at that, then turned back to me. "Ms. Rhodes isn't going to let you back in class until next week. So how do I keep you from getting bored?"

"No practice at the gym either?" I asked.

Keir shook his head. "Bracken would cut off my balls, and I happen to be attached to them."

I rolled my eyes. "Ok. Um, I've been reading. Dad brought me some books."

"Movies?" he offered.

I made a face and shrugged. "I like books more."

"Lemme guess, romance?"

I scoffed. "Fantasy! You know, the sort of things that have fae, dragons, and really sexy bad boys!"

"Like Torian?" With a smile he reached up to push a lock of hair behind my ear. "He's a pretty bad boy, you know. "

"Been making out with him while I'm on sick leave?" I asked.

"Rain..." Keir kicked off his shoes, then jerked his chin for me to make room. When there was barely enough space, he shifted to recline beside me and opened his arm so I could cuddle up against his chest. "I'm trying to figure out what you think about that."

"I think you're fae."

He leaned in to kiss the top of my hair. "And I think you're human. But no, I haven't done anything with Torian. Shit, we've barely talked since the Hunt came. I certainly have not kissed him, but you never said if that pissed you off."

"I kiss Aspen," I pointed out.

Which made him smile, those beautiful blue-violet eyes of his holding mine. "I like you and Aspen together. She makes you happy."

"Yeah," I agreed. "But, see? That's the thing..." I rolled halfway on my side so I could see him better. "It's a fae thing. That's what you said when I liked Aspen, and when you talked me through it. I liked you too back then. I mean, I still do, but you know what I mean."

"Mhm," he agreed around a smile.

"But you said there are types of relationships, right? And then Aspen agreed with you, and even the guys agree."

"Torian, Hawke, and Wilder?" he asked.

I nodded. "So I stopped feeling guilty about things like kissing you when she's around. And I stopped worrying about what it means to like a girl. I just..." Pausing, I pressed my lips together. "I like you, Keir. I also really hate that you think of me as a kid. That... it kinda hurt!"

"Rain, I think you're young . That is not the same as a kid.

I think you're in your first relationship with a girl.

I think I'm your tutor, and I'm in a situation where I could've used that against you.

You know, pressuring you to pick me instead of her.

See, I knew you were lost and confused, but I wanted this thing we have - whatever it ended up being - to be based on respect, not making out.

Granted, I do like the making out parts too. "

"Yeah?" I asked.

He caught the back of my leg and pulled it over his.

"Yeah. I also like the parts where I know you've got my back.

I like how you dragged me into your friend group, carved out a space for me, and then do this.

" He slid his hand across the side of my head, smoothing my hair back.

"You don't act like I'm a loser for worrying about you.

You don't act like I'm useless because my magic is fucked up.

I'm just not sure how you're reacting to me kissing your girlfriend's brother. "

"Ah..." I leaned my cheek against his chest. "I dunno. It's Torian, and that makes it feel different."

"Because he's a guy?" Keir hummed, sounding like he was trying to pick the right words. "Rain, that's not really how it works. Look at Bracken!"

"No, no, no," I hurried to say. "Not that he's a guy!

It's more that he's in the court, and I dunno.

That makes it feel ok. Like, Torian's an ass and all, but I trust him.

I don't think he'd try to keep you from talking to me, and I get it.

You could like him more. Hell, I don't know if I like you or Aspen more.

I mean, it's just different. She's fun and gives me reasons to giggle.

You're smart and make me feel like I could be too.

She's soft, you're hard, and so many other ways you two are different.

But that's the thing! It's different. Not better or worse.

It's just different, and I like that it's ok for me to just be happy.

I kinda like that you can be too, and I dunno.

I guess I'm starting to see what you mean about talking about it. "

He hooked a finger under my chin, making me look at him. "So is this when I should ask to make this thing between us official?"

I tensed, sitting halfway up before Keir stopped me. Sadly, it was already too late. My head spun and my eyes began to track, making me feel like I'd just come off a merry-go-round.

"Lay back down," he soothed. "I got you, Rain. That's a sign of low blood sugar. Let me..." He shifted like he was about to slide out from under me.

"Keir?" I grabbed his arm, holding him in place. "What do you mean by official?"

