"She's tearing us apart," Torian warned.
"You are," Aspen said. "Rain has done nothing but help, but it's never enough for you. Nothing will ever be enough for you."
"Seeing you safe will be!" he shot back.
"Tor," Hawke said, pulling at him. "C'mon. Let it cool off a bit, ok? Let's just walk this out. You're pushing too hard at the truth."
Torian reached up to wipe at his mouth, but did let Hawke pull him away. For a little too long, we all stood there, silent, almost like we weren't sure what to do.
Then Wilder asked Aspen, "Are you ok?"
She nodded, then turned to kneel with her plants again. "I just wanted a good day. My birthday is next week, and..." She sniffed.
"Oh, Aspen," I breathed, rushing over to wrap my arm aroundher. "I'm sorry!"
"It's not you," she muttered. "I just want my brother to let me decide who I want to be. I mean, is that too much to ask?"
"It's why we all came to Earth," Keir said, leaning in so he could clasp her shoulder. "And this isn't something you have to deal with alone, ok? Whatever it is - "
"Even if you can't talk about it," I added.
Aspen just shook her head. "No, this really is my problem." Then she laughed once. "And the closer it gets to my birthday, the more he's going to push."
"Then he can stay away until he apologizes," Keir said. "I'll make sure of it, Aspen, because that's what partners do."
"And I'll back him up," Wilder agreed. "I think it's time Torian learns his place in the court isn't at the top."
"No," Aspen said, offering all of us a weak smile. "I think Rain's the one who belongs there."
"Morrigan!" Jack declared, proving he was somewhere in the trees above. Then he called out, "Court!"
"Fuck you, Jack," Aspen called back, but it was with a weak little laugh.
That made me believe she'd be ok - eventually. But if her brother thought I was going to tear the court apart, I'd make sure I'd prove him wrong. I even had a plan forming in the back of my mind. I'd need a little help to pull it off, but Keir, Hawke, and Wilder had just proven they were exactly the men for the job.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
RAIN
Monday, Torian avoided me completely, even going so far as to skip both biology and lunch. Ok, that hurt, but when Aspen struggled to keep up her normally chipper attitude? I realized I wasn't the one being punished.
It also wasn't fair.
I had a feeling Torian's latest issue really was my fault. Worse, he was right. I didn't have a clue how to be a Morrigan, but there was one thing I knew. I knew what it was like to finally get an amazing holiday after always dreaming of them. So, deciding it was time to put my own pride aside, I headed to my dads' place and asked for help.
Aspen's birthday was on Friday. That wasn't really enough time, but Liam and Bracken promised they'd handle the cake. It'd be fae-appropriate too - which meant completely vegan. Liam assured me he knew a few very good recipes, so step one was accomplished.
On Tuesday, I cornered Hawke and Wilder. Mostly, I wanted Wilder, because he seemed to have an affinity for Aspen. Their Winter bond, or whatever it was. Telling them my plan, Wilder was completely on board, but Hawke saw the problem right away.
"She won't be happy unless Torian's there, Rain," he warned.
Yeah, but I'd already figured that out, so I cornered Keir next. His job was to scout out a safe spot outside. The big issue? On Wednesday, it rained. That meant we were going to need somewhere not muddy - but ithad to be outside. Everyone agreed, because Aspen loved the outdoors, so thishadto happen.
Thursday morning, everything came together when Ms. Rhodes agreed to help me talk to Torian. He, Aspen, and Wilder still had a detention class with her about magical responsibility. She agreed to send him to my normal practice room with a valid excuse he would never see through. The rest was up to me.
So the moment my last official class was released, I told my zez I had to go, Ms. Rhodes had approved it, and I ran. Jack followed behind me like a streak in the sky, his soft caws cheering me on. I had ten minutes to get from the gym to the private room in the Never, and I wanted to be there before Torian so he'd have to at least hear me out.
I made it, barely. I'd just sat down, with Jack on the back of the chair he usually used, when Torian wrenched open the door and tromped in - then stopped hard.
