“She was out late studying, and it’s seven am. She never sleeps in, so hush before I hush you!” he hisses, and I see the spark in his eye that warns me of justhowhe will hush me.
No fair.
With a huff, I flip him off and head to the kitchen. He watches me go as if daring me to do something.
Believe me, I’m tempted. It’s not like I think Julian would ever really hurt me. But I’ve pushed him too far a time or two before, and well, it wasn’t exactly fun.
Instead, I grab a banana and some water and sit my ass down and eat. Titus sits across from me, munching on pancakes. There’s a nice hot stack of them in the center of the table, and they smell great, but I know Julian made them, so I won’t be touching them.
After a few minutes, I feel Julian leave, probably headed upstairs to get ready for the day, and I let out a sigh, relaxing a little bit.
“You need to stop pushing him.” Titus doesn’t even glance up as he continues eating and reading over some sheet music. Hespeaks in English now since the object of his loathing is currently unconscious.
I debate for a moment whether to let him know that Wren knows other languages. Well, I’m not sure about multiple languages, but at least one. It had been part of one of our advanced placement requirements: being fluent in another language.
But what are the odds that it would be German of all languages? It’s not even in the top three most commonly learned secondary languages, so he shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
“I’m not trying to push him,” I say, snagging a pancake off the stack and taking a bite of it, annoyed that it tastes so good. Why are the fae so good at cooking? “I just don’t feel the need to cater to theprincess. I thought you, of all people, would understand.”
That seems to get his attention, and he finally looks up from his sheet music to glare at me.
Julian and Titus have never made sense to me; they’re just so… opposite, in literally every way.
Where Julian is sunshine and rainbows, Titus would be hurricanes and tsunamis.
Though they both have that whole scary thing pretty down pat.
I look away first, unable to hold his gaze as his usually honey-golden eyes bleed red. He knows I hate it when he does that, though; judging from his glare, I’m not sure if it’s because of me or her.
“I’m not a fan…” he grits out as if each word were carved from the depths of his soul. “But Julian is. So know that pushing her pushes him.”
I collapse back in my chair, tossing the last bite of my pancake in my mouth with a grumble.
Iknowhe’s right, but I don’t have to like it. Actually, I really, really hate it if I’m being honest.
“What the heck does he see in her?” I glance at her where she’s still asleep. I mean, yeah, she’s pretty, I guess, but for someone like Julian…
He could have anyone he wanted in the whole school, man or woman.
Though I guess he doesn’t have the best track record, given that he and Titus have been together for nearly five years now.
Maybe he likes assholes; that would explain why he’s so drawn to her.
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter why. Just stop pushing him. The last thing we need is him getting in trouble for the mortal,” he huffs before turning his eyes back to his music.
I purse my lips and look down at it to see Dvorák: Cello Concerto in B minor. Strange, that wasn’t what he was practicing last week.
No, this piece is much more difficult and very long.
I don’t ask, instead eating my banana and finishing off my water as my brain runs wild. Trying and failing to think of all the reasons Julian might like Wren.
The list is very small…
Unless.
“Oh shit, do you think she could be his—” I cut myself off at the last second, slapping a hand over my mouth when I realize I’ve been way too loud, way too close to her.
We both whip around to look at her, and my heart sinks into my stomach when she shifts.
