Chapter 85

“Nah,” he says, grimacing and starting to back out of the door, “I’m totally carly- noveldrama

“Jacks!” I laugh, darting over to him and grabbing his arm, tugging him into the room. “Everyone will be here in like, thirty seconds. Just come and sit down or, better

or, better yet, make yourself useful –”

–

I drag him over to the coffee table and shove a pen and paper into his hand.

“What am I supposed to do?” he mutters, staring at it.

“Just write that we’d like dinner sent up for two more,” I say, waving a hand at him as I continue to straighten up, setting pillows right and folding blankets. Jackson sighs dramatically but does as I say, heading over to the dumbwaiter with the note even as I marvel that he’s here at all.

I mean I shouldn’t be that surprised that Jacksons‘ here I invite him to come over all the time. He’s gotten closer with Rafe and Jesse over the past two weeks during magic class, and I know that they like him. Plus, like Daphne, I suspect that he’s lonely and could use a night.

of fun.

I know that it will be awkward with Luca at first but I mean, Luca’s going to have to get used to it too, eventually, isn’t he? I mean, I have to imagine that at some point…Luca and Jackson are going to like, know about each other. And I figure….the more used to each other they get now, the easier that will be?

Right?

I sigh, shaking my head, not wanting to think about that now as I put my hands on my hips, looking around the room.

“What’s next?” Jackson asks, walking slowly over to me, his hands in his pockets, just the touch of a smile gracing his lips.

I start to say something but then forget my words, captivated as I am by the sight of him. his broad shoulders, his strongly featured face, that long, straight nose. Instead of speaking. I just smile.

Jackson laughs at me, shaking his head. “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?” I cock my head to the side.

“You just stare at me sometimes,” he murmurs, stepping close.

“Well have you seen you?” I say, my eyes going wide as I take a long moment to look at him from head to toe. “You’re kind of a surprising specimen.”

“I am not,” he sighs, looking away from me and grinning nonetheless. “I’m just big, but you’re used to that, in the family you came from.”

“You’re more than just big, Jacks,” I say with a little sigh, drawing his eyes back to me. It smile at him again. “I’m really glad you came. You’re going to like Daphne.”

“Daphne?” he asks, the smile falling from his face.

“My friend!” I say, grinning anew and moving to the fire. “Didn’t I tell you she was coming? I figured that’s why you came you’re probably sick of our faces, but you’ll get to meet

someone new

–

“A girl!?” he asks, and I look up in surprise to see him looking towards the door with real anxiety on his face..

“Yesss,” I say slowly, watching him curiously. “Is that a…problem?”

Jackson spins his head back to me, his brow furrowed, but before he can say anything else the door opens again, Jesse and Ben coming through.

“Hey!” Ben calls, grinning between us. Jesse beams, crossing the room quickly and shaking Jackson’s hand, giving him a warm welcome and working very hard to make him feel at home.

“Wow,” Ben says, kneeling down by the fire with me and starting to hand me wood, “I can’t believe you finally got him here. To a social occasion. How long do you think before he

bolts?”

“About five minutes,” I say, giving Ben a sad little look. “I just told him a girl is coming and he flipped.”

Ben bursts out laughing at this, shaking his head at me. “Oh, if he only knew that he’s been in the presence of one all this time.” I grin too, stacking the longs on the fire and speaking softly to Ben as I light a match.

“Take him under your wing a bit, okay, Ben? I want Jackson to have fun, and you’re nicer than the rest.”

“Aye aye, Princess Captain,” Ben says happily, giving me a little salute before moving to Jackson’s side to say a real hello.

1 sigh with contentment as the fire catches on the little bit of kindling I’ve shoved beneath the logs, starting to burn warm and cozy. I sit back on my heels, watching the fire lick up the cool wood, pleased again to have a fireplace in this castle, which is getting colder and colder as the nights pass.

“What the hell is he doing here?”

I jump almost out of my skin, so lost was I in contemplating the fire, before I look up to see Luca staring down at me, his hands tucked deep in his pockets.

I sigh, exasperated, the moment I recover from my surprise. “Luca,” I growl, grabbing his wrist and tugging him down next to me. “You’d better be nice to Jackson tonight he’s my guest –”

“Yes, Ariel,” Luca growls back, using my name as a way to suggest to me that he’s being very serious, though he pitches his voice low enough that no one will hear. “And why have you, in particular, invited him?”

–

I shake my head at him, not wanting to have this fight again. Because of course Luca and I have talked about Jackson at length in the dream state and Luca just absolutely does not get my insistence on continuing our friendship when it bothers him so much.

We need to tell him, my wolf says in my mind, giving me a determined little nip. We’re not being fair – it’s getting close to blatantly lying to him, at this point.

I nod, agreeing with her, determined to do it over winter break. But god, it’s going to break his heart, and maybe mine too. Luca – he’s become so important to me over these past weeks and months. I just…don’t want to ruin what we have.

Selfish, my wolf quips, nipping at me again. But I roll my eyes at her, turning my attention back to my angry mate. Because even if it is selfish, I can’t just blurt it out right now.

“Please, Luca,” I say, reaching out and putting a soft hand on his forearm. “Jackson’s really nice, and he’s lonely. Can you please find it in your heart to just be nice to a poor guy who doesn’t have any friends?”

Luca sighs but then glances up to where Jackson is standing at the center of the room, towering over everyone but Rafe, chatting amiably with all of our friends.

“He doesn’t look so lonely now, does he?” Luca says, a little bitter.

And my heart swells because….well, no he doesn’t. Jackson – in this moment, at least, he looks… warm. Accepted. Like he’s having fun.

Of course, his face goes pale when a little knock comes at the door.

“Daphne!” I shout, jumping to my feet, knowing there’s only one person it could be.

Her face bursts into a grin as she sees me and I hurry to her side. I wrap her in a warm hug. tugging her into the room. “I love your dress!” I whisper, my eyes roving over the pretty purple fabric with blue flowers printed on it. “Did you make it?”

“Of course I did,” she says, flipping her hair back over her shoulder and pretending to be smug about it even though she glances in towards the room, her hands tight around the bottle of wine that she’s brought. She leans in closer to me. “Do I really look okay?”

“You look gorg,” I say, grinning at her, meaning it. Daphne – she really is very pretty, isn’t she? “Come in, please!”