Page 159 of Mistaken Magic
"Everything," he breathed. "Idon't know how long we have, but..."Hepaused, searching my face. "Thatgirl is about to be my daughter.I'vebeen teaching teenagers long enough to know exactly what you think about her - "
"Bullshit,"Itold him. "Becauseif you thinkIjust want to fuck her, then you don't know me well.She'sfiguring things out withAspen, andIwant to be her friend first.Iwant to keep her safe,Bracken.Shehas so much wonder in her eyes, and she just..."
"Feelsfae," he finished for me. "Yeah,Iknow.Shegrew up with a wildling looking over her.Don'tyou get it?Jackdidn'tjustfind her.He'sbeen there for most of her life!Howoften has he used his magic to keep her safe, to cause issues in one of her foster homes before she ended up paying for it?Thatgirl has been bounced around more than you can imagine, but she's never been molested or abused.Notby a foster parent or a foster sibling.That'smagic,Keir."
"Whichis whyI'mtrying so damned hard to be her friend!"Isnapped. "Youknow whatHawkesaid?She'snever afraid.Idon't think she knows how to be.That'snever been an optionshe had to choose from.Rainalways had to handle it, and she's figured out how.Iwant to give her the chance to lean on someone."
"Youin love with her?" he asked.
Ihad to lick my lips, keeping my mouth from going dry. "Itwould be easy.Ican't say no, though."
"Won't?" he asked, checking my meaning.
Ishook my head. "Can't."
Brackenreached out and slapped my arm. "Treather well and there will be no problems between us."
"Andif she dies?"Iasked. "Becauseif something's coming, that's always possible."
"Thenwe'll make sure we die first," he said, turning back to get his sticks. "I'mplanning to have you teach her next semester."
"Andafter that?"Iasked asImatched him, turning to face my training dummy. "Becauseshe's not going to lose this power, you know.She'salso not going to suddenly become straight."
"Trustme,Iknow."Heflashed me a smile. "LikeIsaid, the rules here are little more than glamours.Imay have talked toIvyabout her situation withAspen, too.Shesaid that ifRain'sfathers aren't opposed, then she won't see anything.Onceshe turns eighteen, it won't matter anymore, and her friendship with you has been a nice distraction."
Icould feel my lips curling into a smile. "Sodoes this mean you won't cut my balls off if she's in my room after curfew?Youknow, since it would keep up the distraction?"
"Keepdreaming," he told me. "Although, puttingFinleywithAspencould solvethatproblem."
Whichmade me laugh unexpectedly. "Yeah, there's that."BecauseAspenwas powerful enough to break the guy's mind if she wanted. "Wouldalmost be worth it to see him try his rapey shit on her."
"Stillnot worth it,"Brackencountered. "Ijust need you to accept thatTorian'snot going to like this.Noneof this.Hecertainly won't approve of you pushing into his sister's relationship."
Iglanced over and our eyes met. "She'sAspen'sfirst."
"ButnotonlyAspen's,"Brackensaid. "Oh, andI'msure there will be more.Sheacts fae, after all.I'mjust saying that whileI'drather not deal with any weddings,I'mnot opposed to you as part of my family,Keir.Justdon't fuck it up.Torian'sinvolved now, andIknow the two of you are like oil and water."
"We'llmake it work,"Iassured him asIstarted my warmup routine. "Ihave a feelingRainwon't give us any other choice."
"No, she won't."Brackenjust chuckled and slowly started his own training pattern. "I'mgoing to be theMorrigan'sdad.Mydaughter isRainleFae."Anotherlittle laugh slipped out. "Thatis never going to get old."
"Congratulations, old man,"Itold him. "Youdeserve it.YouandLiamare going to be great."
"SoisRain."Thesticks clacked as he worked. "Thekind of great stories are written about.Wejust have to make sure she can handle it."
"Youhave my word,"Ibreathed.
Thewords were lost in the clatter of our workout, but that didn't matter.Therush of power still washed over me.WhenBracken'spattern slowed,Iknew he'd felt it too.Thatwas my vow.Iwould do everything in my power to prepare her - or die trying.
Butno matter what, she would never be alone again.
