Page 216 of Rebellious Royals

"We were waiting for you," he said.

"You're close to the Forge," I countered.

He shrugged at that. "Yep. I mean, no reason to hide it anymore, right? So, how did you do?"

I hooked my arm around his waist and turned him toward the main building. "Hawke, I'm pretty sure I actuallypassed everything. More than that, even with everything that's happened, I think I may have gotten some pretty decent grades."

"Well, I did slack off as your tutor," he admitted. "I'm going to blame The Silent for that, though." And he curled his free arm around my shoulders, giving the other a lift so Jack could take off.

"Rain-duke!" Jack cawed as he flew off.

Hawke chuckled. "I will never get used to that, you know."

"Me either," I admitted, leaning into him. "Hawke? Is it weird that this feels a little sad?"

"Which part?" he asked.

"High school is done," I said. "I don't know. It's just like this big part of my life, something I've spent so long worrying about, and now it's just over."

"Mhm, and college comes next," he reminded me.

"That's weird too," I admitted. "I was supposed to be aging out of foster care, you know?"

"When exactlyisyour birthday?" he asked. "Because you haven't said much about it, but a certain weapons instructor may have left us a hint or two."

I looked down. "Um..."

"It's today, isn't it?" he asked.

"Yeah," I mumbled. "But it's finals, so I figured I'd do cake with my dads at some point over the weekend. Tonight I'll spend with them, tomorrow we do graduation, and then I get to figure out what comes next, I guess."

"Summer," he said. "I mean, a few go home for the break, but more will stay here than you think."

"I'm going to be a college student," I whispered to myself, still trying to wrap my brain around that.

So Hawke stopped, turning me to face him. "You, Rain le Fae, are going to be a very magical college student. You have two adorable fathers, an asshole of a crow, and a creepy shadow."

"And the sort of friends I never thought would be possible," I told him.

Hawke shifted a little closer. "Maybe more than friends?"

"Maybe," I agreed, a little smile curling my lips.

His eyes dropped to them. "Rain, I kept waiting for you to be scared of me. I kept bracing for you to think I'm disgusting."

"A monster, right?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. I know I'm not pretty like the sidhe. I'm not as powerful - "

"Aren't you?" I broke in.

He glanced away. "I'm trying to make a whole declaration here, woman."

"Oh, ok. Continue then."

Which made him laugh. "Ok, fine. I'll cut to the chase. I like you, Rain. I'm fucking..." He lifted his hand, showing me how his fingers were trembling. "I'm supposed to be a horrific monster, but I'm shit with women. I might be horrible with everyone but Torian and Wilder, if I'm honest."

"I think you and Keir work well too."