Theo thought he saw a smile on Peter’s face, but if it had really been there, Peter had smoothed it away quickly.
“I upset you.It left a sour taste in your mouth.I understand that, and I apologize for having caused that feeling.”
Theo unbuckled his own seat belt.“I can hear the ‘but’ coming in your tone of voice.Are you going to tell me that you don’t really care because I was safe?You know what, we’re adding something to the contract that says if you’re being asinine, I get to make a wish.”
“You would like to make a wish?”
Theo didn’t dare look into Peter’s eyes.He had an uneasy feeling that if he said yes, he’d be talked into making a wish.Then, Peter would go do his thing, like when he’d gone to take care of Bernard.It would leave Theo with a wish fulfilled, but he’d be upset and worried at the same time, and it wasn’t a trade worth making.Life had no right to give them one Bernard after another, nor to let Peter be stupid enough to play the hero all the time.
“I’d like to amend the damn contract.”
Before Peter could respond, Theo clambered out of the car, choosing Carl’s side, not least because Carl was being nice enough to hold his door open.He was pretty sure Peter was staring after him and thinking about how to add wishes to a contract, which surely wasn’t a thing that went into contracts.
“This is where you’re studying.”Carl looked around, his gaze falling on the big linguistics building before he closed the car door.
Theo nodded.“I don’t really go in there though.”He turned and pointed in the direction of the library.“Corvin works back there, and most of my classes are that way too.It’s a small campus though, at least compared to other places.”
Laurette had drifted closer to them, and he nodded at that.“So true.But our university is old, built with tradition in mind.It doesn’t need to be large to pass on knowledge to a select few who choose to come to our town for their learning.How have you found it here, Theo?”
“I like it.”
Theo meant that.New Elvenswood had not been his first choice.In many ways, it had been his last chance.Then, after meeting Peter, it had become something else entirely.Fate morphing from darkness into a far brighter shape…
Theo swallowed.I’m being sentimental.We have an arrangement.No need to turn that into something it’s not.Yes, Peter’s nice, and I know he cares for me.But nothing is ever certain in life, and good things don’t last forever.I know that.I’ve seen it, and I’ve lived it.
Laurette cocked a brow, almost like he could read some of Theo’s thoughts, and Theo flinched.
“Let’s keep it likable.No accidents or such on campus.Peter, you and your lover behind me and Gertrude.You stay with them.”
He said the last to Carl, who wasn’t the kind of person to blush easily, or at least hadn’t been that kind of person before today.Theo had to admit that he looked good though, dressed in his suit and with the color high in his cheeks.
“Yes, of course, Lord Laurette.”Once Laurette had walked away to talk to Peter in a hushed voice, Carl whispered, “That’s the first thing he’s ever said to me.”
“Good for you.Wouldn’t have thought that’s your type, Carl.”
Carl’s lips pressed together, and his head bobbed forward.“It’s not like that.It’s just—do you ever just feel good, having someone around you who tells you what to do, how to do it, and when to do it?Someone who’s in charge and for whom it’s effortless?”
“Kinky.”
Carl shook his head, ignoring the light tone in Theo’s voice.“I don’t mean it that way.I know humans see it as something sexual, but I can’t believe you wouldn’t enjoy having another person to look to for guidance, even if you aren’t a werewolf.Kira and I argue about that sometimes.”
Theo fumbled the shoulder strap of his bag.“I never really thought about that.”Which was a lie.Peter telling him what to do when Theo couldn’t quite muster figuring it out was nice, but…he didn’t want to admit it to Carl.At least that was what he told himself, all while pushing a fantasy his brain helpfully provided of Peter calling him Puck and giving exact instructions about what to do out of his head.
Once Peter was done with his chat with the Elven lord, he came over to them, put an arm around Theo, and rested his hand on the small of his back.
“Are you ready?”
“Of course I’m ready.”Theo crossed his arms.“Are you?”
Peter chuckled.“I’m never quite sure.I’ll follow your lead.”
Something about that irritated Theo, but he didn’t stop to dwell on it; didn’t have the time.They headed toward the cafeteria and got there quickly enough.It wasn’t a long walk, after all.
By now, the real lunch rush had cleared as well, and the place was almost as quiet as it had been when Theo had gotten there earlier that day.With Laurette, Cloudtree, and Gertrude still catching looks and some attention, Theo didn’t have to worry about weirding anyone out.He looked around and checked a few more group chats he didn’t normally take part in.
He didn’t see Corvin or Mike in the bushes, and there were no exciting updates in the chats.He texted Corvin and got no response.The two of them didn't come out either, not even when their group was right in front of the building.
“Maybe they’re inside,” Peter said, clearly thinking along the same lines.
