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Chapter Sixty-Eight

RAIN

I t rained overnight. Friday morning, I woke up to a soft pattering of drizzle on the windows in the school halls. Thankfully, Ms. Rhodes assured me that not only was it supposed to stop by noon, but the skies would be clear all night since the weather had been completely used up.

Ok, I may have asked. Freaked out was probably a better word, but this was a big deal to me. Then, the moment the rain stopped, I sent messages to everyone to make sure we were still a go. Keir assured me even the courtiers were excited about this, so it was definitely happening.

That evening, I hid in the bathroom to send another flurry of texts. Everyone was supposed to be outside and ready by seven p.m. When they notified me they were there, I tried to casually ask Aspen if she'd be interested in walking outside with me for a little birthday date.

She looked at me like she'd heard something off, but she agreed.

What impressed me the most, though, was Jack.

He fluttered over to my shoulder, then cawed rather normally.

I pointed out that it had been a while since I'd taken him out to fly with the crows, and that our first date had been taking Jack to fly.

My bird nodded, Aspen giggled, and I realized I was getting pretty good at this fae truth-telling thing.

After all, all of that was true, but I'd left out the big part - and I was pretty sure she didn't have a clue.

So, as we were walking out across the grass, I made a point of telling her I was sorry she didn't get some big birthday thing.

Aspen just shrugged. "I've never gotten to have a real birthday bash, Rain. Why change now?"

"I mean, growing up doesn't have to be all serious and shit, right?" I caught her hand, twining my fingers in hers. "Not to kill the mood or anything, but isn't that what you and Torian have been fighting about?"

She shrugged. "Kinda, yeah. He wants me to plan out my future, and I want to worry about school first, then the rest next."

"And fun in the middle of all of that," I said as we rounded a cluster of trees. "So..."

"Court!" Jack yelled, launching off my shoulder to shoot ahead of us.

That was the sign, so everyone yelled, "Happy Birthday, Aspen!" at the top of their lungs.

Sucking in a breath, she pressed both hands over her mouth, looked at me, then back to the crowd who were all still cheering and clapping. That was when her eyes fell on her brother.

"Torian?" she asked.

"Happy birthday, big sis," he said.

She squealed at the top of her lungs and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He caught her and hugged back so hard he picked her up. Aspen's legs bent so her feet were in the air, and the giggle? Oh, that was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard.

"How?" Aspen asked. "I didn't... you knew about this?"

He winked at her, then turned to show all the courtiers who'd shown up. "We had some friends help. All I had to do was not let anything slip."

Aspen squealed again, looking at everyone who'd shown up. Both of my dads were here, along with the headmistress, the entire court, and Poppy with most of her courtiers.

Aspen hurried over to Poppy next. "Oh, this is amazing. And Nevaeh, you're here. Oh!" She saw someone else, and made her way through the group, greeting all eight of the courtiers who'd made a point of helping her celebrate turning eighteen before turning to her teachers.

Which was when Hawke slipped in beside me. "Sword arm?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"I need the other one."

Flashing me a smirk, he took my offered arm and turned it so my left palm was up. "It's her birthday, but this is my way of showing appreciation for standing up even when my best friend is wrong. And for understanding that sometimes helping him isn't the same as disagreeing with you."

He buckled on a wide leather strap. No, it was a cuff, and the thing was carved intricately. I had to wait until he secured both of the buckles that held it on my wrist, and then turned my arm over to see the crow stone sewn onto the top, but something was different about it.

"Hawke?" I asked, looking up.

He shrugged. "Wilder, me, and Torian worked together on it."

The stone had a soft purple glow. That was the same color as my magic, which meant someone had put Wild magic into this, and there was only one person that could be.

"But you can't talk about it, right?" I asked.

"It would be better if I just avoided all of that, yeah. But it is a big loophole, and Torian said this is a question we can answer, because our promise doesn't cover it."

I caught his hand and squeezed. "I don't think I need to know. I'm also fighting my urge to say the T-word!"

"You're welcome," he told me. "Just tell me you got Aspen a present?"

"Not one I'm giving her in front of everyone, but tell Torian I did not forget, ok?"

"Good," he said, gripping my hand in return.

"And the carvings in the leather? I tried to put as many wildlings on them as I could remember.

Crows, of course, and there might also be a jevadu, but you'll have to look close to see it.

