Pearl shook her head. “Neither did I.”
It probably didn’t help that there was a small Mexican restaurant near the parking garage. There was a spicy aroma from it wafting on the frigid breeze. The scent heavenly to my senses, my stomach chose that moment to growl in sympathy and agreement. I hadn’t eaten, either. The scent intensifying the closer we got, I murmured, “Maybe, we can find something on the way back to the debriefing?”
We had to talk with the Kings when we got back to Choep. I knew they were going to drill us on our observations of the up-and-coming Com leaders of America. We were going to need sustenance to deal with them.
Ezra growled low in his throat, stopping so suddenly that Pearl and I banged against his back, Jack smacking into us. He pivoted as we unpeeled ourselves, whispering harshly, “We’re acting like a bunch of pussies.” His fists clenched. “I’m starving, too. Let’s get something to eat.”
“Ezra,” I spoke softly, as all the Coms were halting on the sidewalk, trying to peek through the bodyguards, “I understand you think you’re wicked and dangerous, and you don’t like feeling small, but right now isn’t the time to stay in a city full of Coms.” Every fiber in me, everything I had been taught, didn’t like our situation.
A roll of his shoulders, then he hissed, “I don’t think I’m wicked and dangerous.” He grunted. “I am a step beyond wicked and dangerous. If we walk away right now from something as simple as having lunch in New York City, what does that say about us? What door are we opening to being bullied? Not just by Coms, but by our own minds?” He shook his head and turned, making the bodyguards move with him. He was heading straight toward the restaurant. “We’re eating here.”
“I’m with him,” Pearl grumbled. “I won’t be cowed like this.” She followed Ezra.
Jack grunted, walking after her. “I hope they have good enchiladas.”
I blinked. Were they serious? They could not be doing this when we were at a threat Level 5. The Kings were going to be so furious! The Shifter guards stayed glued to my side, and Ezra, Jack, and Pearl stopped, peering back to me.
Pearl smiled sassily, asking, “Coming?” That smile was for any Com who could see her, but her fists were nervously clenched.
No, my flee-addled mind screamed. We’re too outnumbered!
“Tacos with extra salsa,” Jack murmured, licking his lips, his words speaking legions of how close we had become, knowing my favorite Mexican fare as he did.
“Maybe even empanadas.” Pearl’s grin was real this time. We loved those.
Again, my tummy grumbled at me. I still hesitated. If I did this, it would be against every ingrained instinct I had. I vibrated with tension, standing on the balls of my feet, ready to rush to safety.
Jaw clenched, Ezra took five long strides in my direction and bent down, whispering against my ear, “Sweetheart, is today the day you run away alone in fear? Or the day you have the balls to trust in our friendship? Trust in the four of us. Together.” He straightened, raising a black, arched eyebrow.
I knew what he meant by friendship. Inexplicably, the four of us, four completely different Mysticals, had somehow, someway, made an unsaid and unusual friendship with each other after Dominic’s death. After the threat to our lives. Our unsaid friendship was something unheard of within the Mys communities. Being the Prodigy Shifter had made that happen for myself. Every other Mys felt like they were somehow “under” me, and that had altered any real friendships I’d had before. But, these three didn’t feel that way. They dealt with the same issues I did. The four of us were on equal footing.
Ezra held out a hand.
I stared at his waiting, steady palm.
Was today the day I made this real? Made this bad dream my reality? Because that’s what this was if I chose to go against the one-woman-stand I had going on internally. As I glanced to Jack he jerked his head toward the restaurant, a gentle smile playing on his lips. My gaze slid next to him where Pearl sighed, tapping her foot impatiently, but it was still too fast; she was still as fearful as I was. Again, I stared down at Ezra’s hand.
Bit by bit, I lifted my small hand, comprehending this was a stepping stone in my life, and placed it in Ezra’s larger one. “I want to go on record and say this is a really bad idea.” I was still frightened. Trust in the four of us, or not, fear didn’t diminish that easily.
Pulling me toward the restaurant, Ezra grinned naughtily. “Sometimes, the best results come from the worst ideas.”
My hand still in Ezra’s, Pearl tossed an arm over my shoulders and Jack wrapped one of his around her waist, all four of us connected as we entered the restaurant.
Sitting in the back corner of the small establishment where we could see everyone inside — hungry we were, stupid we were not — we snarfed the best Mexican food I had tasted in a long time. Between bites, I guzzled water, groaning in contentment. I noticed a woman exiting from the one restroom in the place, and I debated if I should go now or eat another taco first.
The taco won.
“Can you believe they’re still making us go on that stupid camping trip?” Pearl asked around a mouthful of tamales. “I mean, what are we supposed to be learning from it? Other than how to freeze our butts off?”
I agreed wholeheartedly. Mysticals were naturally warmer than Commoners, so we were able to endure colder climates. But still, a camping trip in the dead of winter? Yeah, I didn’t get it.
“Bonding,” Jack muttered, rolling his brown eyes and happily rubbing his flat belly. “It’s supposed to create trusting and lasting relationships with our,” finger quotes, “subjects.”
Ezra snorted. “All it’s going to do is make them hate us for dragging them out there.”
I sighed in contentment, finishing off my last taco before eyeing Ezra’s plate where he had chips left. “My subjects are going to be all over me.” I repressed a shiver. “At least none of you have to deal with that.”
They nodded in agreement since, now that I was Prodigy, the Shifters at school took leave to touch me at any chance that arose, consoling their need when distressed.
Ezra chuckled, pushing his plate toward me. “Since you’re back in the game, maybe it won’t be too bad to have them all over you.”
