“Then answer that question I asked you in the Dragonfly Court,” I say, taking a sip of my drink and hoping I can maybe get a real answer from him for once.
“Which one?”
“Describe your dream partner to me.” I say it with the seriousness of a quiz in a teen magazine, but he exhales, thinking for a long moment before his mask slips back in place.
“Why would I bother when I’m sure I’m staring her in the face?” Magnus has that same sly smile, but there’s something in it that doesn’t reach his eyes this time. We’re both so tired.
“Humor me here,” I press.
“Fine. Beautiful, good sense of humor, not afraid to stand up for her morals—someone who would fight for me.” Maybe, just maybe, we’re starting to get somewhere.
“See, that’s how you know we’re mismatched.” I shake my head.
“Hmm?” Magnus murmurs, his eyes fully locked on mine.
“All I want to do is fightwith you,” I reply. Somehow, at that, we both laugh.
“Perhaps I am looking for a bit of that as well.” He runs his fingers through the length of his red hair. “Someone to keep me in check—someone like you. That would be enough.”
I look at him seriously. “But don’t you think you deserve more than just enough? Magnus, you should want everything.”
“I have you.”
“You don’t. And even if you did,” I sigh, resting my head in my hands, “it would never be reciprocated.”
He bites his bottom lip, his fangs worrying the skin. “What is it about him that’s so different? Tell me, why does that brute get to be your ‘everything’ when I am right here?”
“The whole ‘I love him’ thing is a big one.”
“Yes, but why?” He says, fully exasperated. “Why him and not me?”
“He sees all of me.” I sigh. “The good, the bad, hell… the really bad. I act before I think. I trustsoeasily, and it gets me into trouble. Case in point: my present company.”
He raises his glass in a cheer, and God, I resist the urge to push him off the balcony and into the street. Let’s appeal to his better sense—assuming he has them at all.
“All of that and he still loves me. Plus, he makes me feel safe—physically and emotionally. I can justbewith him. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that with anyone else.”
“He makes you feel all of that?” he asks, his gaze suddenly fixed on the bubbles rising from the sparkling water he ordered.
“And more.” My heart aches just thinking about him.
“And one of those potential suitors from your broken cellular device could do the same for me?”
“It’s worth a shot, isn’t it?” I ask. “Especially if you find something that’s mutual.”
His eyes glitter for a moment as if thinking about the possibilities.“Then … if I was to find someone, we could go on a double date instead of a fake one.” God, it would be cute if it wasn’t so short sighted.
“Oh, Moth is still absolutely going to kill you,” I say, and even though it’s probably an exaggeration, Magnus isn’t coming out of this unscathed.
“Not if he can’t find us.”
“Then how exactly are we going to do this emotionally mature double date?”
“You will have to sort out the details of having me spared of his rage.” He smirks.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“You could feed my ego every once in a while, you know,” he grumbles. “As wonderful as it sounds to be truly seen, I would not mind a compliment.”
