30. Julian #2
Nolan moves first, tossing his bag down on the couch that’s now Wren’s bed before he seems to think better of it. He grabs it and tosses it on the other couch before he trudges into the kitchen to see what I have.
Wren follows behind at a slower pace, seemingly still embarrassed, probably from being ‘caught,’ but unable to ignore her curiosity.
“No way,” Nolan says, snatching the paper from my hand to get a better look.
“I guess I just needed a reason to pay attention,” I tell him, wiggling my brows so he can’t miss my meaning, and he doesn’t, if his scowl is anything to go by.
“What?” Wren asks, and I turn to find her right behind Nolan. The great oaf is completely blocking her with his big body.
Nolan turns with my paper in hand, holding it out to her as if it offends him; it shouldn’t, considering this is a win for all of us.
Well, Nolan and I, at least.
Titus and Gavin might not be too happy about it.
“Oh my god! You got an A!?”
The smile on her face is so damn genuine that I’m not sure how Gavin keeps up this rivalry thing with her.
She’s just so good and pure.
“Who knew you could teach the fairy?” Nolan says, making her brows scrunch in confusion before he seemingly realizes what he just said.
He’d been insulting my being fae, but even if he were to try to cover that up, I’m not sure Wren is aware of mine and Titus’s relationship, and I’m not in a rush to tell her about it when they can’t even handle being in the same room together.
One thing at a time. I know he’ll come around eventually, but he’s going to take a little motivation and maybe a smack upside the head.
“Now you owe me a movie night this Friday, so you can’t weasel out of it.” I attempt to change the subject, and I’m almost positive it won’t work until the door opens again and in walks Titus.
Well, that will do it.
Wren’s head snaps toward the door, and I expect her to avert her gaze and ignore him the way she usually does. Instead, I watch her eyes narrow, her gaze turning to a glare, and of course, he glares back.
I look between the two of them, unsure when this happened and what this even is.
Nolan catches my eye, looking as confused as I feel, but all I can do is shrug; I have no idea.
Apparently, I missed something, and it must have been important.
Titus backs down first, looking at Nolan and then me before he heads for the stairs without looking back.
Wren huffs and moves to the couch, where she starts pulling things from her bag. Honestly, it’s amazing I was able to distract her this long. Usually, she goes right to studying as soon as she comes back, and it’s on us to be here or not.
Unfortunately, the same is said about her ability to stop. If nobody stops her, she’ll just keep going all night. I’d been tempted to go down and get her a few times in the library, but I think the librarian must keep tabs on her because while some nights are late, they’re never too late.
Besides, something tells me she wouldn’t love me trying to manage her, and right now, I need all the brownie points I can get.
“So, that felt… different?” I say as I collect my things and move to join her on the couch she calls a bed, as Nolan falls onto the other couch, where he threw his bag. Not without a pretty mean side-eye that has me smirking.
I’ve never seen Nolan jealous over a girl before. I wonder if he even realizes that’s what this is.
Wren doesn’t respond. Instead, her scowl grows deeper, her lips puckered as if she just tried something sour. Fuck, she’s going to beat my ass if I laugh, I’m sure, but something about her upset makes me want to pinch her cheeks or kiss her.
Either would work.
I glare at Nolan, and it takes him a second, but he seems to get my silent cue and fixes his scowl before he agrees.
“Yeah, usually you pretty much ignore him. That seemed much more hostile.”
She scoffs, slamming her book down on the coffee table, glaring toward the stairs where Titus disappeared a few minutes ago as if daring him to come back.
Obviously, she has no idea that he could easily hear every word we're saying if he chooses to. Usually, he doesn’t, says it’s annoying to hear ‘all those people all the time,’ but with these two, I never seem to know what's happening.
“It is hostile because Titus is an asshole,” she snaps as she flips through the book, her nostrils flaring in annoyance.
Wren doesn’t swear very often, and I cock a brow at hearing it now.
