#Chapter 10: Comfort
Third Person POV
“Lyral Lyra, wait up”
Luca jogged to catch up with Lyra’s quick, short strides as she hurried down the hallway. She didn’t slow her pace, but rather quickened it. Speedy little thing.
After a moment, Luca managed to comer her in the stairwell, blocking her from running up the stairs with his arms stretched
out wide.
“You’re really gonna ignore your new friend?”
Lyra’s big blue eyes widened, freckled cheeks reddening with outrage. “We’re not friends, Luca.”
“No?” Luca tilted his head and clasped his hand to his chest in mock offense. “And to think I was under the impression that we had gotten close after yesterday.”
Lyra snorted. “You’re just like all his other friends. Looking down on me. Mocking me. So if you’re here to do that, I’d appreciate it if you could just leave me alone.”
A small pang of guilt cut through Luca’s chest, which surprised him.
To be fair, her foster brother had always made her out to be an annoying lost pup who followed him around everywhere and
never had a thought of her own, but Luca had a different view of her lately.
She seemed far more confident than Luca had once thought. In fact, the way she held her head high and pulled her shoulders back spoke of a young woman who had lived a much longer life than her body showed
Lyra looked nothing at all like the person Luca thought she was. Perhaps that was why he had found himself so suddenly
attracted to her for the first time in all of his time knowing her
“Look, I’m sorry,” Luca admitted “I know we haven’t been very kind to you,”
Lyra’s nostrils flared, but Luca quickly added, splaying his hands out to the side in surrender, “I mean it. And I promise I’m not here to mock you. You just seem upset, so… I wanted to help.”
For a moment, Lyra looked like she might turn and flee. But when she held her ground, slender shoulders dropping a little as some of the anger bled out of her body, Luca stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.
She stiffened, but didn’t pull away as he patted her back.
“There, there?” he asked. Hugging people wasn’t exactly typical of Ly woman. But for some reason, he’d felt compelled to comfort her.
Not when he wasn’t actively trying to sleep with a
“You’re not a good hugger,” Lyra muttered into his chest.
Luca smirked. “That’s rich, coming from the girl who’s just standing there and not hugging me back.”
“I never asked for one.”
“Well, you’re getting one. So appreciate it
Luca could have sworn he heard her chuckle, unless the wind had suddenly taken on that ability. Finally, she wrapped one
arm around him. Just one
Suddenly, Kael rounded the corner, dark eyes flashing as he saw the scene.
Luca quickly pulled back and cleared his throat. “There. All better.”
Kael pursed his lips and said through the mindlink, “You d
didn’t have to put your hands on her.”
1/3
+15 Bro
“Yeah, well, at least she’s not on the verge of biting someone’s head off now. So.. Mission accomplished. You’re welcome.”
Kael, to his credit, seemed to understand that. Luca knew that Kael was protective of his family, especially the often meek and naive Lyra, his wolfless little foster sister who quite literally needed protecting most of the time. That wasn’t about to change, even if she had apparently changed since the last time Luca saw her.
“Well, thanks. I’ll talk to her now-
“Probably not the best idea. I think she needs space.”
BONUS
Kael looked uneasy at that suggestion, but Luca just lifted his shoulders and stepped out of Lyra’s way, letting her pass. If she noticed Kael standing in the doorway, she didn’t pay him any mind.
“Thanks, Luca,” Lyra said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder and making her way up the steps. “See you later.”
“See ya, short stack.”
Lyra rolled her eyes, but Luca thought he caught a glimpse of a smile tugging at her lips as she passed.
Kael waited for her footsteps to fully fade before he finally spoke out loud.
“I hope you’re not planning on sleeping with my little foster sister. You’ve got your pick of the litter here at Ravencrest and
she doesn’t need to be on your docket”
“Since when do you care who I sleep with?” Luca asked. “It’s not like she’s your real sister, anyway.
Kael’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “My mother told me to watch over her, so that’s what I’m doing.”
Luca considered jokingly telling Kael that one amazing night wouldn’t hurt Lyra any, and would likely even be good for her,
but the furious look on his friend’s face made him think better of it. So instead, he lifted his hands in surrender and said, “T
won’t”
Promise me, Luca.”
Luca sighed. “Alright, fine. I promise
Dammit
Some of the anger deflated from Kael’s shoulders, and he sighed, running his hand through his hair in a gesture that looked far more stressed out than a brother simply worrying about his adoptive sister.
“You’re not actually starting to return her feelings, are you?” Luca blurted out.
Kael’s face paled. “Of course not. I can’t stand her. How dare you even
ask”
“Just curious. It wouldn’t be that weird, since you’re not related. And she clearly loves you, so
“Ew. Just. Don’t, Luca
“Alright, alright Luca fell into step beside Kael as they began making their way down the corridor. “But you know, she’s a pretty girl and Ravencrest is full of single young males looking for fun.”
“What are you saying?” Kael’s gaze s
snapped to his friend.
Luca shrugged one shoulder. “I’m just saying that she might get a boyfriend soon. Which would probably be a good thing for you, because then she’ll stop following you around ”
“No. She won’t like anyone except for me.”
“You sound so certain.”
Kael stopped and turned to Luca j thunderous again.
just as a flood of students passed by, their voices filling the corridor. His face had become
+25 BONUS
“She won’t,” he insisted, and the certainty in his voice, mixed with something that Luca couldn’t quite read, took Luca by surprise. “She’s just throwing a tantrum; she’ll apologize and come running back to me in a few days, as always.”
Luca tilted his head, curious. Kael wasn’t telling him everything, was he?
But Luca wasn’t one to press such matters, especially not with Kael, who was rarely open about his emotions with anyone. Not even his best friend.
Finally, he nodded. “Well, don’t forget about the welcoming mixer tonight. You’re coming, right?”
Kael blinked, clearly having forgotten about the mixer that was held every year. It was mostly for the freshmen to get to know each other, but most students at Ravencrest attended. It was a fun dance, and it was normally a good chance to get drunk in the eastern forest afterwards–if only it weren’t restricted this year.
“Lyra will be there, of course,” Luca added, watching his friend’s face carefully for a reaction. “You might want to keep an eye
on her
Something flickered across Kael’s face, and he nodded. “You’re right. I’ll be there. To keep an eye on her, of course.”
“Right. Just to keep an eye on her.”
“Yup.” With that, Kale turned around and began walking away. Luca couldn’t help but smirk at his friend’s back.
“See you at eight”
