Chapter One #3
When Deryn still hesitated, Curran pushed him in Palmer’s direction.
Deryn stumbled, but he caught sight of Palmer again, and within seconds, he was gone.
Curran huffed, amused. It wasn’t surprising that his best friend had ditched him for a cute boy.
At least now, he’d be able to go home without Deryn whining.
He turned, ready to do just that, when his gaze caught with Birch’s.
Curran’s brother was on the other side of the room, hovering next to Killian, who was talking to someone.
They stared at each other for a moment, and Curran waved.
He didn’t want his brother to worry about him, but Birch always did, almost as if Curran were still a child.
Curran didn’t want anyone worrying about him. He was an adult, and he could have fun and drink and then go home.
He squared his shoulders, snatched one last drink from a nearby tray, and made his way toward the exit. He was almost there when Birch caught up to him.
“I didn’t think you’d be here tonight,” he said.
Curran scowled. “Don’t you have anything better to do than bother me?”
“I’m not bothering you. I’m checking up on you.”
“You don’t have to. I’m fine and having fun.” Curran raised his glass so Birch could see it and drank all of it in one go before putting it down on the closest table.
Birch glanced at the glass. “I can see that. You’re not usually a big drinker, though. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“You’re not my father, Birch. I don’t need you to hover. Go do your job.” Killian was surrounded by other guards, but none of them were as good as Birch and Marlin.
“Killian will be fine for a few minutes. I’m going to find Marlin and ask him to walk you home, all right?”
That was the worst thing that could happen. “I don’t want you to find Marlin,” Curran snapped. “I want you to leave me alone.”
Birch wouldn’t. He was a protector, and he thought that Curran needed protection.
Curran had known that coming to this party was a bad idea, dammit.
* * * *
WHEN MARLIN NOTICED Birch and Curran talking by the door, he knew things weren’t going well by the expression on their faces. That wouldn’t do. This was a party, and the two of them weren’t supposed to bicker like the brothers they were.
He downed his glass and moved forward, stumbling for a few steps before he got his feet under himself. He pushed his way through the crowd, smiling and nodding at people who tried to stop him. He didn’t let them. He had to reach Birch and Curran.
Curran was yelling when Marlin reached them. “I don’t need to be protected. I’m not a kid anymore.”
“You’re my brother,” Birch argued.
“So? Are you going to be overprotective until I’m sixty and married? Because I’m going to strangle you before that happens.”
“Stop fighting,” Marlin said as he gently pushed Birch away. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?” he asked Birch.
Birch glared at him. “Aren’t you supposed to be drinking?”
“I was until I had to stop because I caught the two of you fighting. What the fuck are you doing?”
“None of your business,” Curran snapped.
Marlin ignored him and kept his attention on Birch. Birch’s shoulders slumped, and he tilted his chin toward Curran. “Just trying to look out for him. Can you do that for me?”
“Yeah, you know I can. You have to get back to Killian.”
“As long as I know you’ll stay with Curran.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I fucking hate you both,” Curran muttered. “You’re talking like I’m not even in the room.”
He wasn’t wrong, but Marlin was trying to calm things down before they took a left turn.
Birch needed to go back to protecting Killian, and he wouldn’t be able to focus if he was worried about his brother.
The best way to ensure that he wasn’t was to promise to be there for Curran, and Marlin didn’t have a problem doing that.
Hell, he considered Curran family, although not a brother.
He would never have the kind of thoughts he had about Curran if they were brothers.
Curran threw his hands in the air. “Just leave me alone, both of you. I don’t need your help. I don’t need you to protect me. I’m doing fine on my own, and I’ll continue doing so.”
Marlin ignored him. “Go. I’ll make sure Curran is okay.”
Birch hesitated for a moment longer before finally stepping away. He glared at Curran as if silently ordering him to be good, then turned and left.
“You’re all right?” Marlin asked Curran.
Curran’s cheeks were flushed. His pupils were dilated, which didn’t bode well.
“I’m fine,” he insisted.
“How much have you had to drink?”
“None of your business.”
“I just promised your brother I’d keep an eye on you. I think it very much is my business.”
“I hate you.”
“I love you, too. Now, what do you want to do? Want me to walk you back to your rooms?”
Curran shook his head and walked away. Marlin wasn’t surprised.
He rushed after him, bumping into someone.
He apologized, but that meant it took him a little while to reach Curran, who had slipped out of the dining hall and was already in the hallway.
He heard Marlin and turned to glare at him, not slowing down.
“Where are you going?” Marlin asked.
“It’s none of your fucking business. I can go wherever I want to go.”
“As long as I’m with you, sure.”
“For fuck’s sake! Why do you and Birch have to be so overprotective? I’m fine. No one is going to hurt me because they know who my brother is. I don’t need you to follow me around like a puppy.”
“I’m not a puppy,” Marlin grumbled.
“Did I say you are? No, I didn’t. I said you were following me around like one, and it’s true. Why are you here? Why aren’t you having fun in the dining hall with all the people falling all over themselves to get your attention?”
Marlin frowned. “No one was trying to get my attention.”
“If you really think that, you’re blind. Half of the dragons at the party were falling all over themselves to get to you.”
“Were you one of those people?”
Curran stumbled and almost fell on his face. Luckily for him, Marlin was there. He caught him before he could hurt himself and kept him on his feet, but he quickly had to step back when Curran shrugged his hand off.
“Don’t touch me,” he muttered before turning around and walking away again.
They weren’t going in the direction of the hallway where Curran lived.
It was a bit confusing, but when Marlin realized they were close to his rooms, he was relieved.
He’d promised Birch that he’d keep an eye on Curran, and he would keep that promise.
He didn’t have to do that in Curran’s rooms, though.
He rushed forward and caught Curran’s wrist. He pulled him toward his door, relieved when, for a second, Curran went along with it. Then, he seemed to realize what was happening and pulled back. Marlin had to stop walking, and he turned to glare at Curran. “Come on. We’re at my rooms.”
“So? I’m not staying here.”
“Why not?”
“Why not?” Curran spluttered. “Why should I?”
“So I can keep my promise to Birch and keep an eye on you.”
“You’re not my babysitter, Marlin. I don’t need you to keep an eye on me. In fact, I need you and Birch to stop keeping an eye on me.”
“Why?” Marlin felt confused, but he was pretty sure that part of it was the alcohol. He really shouldn’t have drunk so much.
“What if I want to fuck someone? What if I want to go back in the dining hall and find someone who will bend me over and fuck me into next week?”
Marlin’s entire body flushed. “Do you want that?” he asked in a low voice.
Curran threw his hands up. “I don’t know. I’ve never had the opportunity to do anything like that because you and my brother are always hovering.”
“You shouldn’t let just anyone do that to you.”
“How should I choose who I want to fuck, then?”
“You should date them. You deserve more than a quick fuck.”
Curran arched a brow. “Yeah? Well, I don’t see you volunteering for it, so maybe you should keep your mouth shut.”
Marlin blinked. Curran was right, wasn’t he? “I’m volunteering.”
Curran gaped. “I’m sorry?”
“I’ll fuck you.” That way, Marlin would be sure that Curran was taken care of and that no one would take advantage of him.
It was the perfect solution.