“What did you say?” he hisses, stalking toward me, and I have to think about it for a second.
Shit.
“Sh—she’s a dud.”
“Don’t. Ever. Call her that again,” Julian seethes, and I feel his magic as it wraps around me, the threat impossible to miss.
“Okay,” I manage to force the word out between my shock and the fear that pumps through me. I know Julian is strong, but I’ve neverfeltit.
“Julian,” Titus reaches out, resting his hand on Julian’s shoulder. He shrugs him off, making Titus clench his jaw, but other than that, he doesn’t react. “I don’t think he was trying to insult her, just stating a fact.”
“No, I didn’t mean it like a dig. I was just saying it would be easier to tell her if she knew about us, not that there was anything wrong with her.” I toss my hands up in surrender because, again, I might not like Wren, but I don’t hate her because she was born mortal.
I just don’t love that she’s somehow smarter than me; her being a mortal actually only makes it more impressive if you ask me.
Not that I would ever admit that out loud.
“That’s the least of our worries right now, though. We need to keep her away from Felix.” Nolan’s brows pull into a frown, and I think he’s realizing how hard that’s going to be.
“Why don’t we just haveherfriends keep them apart? It would be a lot easier and less suspicious.” Wren might not be loud andforward like some girls we know, but she is a force, and stopping her from going to the library is likely to be a job in and of itself.
This time, the look on Julian’s face is pure disappointment as he shakes his head and turns away, heading toward the dorm.
“She doesn’t have friends, Gavin. It’s just her.”
I watch as he moves away with the tiny sleeping girl in his arms that’s been a thorn in my side for all these years and think about the way I’ve treated her since she arrived.
Crap.
Being alone is shitty, and even at my lowest, I’ve always had my brother and the guys.
I can help with this; nobody said I had to be her friend, but I can help make sure she stays safe. The guys care about her, so I can do this, even if just for them.
Ihadn’t meant to fall asleep during the movie, but my head was throbbing, and I’d been so comfortable cuddled up to Julian’s side, I didn’t stand a chance.
Apparently, my late nights with Felix had been catching up with me, too, because I’d slept through the night, straight through dinner and everything.
Though I’m sure being in an actual bed had something to do with that. Even before I open my eyes, I know I’m not on the couch; it’s too warm and far too comfortable, and the smell...
Julian.
I don’t know when I became so familiar with him that I know his scent, but there’s no question it’s him.
Which can only mean one thing.
I’m in Julian’s bed.
My eyes fly open, and I look to my right and left fast enough that I feel the muscles in my neck tighten, threatening to kink if I don’t chill out. I reach up and rub at it, finding the muscles stiff, no doubt from the way I fell asleep while watching the movie.
Nothing else hurts, though, so I’ll take it. The couch is okay, but after late nights hunched over books and the headache I’ve had all week, a night in bed was a nice change of pace.
I need to drink more water and find a way to the store to grab some snacks. Felix often brings me treats to the library, but beyond that and dinner here, I’m not great at remembering to eat. I don’t really want to cook here when I come back late, and the cafeteria seems like an even worse idea.
Julian said that Rose couldn’t hurt a fly, but I swear, when she looks at me, she’s planning ways to kill me. She has yet to actually say or do anything, though, and I’d rather keep it that way. I don’t have time for anything that isn’t schoolwork.
Which is why it’s so concerning that I ended up in Julian’s bed. At least from the looks of it, I’m here alone and fully clothed, though for some reason that almost makes this worse.
I feel like a charity case, like he’s just being nice to me.