" He smiled and stepped back just as Ms. Rhodes ignited Aspen's cake.

There was no other word to describe the impressive display of fae magic as Aspen's cake glowed. Sparklers, glitter, and yes, little candles with flames were all shooting off the top of the thing.

So I raised my voice and sang, "Happy birthday to you...."

Everyone else immediately joined in. "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Aspen, happy birthday to you!"

Then Torian sang out alone, "And many more!"

Which made everyone laugh. Aspen looked up, met my eyes, and then leaned in to blow out all of the candles and magical effects with a great big breath.

The area went dark.

"Did you make a wish?" Poppy asked.

Aspen scoffed. "That's such an Earth thing to do!" Then she grinned. "So of course I did! "

"And I've got Dewleaf blossom sherbet!" Liam announced. "Aspen, cut the cake."

Bracken immediately offered her one hell of a knife, but it was ceramic.

Grinning deviously, Aspen took the blade, looked her uncle over, then cut the cake to reveal a pastel blue color on the inside.

Paired with the arctic white icing and the pink-and-green floral decorations, the whole thing was perfect.

Pieces were handed out, flower sherbet was divvied up, and we all moved to hover around the next big surprise.

"Keir?" I asked. "If you'd do the honors?"

He cleared his throat and clapped his hands together. Then, just to keep up the dramatic show, he even rubbed them like some evil magician preparing his spell before pulling a matchbook from his sleeve, striking a match, and flicking it onto a pile of pre-stacked wood.

It caught immediately. As the warm glow flared up to match the setting sun, I looked over to see Torian twitching his fingers slightly.

Clearly, Keir had gotten a little magical help, but the strange thing was how it made me respect Torian a little more.

He wasn't just keeping to the letter of our agreement, but he'd completely embraced the spirit of it as well.

Next came presents, and it seemed everyone had one. The paper was tossed onto the fire to burn, and most of the courtiers had picked something safe. One box was opened to reveal a royal purple plant, but it was tiny.

"Mine had an offshoot," Nevaeh explained. "I know it's a summer plant, but..."

"I love it!" Aspen declared. "I hadn't been able to find a Gremlin's Charm; not many made it over."

Nevaeh shrugged. "My aunt had a few, so I snagged one for my room. And now you can grow more!"

"Rain!" Aspen said. "These are amazing for PMS, anxiety, and depression. Come look, and they're purple initially, but when the leaves turn green, you know they're ready."

I shifted through the crowd so I was beside her. "Oh, that's very purple," I said, lifting a hand. "Can I pet it?"

"Yes!" Aspen squeaked, sounding like she was too happy to contain her excitement. "Oh, this is the best birthday ever!"

"Well, you have more presents," I said, taking the plant from her. "We should've brought a table."

Torian chuckled. "Ms. Rhodes, can I have a pass this time?"

"No permanent gates, Torian. "

"I can work with that," he agreed, picking two trees beside us and raising his arms.

Green light etched the edges, then the whole thing flared white. Wilder immediately began gathering up Aspen's gifts.

"Where does the gate go?" he asked.

"Out of the bathroom and into Rain's room," Torian said. "I know it'll be open, and not in use."

"Gotcha."

But one of the courtiers was gaping at Torian. "You just fucking made a gate? "

"Mhm," Torian agreed. "One of my many talents."

"Fuck yeah!" the guy said. "Open mine next, Aspen?"

His gift was a stuffed dragon. It wasn't the only plush thing she got, and quite a few of the guys smiled at her a little too nicely when she got to their gifts.

I had to work hard not to laugh, but I let her have it.

This was Aspen's big day, not mine, and I couldn't blame the guys for thinking she was beautiful. I did too!

But Keir caught my eye and jerked his head, inviting me over. Reaching him, I moved to lean against one of the trees, not surprised at all when he picked a spot beside me, both of us facing slightly different directions, but our eyes still on Aspen.

"Did you finish your present?" he asked.

"Mhm," I agreed. "Tag helped me with the resin today."

"The chain doesn't burn at all, so she can wear it."

"So titanium goes on the good list," I told him. "Who knew?"

He chuckled. "Better than the leather and plastics we used to be limited to." Then he leaned in. "So Torian's ok?"

"We made peace."

"Good." He reached over to gently trail the backs of his knuckles down my arm. "I'm proud of you for standing up to him, though."

