He nodded. “Time flicked backwards today.”
She looked at me worried. “It’s been months since that happened.”
“There is pure magic stored away,” Stone interrupted.
Julian held his fingers to his mouth, silver eyes drifting to Stone as he shook his head, protesting. “It’s stored for a certain... purpose.” His eyes flicked to me. He was being cryptic because he didn’t trust me and needed to watch what he was saying. “I can’t approve. Especially for a Sacred Sea girl.”
Beside me, Stone’s eyes flared with black agitation as he looked at Julian.
“The hatred in this town is nothing if not consistent,” he said, his thumb grazing my arm. “I’m not asking for permission.”
Julian cocked a questionable brow. “You’re not asking for permission?”
“There’s magic. She needs it. Why must you decide who is worthy?”
“She’s not Norse Woods.”
Stone’s agitation sprouted roots.
I could feel it in the way he was grazing my arm. Deeper, longer strokes.
“I could stand here and argue with you,” Stone said. “But it’s time we’re wasting. Let me know now. Is this a Heathen vote, aJulian-decides-all-for-everyone-at-all-times, or a situation where I have to steal magic from my own brothers?”
An exasperated expression stole Julian. “What is your problem with me?”
Stone’s hand on my arm paused. “My god, get over yourself,” he fumed. “Adora is lying here with her back cut to shreds. Do you really believe I care about your feelings at this moment?”
“I’m sick and tired of your mouth.”
Stone shook his head. “You’re sick and tired of anyone who contests you.”
At once, Julian’s face transformed from annoyed to enraged, and he grabbed Stone’s arm, flinging him away from me, then pushed him against the wall. “Just say what you want to say,” Julian seethed.
Stone’s eyes went wild. The unnerving look caused Julian to let him go, and Stone looked down at him. “One way or another, that magic will leave the Athenaeum after Clarence sees what I do to you if you ever drag me away from her again.” Stone stepped forward. “You want to know what I think of you? Fine.”
Julian’s chest was heaving, and my gaze was bouncing between the two.
“You are this noble man, but you have no qualms about doing the wrong thing if it means benefiting you and Fallon. Other times, I find you self-centered and hypocritical, if not a liar. In one breath you say your loyalty is to Fallon, the next it’s to the Heathens. So, which is it?”
Julian didn’t say a word.
He only stood there.
“Every decision you’ve made since murdering my mother has been entirely selfish. You had the nerve to tell me that if it weren’t for breaking the curse, you’d leave me to drown for the rest of my life because of apossibilityI’d come to harm Fallon. You never were willing to give me a chance. Truth be told, you jumped off the cliff not intending to break the curse. However, it is held over the Heathens as though you should be praised for it. As though you did them all a favor. If only they knew how quick you would turn on them.” Julian clenched his jaw, and Stone took another step forward. “Then I see you and Fallon together every day, the happy couple, with no worries of a tomorrow, when I cannot even hold Adora’s hand, never mind knowing if I’ll ever see her again each time I say goodbye, and I loathe you for it. I am sickened by the fact that you obtained this happiness by betraying others. So, yes, I have a problem with you, but I allow none of it to affect her. Whether I loathe you or like you, I will take magic from you.”
Julian grabbed his shirt and threw him against the wall.
“You ungrateful bastard,” he growled. “All of us got on our knees for the two of you tonight. Never has a Heathen fallen to his knees for Sacred Sea, much less a girl who’d rather bathe in my blood.” His forearm pushed into Stone’s chest. “Yes, I’m selfish, and I’m a hypocrite, and I’m a liar because I put Fallon above the Heathens. Judge me all you want for it, but I get to have a life with Fallon because I fought like hell to be with her, and I never stop,” he spat. “You’re a Heathen, Danvers. You’re given nothing. You are owed nothing. If you want something, you have to fight for it, no matter who you have to cross to get it. So, wipe your fucking tears. Start fighting for the life you want, and never stop. No matter what I, a Heathen, or anyone else says.”
Stone shoved Julian off him. “A virtuous leader, this one, willing to cross his brothers for another.” Stone shook his head. “A true leader would never need to choose who to betray. And a true woman would not allow him to choose her in the midst of betrayal.” His eyes hit Agatha. “You should be proud.”
Stone stalked out of the room, and Julian followed.
Silence replaced them. Agatha and I exchanged glances.
And then, “Oh, the Heathens. Never a dull moment.” She chuckled.
“I’ve seen Stone like this, but never Julian.” I smiled because Stone only acted like this when he cared, and this meant Stone had found his place here.