"I mean my girlfriend," he said, forgetting all about whatever he'd been after.

"But I'm Aspen's girlfriend."

"Yeah? And?"

"So both of yours?" I needed to clarify this, since the fae had a thing with deals.

"And Hawke's, if he asks," Keir said. "Fuck, whoever you want to be with.

Yeah. I mean, I won't promise to like all of them, but Aspen and I are partners.

I already talked to her about it, and she likes the idea.

I just, um..." He palmed the side of my face, looking first into one eye, then the other.

"What?" I asked.

"Do you love her, Rain?"

"I haven't told her."

He murmured, sounding like that was the wrong answer. "That's not what I asked. "

"Yeah," I mumbled. "I think so, but I've never done that before."

"Can we kinda go slow until you do?" he asked. "Well, until you tell her? "

"Why?"

His eyes did that darting thing again, looking into my left side, then the right.

"Because I really want to get this right.

I... Rain, I've never felt like this about anyone.

It's like you're this perfect complement for me.

A friend, beautiful, brilliant, and yet different enough to always keep me on my toes.

You're the kind of girl I thought didn't exist. In some ways you're so fae, but in others so human, and that's how I've always felt.

So I don't want to fuck it up, ok? I also really like Aspen.

I like having a friend like her, and this thing we have? It's..."

"Yeah," I said.

"It's good, right?" he asked.

"Well, that," I agreed. "But I meant yes, Keir. We can do the official thing, but I'm gonna tell my girlfriend."

"And maybe kiss your boyfriend?" he asked.

I smiled as I rolled a little more. "Mhm. I mean, I even brushed my teeth for it."

"Fuck," he breathed as he leaned in. "That sounded very, very true."

And then his mouth found mine. Soft. Careful, but still sensual.

Keir kissed me like I was made of glass, and I leaned into it, loving how this felt.

His lips started at mine, but they didn't stay there.

My cheek, my neck, and all the way down to the front of my throat, he kissed, flicking his tongue across my skin like he couldn't get enough.

I let him, wrapping my fingers in his shirt on one side and his hair on the other. When he rolled a little more, guiding me onto my back, a little giggle made us both stop hard.

"So, I have dinner for her," Aspen said. "Um, did I take long enough?"

"She said yes," Keir told her.

Aspen squealed at the top of her lungs, and then everything got heavy. There was some wiggling, and a lot of laughing before Aspen rolled across us both and flopped down next to me, squirming until she was also half under Keir.

"Boyfriend?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said, feeling my face heat up.

"Oh!" she squealed with delight. "We have a boyfriend! Kiss him!"

Keir chuckled. "Yeah, kiss me."

So I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down, doing just that. Aspen grabbed my arm, giggling at us both, which made me smile too hard to keep kissing. I tried, but Keir wasn't any better.

"You're not helping!" he chuckled, glancing over to Aspen. "Rain, kiss her!"

So I leaned towards her, lifting my chin. Aspen immediately took the offer, but her kiss was as wild as she was, intense and amazing. Letting go of Keir, I grabbed her arm, holding her close, and held her there as long as I could.

Much too soon, she pulled back, wearing a sweet, soft smile. "When are you two going to tell the court?"

"Mm..." Keir shifted to lay beside me instead of on top of me. "I think when I get back to my room. I can handle telling the guys if you promise you'll make sure she eats?"

"I got fruit, and flowers, cake, pie, and Hawke made me bring her fajitas. He said she needs the meat too."

Keir made a face. "Yep, that's my sign. I'm out." And he rolled off the bed. "Take care of our girlfriend, Aspen."

"My brother's going to be pissed, you know," she called after him.

Keir just grinned. "Sucks to be him." Then his eyes moved to me. "Text me, Rain. Even if it's the middle of the night. I happen to know someone who can open a gate." And he pointed at Aspen. "If you need me, I will be here. Always."

Aspen barely waited until he closed the door behind him, then leaned in to rest her head on my shoulder. "Gah, I like him. I'm so glad you picked him, Rain."

"I'm so glad I picked you," I told her, turning so I could steal her lips. "So you know, all of this? It makes me the happiest girl in the world."

"Yeah," she breathed, kissing me again quickly. "Me too. Now eat!"