“Yes, but we knew that, my dear.” I lean toward her, getting in her space while she’s distracted, much too upset.
She smirks and shakes her head at my joke that isn’t really a joke but more a funny fact.
“Yeah, well, the other night he came into the library and started yelling and trying to tell me who I could and couldn’t hang out with. He was acting as if he gets a say in who I’m friends with,” she huffs, and I can see why she’s upset.
I’d be mad if he did that to me. We’ve been together for years now; I can’t imagine what I would have done if he had tried that early on.
It’s even worse for them because she doesn’t even like him, let alone love him enough to forgive him.
“That sounds…” Nolan trails off, turning to face me as if asking for assistance.
“Like an asshole thing to do,” I fill in for him, and though I’m pretty sure that’s not what he was going for, it fits.
“It was. Who the hell does he think he is, and what gives him the right to be mean to anyone else, like he’s so much better?” she fumes.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her so upset, and I’m stuck between thinking she’s adorable like this and wanting to go and demand answers from Titus.
I know he doesn’t like her, but this seems like a bit much.
Something tells me there's more to this, some key point I’m missing, because the more I think about it, the more I can’t see Titus approaching her like that without good reason.
They have both done their absolute best to avoid one another.
“I don’t care if he is his brother,” she grumbles as she flips through pages, saving me from having to ask who this mysterious person is, and my eyes snap up to meet Nolan’s over her head.
Felix.
I see the worry in Nolan’s eyes, and I’m sure it’s visible in my own as well. How could it not be?
Felix is dangerous and powerful.
Maybe even more so than I am.
The rest of our study session is unusually quiet as my mind wanders to all the ways this could go wrong and why he would be interested in her in the first place.
I mean, I know why. She’s amazing; anyone would be stupid to overlook her, but Felix doesn’t like anyone.
I’ve known him since we were kids, and I’m pretty sure he’s only ever said three words to me.
He doesn’t do friends, and I’ve definitely never seen him with a girl.
So why Wren?
Wren gives us both a few weird looks, but we ignore them. What do we say? Not only does she seem to like Felix enough to defend him from Titus and be around him, but I also can’t give her a good reason to stay away from him.
Fuck. I hate this.
I turn in after her, urging her to get some sleep as my anxiety continues to grow. My powers are strong, pure, and sought after, but what's the use of them if I can’t keep the people I care about safe?
Felix never seemed to give a shit about Titus. I got lucky, but what if he wants Wren?
The second she lies down, I use my magic to help her fall asleep and stay asleep, needing to know she’s safe. It’s against the rules, but I don’t really care right now, so long as she’s safe.
I step through the fabric of the world, skipping my bedroom and going right to Titus’. The second I materialize, I pause, worried he might not want me after our last little spat.
It wasn’t exactly serious, and we’ve seen each other a few times since then, even practiced, but...
“Either lie down or leave. You're thinking so hard you're giving me a headache.” He holds the covers up, offering me the space in front of him, and I smile as I crawl into bed to be the little spoon.
He lets the blanket drop, his arm banding around my waist to pull me back into his chest until there isn’t an inch between us. In his arms, I feel like I can breathe again.
That is, until I remember what Wren said.
“Titus…” I trail off, unsure what to say. The fact that he was looking out for her already is strange, though I’m sure it has something to do with me.
The idea of something happening to her, though… It makes my stomach roll.
“I know you don’t like her—"
“I won’t let him hurt anyone else, not even your annoying little mortal,” he says, cutting me off, and I know it’s silly; Felix would destroy Titus as far as power level goes.
But he’s also the only person I’ve ever seen him listen to, so maybe that will be enough.
It has to be.
He presses a kiss to the back of my head, and I let my eyes fall closed, safe and warm in his arms, one of my favorite places to be. I try not to think about how much better it would be with Wren here with us.
Someday, I know she will be.
I can be patient, for now.