Page 20 of Wanted: A Roommate Who Isn't Evil

Mor stared back at him. There wasn’t a hint of understanding there.

Luc scratched his head, wondering.

No way… Oh dear.

Luc almost burst out laughing, but he managed to allow only a broad smile and a half-restrained chuckle. His faeborn soul had nearly drowned in a fit of panic when Dranian had sputtered all that nonsense about having told his brothers of Luc’s presence, but…

But it seemed the North Fairy hadn’t told Mor anything at all. Mor’s face confirmed that he had no idea Luc was even alive until this very moment.

“Well,that’sinteresting,” Luc mused to himself.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t end your life on this rooftop, Luc,” Mor said, appearing far calmer than his rhythms revealed.

What a fool.

“Yes, one reason is enough,” Luc agreed, and Mor waited. So, Luc smiled broadly. “You can’t. You tried a dozen times to kill me, and you failed, Trisencor. Alabastian, the legendary war hero, killed me, not you.” Luc strode in until he was close enough for Mor to stab. “You cannot defeat me. You’re a failure and a disloyal, marked Shadow. Remember that on thedays you think you’re allowed to be happy.”

Mor punched him.

Luc’s face swung to the side, but he caught himself before he fell. He turned back slowly, his flesh burning where Mor’s knuckles had dug in. He could already feel his jaw beginning to swell. But he didn’t retaliate. Truthfully, he deserved worse.

“You always run your faeborn mouth too much,” Mor growled.

Luc stretched his neck back and forth as he fought the urge to hit Mor back.

“It’s my specialty to speak the painful truth, even if you don’t want to hear it. Speaking of which…” Luc settled his dark eyes on Mor again. “I think you know I have a problem. You must have seen our Shadow Army division roaming the streets with the season change.”

“My High Court made a bargain with them. The division is no longer a concern of mine,” Mor stated, glancing back in the direction of his gloomy cathedral. Likely looking for his dear Violet, concerned with Luc so close by.

“How convenient that the Army allowed you to live. Unfortunately, they will not offer the same grace to me,” Luc stated.

“So then kill them, Luc. You’re good at that,” Mor articulated. “And stay far away from my humans and my cathedral. If I sniff you in this city again, I’ll lead the Shadow division to you myself.”

“Do you really believe you’ll be left alone once news reaches the Shadow Palace about you? They don’t care about the division’s measly bargain—you know that,” Luc reasoned.

Mor grunted and walked past Luc like he meant to leap from the building. It seemed the conversation was over.

Luc’s eyes fell closed as he swallowed his pride. “Wait.”

Mor’s footsteps slowed behind him. There was nopopof him vanishing, but it was clear he meant to leave at any moment if Luc didn’t give him an astoundingly good reason to stay.

Luc could not believe his own thoughts. His own absence of dignity.

“I can’t go back there.” He didn’t have to specify the Dark Corner, or the Shadow Army. “I need help.”

How hehatedthose words. He hated himself.

He hated that joining forces with Mor was the only idea he’d come up with. “You and I could take out the army together,” he tried. “Your High Court wouldn’t even have to know you were fighting alongside me. Then you’ll never hear from me again.”

A huff of disbelief came from Mor. “I offered you my help once. And you did the unthinkable. What makes you think I’ll ever forgive you for what you did to Violet?”

Fire filled Luc’s veins. He whirled around, unable to stop his tongue. “What makes you think Iwantyour forgiveness? What makes you think that while I was doing those dreadful things to her, I was hoping you’d forgive me afterward? Does that make sense to you, you fool?” he spat. “I’m not here for your forgiveness, Trisencor!”

Mor pointed in Luc’s face so fast, Luc hopped back a step. “And that isexactlywhy you keep ending up alone!”he shouted. Luc waited for Mor to strike him, to stab him, to do any number of terrible things in the heated moment that even Luc knew were justified. But Mor’s chest rose and fell thrice before his shoulders relaxed, and he took a step back. “Stay away from me and my High Court,” he finished.

Well. That was impossible. Luc looked off at the sky so Mor might not see it on his face.

“I won’t tell them I saw you, so they won’t get ideas about hunting you down. But I’ll only give you grace once, and it’s not because I’ve forgotten about what you did. It’s because I’m busy with other things,” Mor said. “Get out of here, Luc.”

---