Chapter 500

"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."noveldrama

"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. "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?"

"Oh," I say, turning to look at the familiar magic classroom and laughing at myself. "Sorry. Kind of got...lost in my thoughts."

"Yeah, you 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.