Chapter 239
“My very lackluster current plan,” Ben continues on a sigh, lifting his eyes to mine, “is to study really hard.”
I burst out laughing at this, shaking my head, because he sounds like me in this moment – diving into homework like i going to save the world.
Ben grins, sensing the direction of my thoughts, but carries on. “I want to become an Atalaxian ambassador fast – a real One that your father sends over to Atalaxia as part of a mission. I mean, I want to help end the war, but also being there could…I don’t know, give me a chance to talk to Elias. To learn what he wants and needs, figure out…more of a plan.”
I go a little pale at the idea of Ben going to Atalaxia as an ambassador – because it’s already dangerous for any of our countrymen who go over there, but with his sexual identity…
“Don’t forbid me, Ariel,” Ben says, again reading my mind, his face softening at my clear worry. “You’d do it too, if Jacks Luca were on the line.”
And as I consider that, I pull in a deep breath and nod, sitting up straighter. Because he’s right I’d do it in a heartbeat, i instant. And I’d be looking to do more. “That’s all a very long–term plan, Benny,” I say quietly, holding his gaze. “Don’t yo want to move faster than that?”
“Of course I do,” he says, turning up his hands like he’s helpless. “But I mean, what else can I do?”
I bite my lip, considering my next words carefully. “Actually,” I say, the word drawn out in my hesitation. “I think you sho tell Rafe.”
Ben
goes still as he stares at me. “You want me to tell my crush about my mate, the Atalaxian Prince, his enemy?”
“Yes!” I say, tossing my hand up as if it’s the easiest thing in the world. “Tell the Prince you’re crushing on about the Prince you’re mated to!” A grin breaks onto my face as I suddenly realize something. “Honestly, Ben, you do have a type.”
He laughs at this, I think relieved to do it, his head tilting back on his neck as he does. When he raises his head to look at n wiping a little tear from his eye that’s not all mirth, I can see that some of the tension has gone out of him. “I do, don’t I,” h says when his breath comes back to him, smiling at me. “I like ‘em fancy and empowered.”
“Good looking brunettes, too,” I say, screwing my mouth to the side. “But honestly, Ben, I know that you have this idea tha things will be different between you and Rafe if you tell him that you like guys, but…Rafe knows a lot about the inner workings of the Atalaxian court and he could talk to dad about best plans for getting Elias out of there – if that’s what you guys decide is best. I think it would honestly be…the fastest way to actually getting you in touch with him.”
Ben sighs, nodding even as he looks away from me out of the window. “I’ll consider it,” he says after a moment, his eyes going a bit hazy as he thinks it through.
“Good,” I say softly, my own mind turning about other avenues. But honestly, I know so damned little about these politics and this war that I’m extremely limited in what I can offer him right now. I curse, again, the stupid gender bias that sent me to ballet class while Rafe and Jesse learned politics and war.
I make a point, mentally, to steal my brother’s textbooks and work hard to fix this ignorance as soon as I can.
But honestly, when the hell will I have time to do that?
Ben and I spend a good deal of time in that peaceful silence, looking out the windows, thinking our thoughts and sorting through our own plans. But eventually I sigh, and glance at the dainty little clock in the corner, and realize that we only have a few minutes left before Ben has to walk me to magic class.
“So,” I say, slapping my hands down on the leather arms of my chair and making Ben jump out of his reverie. “What does all of this mean for you and Rafe, anyway?”
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Chapter 239
“What do you mean?” Ben asks, likewise glancing at the clock and grinning at me as he starts to gather his books.
“I mean, did you like…stop having a crush on him the moment you saw your mate? Did he wipe away the idea that anyone else could ever be cute?”
“It doesn’t work like that, Ari,” Ben says, smirking at me. “What are you suddenly immune to all other men’s charms now that Jackson and Luca are in your life?”
“Yes,” I say, my eyes falling half shut in derision. “Two is enough. I don’t need any more crushes.”
“Well, if Rafe wants to make out before Elias comes around,” Ben says, smiling fondly at me as he stands up and offers a hand, “then I’m game. But I don’t think that will be happening anytime soon, for more reasons than one.”
“More than his particularly inconvenient singular desire for women, you mean?” I ask, taking Ben’s hand and letting him pull me to my feet.
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“That, yes,” Ben says, stuffing his books into his messenger bag as I do the same. “Along with the fact that he’s seriously gone on Daphne.”
“Is he?” I ask, going a bit still in shock as I stare up into Ben’s face.
He turns to me, his brows going up. “Are you….surprised?”
“I mean, a little,” I say, coming back to myself and moving towards the trap door. Ben moves with me, bending down to unlatch it. “I mean, know they’re… dating or whatever. But he… he really likes her?”
“That’s what he told me,” Ben says, a little hesitant now, looking up at me as he pulls the door open. “He hasn’t talked to you
about it?”
“No,” I say with a little scowl as I start down the stairs, Ben following. “But…he’s never talked to me about girls. Ever. So I guess it’s nothing new. But he really said that?” I look over my shoulder at him.
–
Ben shrugs. “He told me that he’s never felt this way about a girl. He’s pretty gone on her – I don’t think he’s used to women who are that independent, and he quite likes it. But pay attention, Ari, these steps are steep if you break your neck going down the stairs I’ll have to face your entire family and I’m not up to that.”
I nod as I laugh, looking forward and paying attention to where I put my feet as the pair of us wind our way back down to the main part of the library. But even as we move back to the reference desk and Ben receives a light, flirtatious scolding from the librarian about abuse of the special collections room, I can’t quite pay attention to my current surroundings. As I hurry down the halls with Ben at my side, I get lost in my thoughts.
Because honestly, I never imagined that Rafe was…gone on Daphne like that. I mean, I knew he liked her, but I just thought they were…dating. Dating in the non–serious way that Rafe and Jesse have always dated girls – for fun, with no one really getting their heart broken.
But even if Ben does say that you can still crush on other people when you have a mate….I’m well aware that Rafe does have a mate coming down the line.
And that if Daphne is falling for him too…she’s going to be the one who gets her heart broken.
My stomach twists as I think of my handsome brother getting too involved with my best friend – even if he never intended to. Even if he just started this because she’s pretty and fun.
“Earth to Ari,” Ben murmurs, snapping his fingers in front of my face.
“What?” I ask, looking up at him.
“We’re here,” he says, smiling down at me, entertained. “Did you seriously not notice?”
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Chapter 239
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“Oh,” I say, turning to look at the familiar magic classroom and laughing at inyself. “Sorry, Kind of got…lost in my thoughts.”
“Yeah, you
a do that sometimes he says, putting a fond hand on top of my cap and rubbing it around a little – like he’s ruffling my hair. I grin up at him and swat his hand away.
“It’s part of my charm!”
“Never said it wasn’t!” Ben says, starting to walk away and giving me a little salute. “See you at dinner!”
“If I make it on time!” I call back with a sigh, turning towards magic class as I take a deep inhale of breath and put my
worries about Rafe and Daphne and Ben and Elias – who I’ve never even met, not really – aside.
Because they’re about to be replaced with a whole batch of other worries. Magical ones.
On a steep exhale, I step into the magic classroom.
Sat, Aug
