"Then what's the problem?" Hawke asked. "Aren't we all monsters in our own way? I mean, look at Fin and tell me that fucker wasn't a monster!"
Ok, he had a point. A damned good one. "But Fin couldn't hurt me."
"Couldn't, or didn't?" he countered. "Keir, I could make it through your protections, and I'm not the scariest thing on the court."
"Rain is."
He paused, then tilted his head as if he hadn't considered that. "Ok, fair," he relented. "But I'm the weakest member of the court, and my magic is at least as strong as yours. Any of us could destroy you if we tried - and you could probably put a world of hurt on us. Especially Aspen and Wilder."
Because their magic was Winter. Yeah, I could see where he was going with this.
"So," he went on, "think about what it means to be a monster, ok? Keir, here on Earth, we're all monsters to humans. Doesn't that mean we should stop treating each other like the enemy?"
"Yeah," I agreed. "I suppose it kinda does."
"Good." He stood, spinning the chair to set it back under my desk. "And you can keep using Tor's spare room if you want. Or mine. I'll use Tor's if that's easier for you. I mean, Wilder seems to think you're a cool guy."
I leaned back, bracing myself on my hands. "But keep my hands off your guy, huh?"
He scoffed. "Nah. Go crazy. But Rain? She's the one we'll break you over."
"Why?" I asked, because it was what he'd done to me.
Hawke looked me over again, making a production of it this time. "Because she's much more important than you are, Keir. She will change our lives. You? You'll just get your dick wet and move on. I mean, it's what you've always done."
"Not this time," I assured him.
"And this time, the girl you're chasing is with one of the most powerful pure fae in school. Second verse, same as the first?"
He was playing on a line from some musical. I knew it, butalso saw his point. "Look," I told him, "it's not my fault we purebloods seem to have the same taste. I mean, Wilder's into her, right? You?"
"Fuck off."
Which meant yes. He couldn't physically say no, so he was avoiding the answer. That made me smile, showing him I'd noticed.
"But if you want to help me keep an eye on her, I wouldn't be opposed," I said as casually as possible. "Because now that the jesters know what she is - and what she can do - they're going to change their tune."
"I'd rather she stay with the court."
"Me too," I agreed. "I have this strange feeling the four of you will make sure she knows all her options, not just the ones that benefit you."
His eyes narrowed and his gaze turned suspicious. "Why?"
"Because the four of you never picked sides, Hawke. Not even when it would've been easier."
"Neither have you," he countered.
"I know."
"Which is why you're part of the court," he continued. "And it's why we're going to take care of you. So don't stay here." He looked over at the door that led through the bathroom to Fin's side. "Not yet. Wilder and I will handle Torian."
I nodded. "I'm actually ok with Torian, you know. I'm just not sure he's ok with me."
"He's about to be," Hawke said. "See, when you start talking, it lets us understand where you're coming from. Sounds to me like it's the same place we are."
"Trying to survive in a world that isn't really ours?" I asked.
"No," he said gently. "Just trying tosurvive."
