Page 94 of Wicked Heirs

“Right back at you.”

“What? You thinkIam?”

“From an objective standpoint, no question. I’m sure you’re well aware of it.”

He smirked. “I am. But what about from a subjective standpoint?”

Before I could answer, he held up his hand. “Again, my bad. I came here for Ore, not for… that. Not for me. Sometimes I get sidetracked.”

I didn’t think it was actually him getting sidetracked. He’d been laser-focused when he’d hated me and been coming at me. No, this seemed more about him not understanding emotions that weren’t rage and pain, and having a hard time processing them now he’d started opening himself up to them.

“Heisactually opening up with you, you know? He is. Like I said, I overheard that day—might’ve seen your conversationtoo—and I saw him actually contemplating telling you what you wanted.”

“He didn’t, though.”

“Because he’s got that wall up. The fact he even considered it at all is a big deal, and I don’t think you realize it. You can’t really, you haven’t known him as long or as deeply as X and I have. Give him some time and I just know he’ll surprise you—in the best way. Once he allows somebody in, he’s the most supportive and attentive guy ever, the fucking best. He’s loyal beyond measure too. And protective. He’s saved my ass more times than I can count and he never even speaks about it. He just does it and doesn’t ask for anything in return except my continuing friendship. He’s amazing.”

I couldn’t help smiling at the sweet way he talked about his friend.

This was a side from him I wasn’t familiar with.

Well, his apology had shown a brief glimpse into it, but not this much.

“The way you’re painting him does make him seem that way.”

“The more you get to know him, if you actually let him get closer like he wants, you’ll be seeing him that way too.”

I could see that happening. Orpheus had already given me a little as it was. But with the big question still unanswered about what had driven him to launch a targeted campaign against me, it would never be enough to move forward. Or to start putting my trust in him. The fact that Xavier had told me that he and Talon didn’t know the story either made it even worse. It meant it was wrapped up in heavy layers of secrecy. And if it stayed that way it would poison whatever we tried to build. The self-preservationist in me wouldn’t allow that.

“Then I guess I’ll just have to see if he comes around,” I told Talon. “But I appreciate you coming down here and telling me this. It also shows me a different side ofyou.Your devotion toyour friend, some kindness thrown in there.” The corner of my mouth turned up. “Rationality.”

“Yeah, I figured until tonight you saw me as a raging and reckless machine. Everybody has their bad side, that’s mine. It just happened that it’s all you got to see since you enrolled here.”

“Not anymore, though.”

Our gazes locked, intensity flaring.

“Not anymore,” I confirmed.

His eyes lit up with a mixture of what appeared to be relief and hope.

And then he looked away and gestured at my magical models. “Do you have time for me to show you something along the magical manipulation lines?”

“Sure.”

Excitement took him over and he moved a few feet back, then rubbed his palms together and cracked his neck. “Okay, here it goes.”

He shifted, holding his hands out in front of him at waist height.

His eyes sparked with fire and then his phoenix flames erupted on his palms.

And in the next few moments I stood by watching in awe as he created what could only be calledflame art.

He created rabbits, deer, even dragons all appearing to dance in the flames.

“You like it?” he asked, looking between me and the flames he was expertly controlling. The glint in his eye made it clear he already knew the answer, reading the admiration and awe all over me as I gazed at what he’d created.

There was so much care in it.

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