"That's my fucking sister!" he roared.
Hawke clasped my shoulder and pulled me back. "Tor, Keir's not wrong. He's taken the hits for her, and Jack respects him."
And for some odd reason, that seemed to be what Torian needed to hear. The air lightened, that crackle fading out as quickly as it had arrived. Unfortunately, this guy wasn't going to simply let this go, though.
"Fine," he huffed. "If this is so aboveboard, then just tell me what it is you see in Rain, hm?"
"You go first," I suggested.
"No."
There was no discussion about it, and he didn't even try to make up an excuse. I'd expected him to say he'd asked first, but that wasn't Torian's style, it seemed. His flat-out refusal left no room for discussion, so I pushed out a single laugh.
"Oh, so I have to tell you but you don't have to tell me?" I shook my head. "Not how it works."
"Look," Wilder tried, "Aspen and Rain are good. He's not pushing between them -"
"Because you're fucking someone else?" Torian broke in. "Who this time, Keir? Your suitemate?"
"Fin's a dick," I assured him. "I'm only sharing space with him as a favor to Bracken."
"And Bracken approves of Keir," Hawke added. "That says a lot, Tor."
"You're just pissed because she kissed him," Wilder added. "But he asked Aspen. You heard him say it."
"And he's fae enough to know how to lie!" Torian snapped. "When did he ask, how did he know she was ok with it? Sure, maybe he asked so softly she didn't hear, so that made it ok? How the fuck do I know, and he's not saying shit!"
"What the fuck is your problem?" I shot back.
The guy shoved forward, right into my face. "Aspen is my sister. I will destroy this world to keep her safe. Rain? She's something Aspen cares a lot about. This isn't about me or you, Keir. It's about what it means to have the Morrigan here, now, and datingmy sister!"
"Who," Hawke added, gently easing Torian back, "barely has control of her own massive amount of power."
"Ah." And now things were starting to make a lot more sense. "So you're worried Rain's going to drag Aspen into something, hm?"
"Leave Aspen out of this," Torian warned.
"You brought her up," I pointed out. "And let me assure you that I see your sister as my friend. Listen to that again, Torian. Not an acquaintance. Not a fellow student. She is my friend, and while I don't know her well, I've realized she's a very amazing girl who Irespect."
"Oh." Suddenly, Torian's anger dissipated. It was almost like the guy deflated before me.
"Yes, I know she has no interest in men," I assured him, "but that doesn't mean I can't be a little protective of her, right? In case you missed it, I am with most of my friends."
Torian simply dropped his head, then nodded without looking up. "Ok," he said, sounding defeated. "I hear you." Pulling in a deep breath, he finally lifted his gaze. "I just found her, Keir. I don't want anything to happen to her. Not now. Not after being apart for so long."
"I know," I assured him. "Trust me, everyone knows that coming at Aspen requires going through you first. Here's the thing. I'll be right there beside you."
"Unless he has to pick Aspen or Rain," Hawke muttered.
I wanted to groan, but instead I lifted one shoulder in a half-assed shrug. "There's truth to that."
"So you'd pick Rain first?"Torian asked.
"I would," I said. "And I think she'd pick Aspen, so that kinda works out about the same way, wouldn't you think?"
He hummed thoughtfully, then tipped his head in something like agreement. "Yeah, that's a good point. Just promise me one thing?"
I twitched, not expecting a fae to use that word. Promises were strong things with our kind.
