Chapter 285

“Don’t get too excited,” I say, grinning at the suggestive little pulse that Luca sends down our bond. “I want to go visit Daphne.”

“Daphne,” Luca says, his eyebrows going up. “Yeah, sure, sounds fun. But why do you want to visit Daphne?”

“Because,” I say, slumping against him and letting him take my weight a little. “She just had a breakup too, and we’ve all been so busy and supportive of Rafe, but I’m worried that she feels a little alone. I mean, I know she dumped him but,” I shrug, “I don’t think it means she’s happy.”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Luca says, drifting his thumb over my cheekbone and then dipping his head to give me a sweet kiss. “Besides, I like Daphne. She’s fun to hang out with.”

“Is she?” I ask, grinning up at him curiously.

“What, you don’t think so?” he asks, grinning back.

“No, I do, I’m just…curious what made you say that,” I say, giving a shrug.

“She’s cool,” Luca says, dropping one arm and using the other still around my waist to escort me to the door. “Daphne’s funny and a good time, plus hanging out with her is really low-pressure. I’ve never met a girl like that before.”

I burst out laughing as I bend down to pick up our bags, handing Luca his. “Luca,” I say, shaking my head at him. “I bet you’ve met a thousand girls like that.”

“What?” he says, turning his head at me, confused. “No I haven’t, all the –“

“Have you ever tried just being friends with a girl before?” I ask, slipping my bookbag over my head and looking at him quizzically.

Luca goes still, staring at me.

“Hmmm?” I say, leaning closer to him, grinning up into his face because I already know what the answer is.

“All right, fine, no,” Luca says, his face breaking into that million-dollar playboy smile as he slips his arm back around my shoulders. “But that doesn’t mean Daphne isn’t particularly cool.”

My smile deepens as we head out of the gym and down the hall. “Daphne is particularly cool – but could it be that you think Daphne is chill and cool because you’re not wrapped up in a romantic drama with her? That she’s just a pal, like anyone else?”

“What, you want me to try my new line on her?” Luca asks, giving me a too-charming wink that makes my stomach flip. “See if I can imbue some drama into the relationship?”

“You try that line with any level of seriousness and I’ll kick your ass,” I growl, giving him a solid little rabbit punch in the belly that makes him burst into laughter and tug me closer to his side. “Besides, Daphne would never fall for it. She’s my friend first and would never betray me.”

“Yes, true,” Luca says with a sigh as we begin to climb the stairs to Daphne’s level. “Besides, I’m totally gone on blondes now. Redheads hold no interest for me.”

“Good,” I murmur, tightening my arm around his waist, for the second time today throwing caution to the wind regarding whether or not I’ll be seen walking the hallways like this with my mate. But after the day I’ve had?

I don’t know. I just…want them close, and keeping my secret in this school seems to pale in comparison to the rather cosmic news that the Goddess gave us.

Luckily, we don’t run into anyone by the time we reach Daphne’s door and I deliver a soft little rap.

The sewing machine inside goes quiet and Luca drops his arm from my shoulders as we hear footsteps moving towards the door.

It cracks open and Daphne goes a bit still when she sees Luca and me standing there, but then her eyes instantly fill with tears.

“Hey, guys,” she says, giving us a wobbly smile as she pulls the door open and leans against the frame.

“Daph!” I gasp, instantly reaching for her and grabbing her in a tight hug, pulling her with me into the room. “What’s wrong!?”

“Nothing!” she says, laughing, hugging me back with one arm while she raises the other hand to her cheek, wiping at the few tears that spill over her long dark lashes. “I just – I’m glad to see you!”

“Oh, Daphne!” I cry out, hugging her tight and feeling incredibly guilty that I let it go so long before reaching out like this. “I’m so sorry –“

“No, it’s totally cool,” she says, breaking away from me and giving Luca a little hug after he shuts the door. “I get it – Rafe was so upset, and you had to take care of him –“

“Oh, Rafe’s a big idiot who can take care of himself,” I say, waving a hand in the air and pulling Daphne over to the bed. I mean, I don’t actually mean that – but I think Daphne needs the assurance more than Rafe needs my undying sisterly loyalty right now. “I don’t want you to think that I’ve been staying away because I’m taking his side or something.”

Daphne stares at me for a second before her eyes well up with tears again. “Really?” she whispers.

“Oh my god!” I cry out, grabbing her again in another hug. “I’m so sorry. I should have come sooner. Of course not, Daphne, you’re really important to me! I’ve been such a jerk.”

Luca stands awkwardly by, checking out Daphne’s bookshelf, as the two of us take a few more minutes to reassure each other that neither is mad at each other and that our friendship is solid.

“I really should have come down, Daph,” I say quietly, shaking my head at her. “I’ve just been so insanely busy.”

“No, I know you are,” she says with a sigh, pushing herself back against her headboard and settling in. “Especially with the Games tomorrow. I shouldn’t have worried.”

I fight my impulse to assure her again that I should have been a better friend so she didn’t have to worry, but I know that’s just going to lead us down an endless circle. So I just smile at my friend, who grins back at me, both of us silently agreeing to move on from it.

“So, is that what’s been on your mind?” Daphne asks, looking between Luca and I. Luca grabs the chair from her sewing machine and joins our little group, looking between us. “The Games?”

“Yeah,” I say, sighing and settling back against the wall, pleased to have some time with my friend. “That and a weird visit from my grandmother the Goddess today.”

Both Luca and Daphne go pale as they gape at me and I grin, kind of tickled by the effect that dropping that little fact had. But I quickly move on, filling them in on what details I can – that the Goddess gave us some new information about our magic, and that Jesse’s magic has developed. I don’t give any big details, though – especially regarding the provenance of Jackson and Tony’s gift, or the shape that Jesse’s magic takes, or the fact that the Goddess ordered me to swiftly collect my mate’s marks.

Those seem either not my details to share or far, far too delicate for a little catch-up chat at dinner time.

“That’s insane,” Daphne murmurs, shaking her head at me and running a hand through her long auburn curls. “I can’t…I can’t believe that. And Jesse has his magic now? That’s…amazing.”

“I’m sure he’d be pumped to tell you all about it,” Luca says, perhaps…a bit too casually. He very pointedly does not look at me as he says it, giving Daphne a friendly nod. “You should come to the room tomorrow night after the Games – we’re all getting together, mostly so this lot can lick their wounds after their devastating loss to my team.” Luca points his thumb at me as he says this and I snarl and give him a little kick.

But then I turn my head back to Daphne, eager at the idea. “You really should come!” I say, nodding fast. “I would love that, and a room party always needs more girls. Plus, you can meet our friend Tony.” I beam as if this is the greatest treat in the world.

But Daphne just bites her lip and shakes her head. “I don’t know,” she says, “that seems…very bold, to dump Rafe Sinclair one day and then show up at his party the next.”

“Please, this is my party,” I say, sitting up straight and pressing a possessive hand to my chest.

“Oh whatever, Ariel, you didn’t even know this party was happening,” Luca says, leaning back in his chair and giving me a lazy grin.

“Regardless!” I say, flashing him my best princess smile. “My room, my party.” But then I shake the pretense loose and lean forward, grabbing Daphne’s hand. “Please come, it won’t be the same without you. You’re still our friend, a part of the group, even if your romance with my brother came to its end.”

“Really?” Daphne asks, the hope on her face breaking my heart.