Jack nodded. "Jack!" he said proudly. "Jack, Jack."
"Because," Torian said as he walked up from behind us, dropping a hand on both mine and Aspen's shoulders to lean between us. "The Crow King is responsible for managing the wildlings. The Wild Hunt's magic is a gift from the wildlings to the sidhe. I have a feeling that means Jack has some inherent ability to keep track of them. It would only make sense that he could also keep track of the Morrigan he made. Same concept of magical responsibility, after all."
"Jack!" the bird agreed, nodding.
Torian glanced over to that shoulder. "And you're doing an amazing job of protecting my sister. I was thinking I could bring you a sweet treat up tonight."
"Up where?" I asked.
"Why, your rooms," he said, glancing over to Aspen to make it clear why he'd pluralized that. "Rain, we all need to talk."
"Tor, I had plans," Aspen whined.
"Fuck your girlfriend afterwards," he told her. "I want to make sure the crown's ok."
"It's fine," I grumbled. "Spike's proud to be guarding it."
"She really is," Aspen agreed. "I mean, I think her vines have grown at least three more feet!"
"We still need to talk," Torian said, looking at me this time as if hoping for a little back up. "I'll pick up dinner for both of you so you ladies have time to change. How's that?"
And a devious little smile took over. "Deal, Torian."
He tensed, slowing just enough that he was no longer hanging on the pair of us. "No!" he huffed, stretching his long legs to catch up. "That was not an offer."
"Oh, you thought it was a demand," I pointed out. "I'm just making sure I get something out of this."
"You trained her well," Aspen teased.
"No, that was Keir," Torian grumbled before lifting his voice. "Keir! I have a bone to pick with you!"
He wandered off towards Keir. The sentinels angled their feet to the door that led into the boys' side of the atrium. Aspen and I turned to the girls' side, closer to the elevator we used to get to our rooms. Just as everyone started to spread apart, Keir looked over.
"Burger, Rain?"
"I don't want to be rude," I admitted.
"Burger," Hawke told Keir.
"She deserves one," Wilder agreed.
"And Torian won't even complain," Aspen said. "I mean, you did trap him into that deal nicely. It was rather fae of you."
"Mm, I've been learning."
Then as we headed up to our room, the guys went around to the cafeteria to get some meals to go. I knew that wouldn't take long, so I decided not to have a whole shower. Instead, I just cleaned up quickly and put on some comfortable clothes. Aspen, however, used the shower. She'd just finished dressing when Jack cawed in warning.
"Court!" he announced.
"It's open!" I yelled at my door.
A moment later, Torian opened it. "You really shouldn't - " And he paused as Spike woke up, stretching out her vines to inspect the cluster of people waiting to get in.
"I'll use the other door," Hawke tried.
But Wilder grabbed his arm and pushed him past the plant. "She's a Monarch's Assassin. You're a fucking duke."
"Those things kill people," Hawke countered.