I laughed once. "I didn't. I apologized."

"Rain..."

"Keir, it's ok. Sometimes the little shit doesn't matter as much as the big stuff, right? And he said something that kinda stuck with me. Just because one of us is right doesn't mean the other is wrong."

Keir murmured at that. "He was still a dick."

"And not wrong," I pointed out. "I did fuck up, Keir."

"I disagree," he said just as Ms. Rhodes clapped her hands.

"Ok! Aspen, I - and all the staff of Silver Oaks - wish you a very happy birthday, and I do appreciate being invited to your celebration, but we're not fools.

I think it's time for the adults to head in.

Curfew tonight is ten for AP students, so do not be late if you're underage, but enjoy yourselves.

Good evening, students." Then she turned, caught Liam and Bracken's eyes, and gestured towards the school.

"Happy birthday, Aspen," Bracken said.

"Adulthood looks good on you," Liam told her.

Aspen grinned, then waved as the trio departed, leaving the rest of us out to celebrate.

Darkness was falling, but the day's humidity had mist rising up from the ground.

As the adults faded into the oncoming haze, Torian pulled out his phone, woke up the screen, and started tapping.

Then music began spilling out from all around us.

"And now we can have some real fun!" he said.

Aspen turned, scanning the crowd for me.

"Helping" in his own way, Keir nudged me forward.

With a laugh, I jogged over, caught her hand, and then we all started bouncing to the bass-filled music.

I laughed. She laughed. We spun, skipped, and just made complete fools of ourselves, but we weren't the only ones.

Maybe the gathering was smaller than the ones we held in the atrium, but that kinda made it better.

These people were getting to be friends, and I might not know all of them, but I liked the ones I'd met so far.

As the next song played, then the ones after that, Aspen actually enjoyed herself, and it felt like all the tension, stress, and anger of the last few weeks finally let go.

But around the fifth song, I waved her off. "I need a breather," I said, cocking my head to some trees away from the bonfire and crowd. "Come keep me company?"

"Always," she said.

I wrapped my arm around her waist and guided her into the mists and shadows.

"So, you've gotten a ton of things already, but I've been working on this all week.

" I shoved my hand into my pocket and wrapped my fingers around my gift.

"I know what it's like to finally find happiness, Aspen, and to realize it might not come the way you expect, but I want you to know that you are what makes me feel like it's all going to be ok. "

"And Keir," she reminded me.

"I didn't say only you, but you are a good chunk," I clarified. "And I am in love with you, so..." I pulled out the gift and passed it over.

A pale silvery chain spilled from my fingers. When I held it out, Aspen lifted her palm, yet the moment I placed the pendant against her skin, she sucked in a breath and looked up. Her glacial eyes locked on mine .

"Rain?" she breathed.

"It's a little of my magic, but it's sealed off and safe," I explained.

"It's just the best way I could think to show you that no matter what, I will be there for you.

As your friend, girlfriend, or even just that girl you used to know.

Aspen, I have never felt this way about anyone before, so I wanted to give you something to show it. "

"It's..." She lifted the necklace to reveal a teardrop with a swirling mist of darkness in the middle. "The chain doesn't burn!"

"Keir tested it for me," I admitted. "I wanted to make sure it was perfect."

She lunged at me, wrapping me up in the tightest hug. "It's everything, Rain. Fuck, I love you so much. For talking to my brother, and organizing this without me knowing, and just..." She leaned back to search my face. "For just being you, Rain. Put it on me?"

I took the chain back, she lifted her hair, and I clasped it around her neck - but at the corner of my eye, something moved. I jumped, flinching around to face it.

"What?" Aspen asked.

"I swore something moved," I explained. "There aren't wild animals out here, are there?"

"Bracken's cat," she said. "But it doesn't really like people."

And then it moved again, sending a swirl of fog towards us. I caught Aspen's hand and pulled her behind me. "Did you see that?"

Crows suddenly shot into the sky, cawing loudly enough to even be heard over the music. Torian stopped the song that was playing just as Jack cried out, "Hunt!"

"What?" Aspen asked. "But there's no storm!"

The sound of a horse snorting proved something had changed, and the thickening fog was clearly not natural at all.

"Through the gate!" Poppy ordered. "Someone pull the Hunt alarm!"

"Aspen?" I breathed. "Oh, fuck, I'm so, so sorry. I think I screwed it all up."