I threw a dirty glance his way, but still took the offered chips. “It’s not like that. When they’re all touchy-feely it’s because they’re upset.” I did shiver. “Needing comfort.” Another shiver, and then a thought. “Hey, can the four of us share a tent?” Please, please, please, please! “It’ll at least keep them away from me at night.” Please!
Pearl shrugged. “Gideon has to fly back to London during the trip, so I don’t mind sharing.” Actually, she looked like she would prefer it. She probably would, since her mate would be gone a few days.
Jack grinned. “I’m game. Any other activities I can take care of beforehand.” His grin increased. “It’ll give me an excuse, so they don’t stay around afterward.”
I laughed, shaking my head. Those poor Elementals.
Ezra pointed at Jack. “That’s good.” He nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll find a tent big enough for the four of us.” A slow chuckle. “It’ll be the first time I’ve slept with two beautiful women without the worry of sneaking out later.” Those poor Vampires.
Chapter Eight
“Try that pole.” I pointed with my mittened finger to the pile of poles. “That one looks like what this,” a shake of the instructions, “stupid thing says.”
“I’ve already tried that one,” Jack grumbled. His eyes narrowed and he pulled his knit cap down further on his head. “Is it possible that we’ve got the thing backward?”
Ezra jerked his head to the front of what should have been our constructed tent by now. “There’s the zipper for the entrance. It’s right.”
Pearl threw down her section of the tent she had been trying to figure out. “This is hopeless.” She pointed a gloved, accusatory finger at Ezra. “You had to buy the most complicated one, didn’t you?”<
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Glancing at all of our subjects, who were easily putting their tents together, I couldn’t disagree. Some of them were even through, now working on building a fire in the pit. We had been at this an hour already, and all we had to show for it was one pole in place. That pole had been obvious, since it was the longest one. All the others just appeared the same.
“The guy at the sporting goods store said it wasn’t difficult,” Ezra muttered, staring at his section, which he gripped like he wanted to rip it apart. He turned that glare on Pearl. “Can’t you use your power to,” his nose crinkled and he shook the section he held, “put it together? Just wave your hands, and ta-da, it’s done?”
“No,” she huffed, bending in her huge, down jacket to grab her section again, “I have to know what I want to make it happen.” As if that explained a whole lot.
A thought. “Oh!” I exclaimed, “I have an idea!”
“What?” Jack eyed me warily.
“The last time she had an idea we ended up locked in a utility room,” Pearl muttered.
“Hey,” I complained, “we got out of there quick enough.” At least, once the janitor had found us. Unknowingly to us, the door had been magically warded against thieves. Lure and capture. None of our powers had worked on the stupid thing. “Besides, that’s where the supplies were to accomplish his,” a mittened finger-point at Ezra, “grand plan.”
One of many recent plans, and not wholly instigated by Ezra. All four of us had been drowning in mischief after that first defying day two weeks ago at the Mexican restaurant. That little incident had earned us, well, a grounding, for lack of a better word, courtesy of the Kings. Even with the small punishment, the initial defiant act had tasted of freedom, which we rarely experienced anymore. So now, when one of us designed a new scheme for rebellious entertainment, the rest of us seized upon it with vigor.
A crestfallen expression crossed Ezra’s features. “It would have been so perfect. Mrs. Jonas would have flipped if all the ceilings were painted with porn.”
“We can still do it.” Jack shrugged, eyes beginning to gleam. “We only need to make sure the door doesn’t shut on us again.”
I sighed, waving my arms, the instructions crinkling. “Hello! Idea, remember?”
They glanced to me. Turned their heads to glare at the tent in their hands. Finally, back to me. Cautious.
I snickered. “Oh, ye of little faith.” I crossed my arms. “Just wait. It’ll be up in fifteen minutes.” Again, they gave suspicious looks, but I smiled sweetly, and pivoted on the snow pile I was standing on, hollering, “Brock! Felix! Can you come here for a second?”
They were part of the group getting the fire started and, from the looks of it, their tents were perfectly constructed. When in need of assistance, ask the professionals. Or, just have them do it for you. Brock (falcon Shifter) and Felix (panther Shifter) dropped the wood they had been carrying and hustled over. The Prodigy Shifter calls, you come.
“Yes?” Brock asked, brushing snow off his pants.
“We need help. With our tent.” A look from under my eyelashes with an added pout. “Think you two can help us?” I could have ordered them, but that just seemed mean. Best to ask sweetly and innocently when we were screwed.
“Sure.” Brock nodded, instantly lifting the pole I had been pointing to earlier.
Speechless, the other three Prodigies and I watched as Brock stuck the pole in the right hole on his first attempt.
“What’s our reward if we help?” Felix purred softly behind me. His face went to my neck, against my skin, whispering, “Will you share a tent with me tonight instead of them?”
“Sorry,” I apologized, turning to face him. “You guys know we’ve got business to discuss later.” That was the story we were giving all of our subjects. Really, I was pretty sure our business was drinking games, since Jack had brought enough alcohol to inebriate all campers here.
Felix stepped forward, once more invading my space, and tilted my chin up with his gloved finger to stare me in the eyes. His gaze held mine, which was pretty impressive; everyone normally looked away from my gaze quickly. He was new, arriving at King Hall only a week ago. A transfer. I hadn’t really had a chance to talk with him fully, only having a few chats passing in the hallways.
His hair was black, eyes golden, and his skin tan. He was delectable. And, he was still staring me in the eyes, which meant he was alpha strong, powerful. Finger still lightly under my chin, he said bluntly, “I get that.” He bent, those golden eyes coming closer. “What about the hours before?” Shy, he wasn’t. Friendly, he was. No build up, just straight to what he wanted. Not a bad thing.
I debated, even as I heard Brock picking up more poles behind me. Again, looking him over, I stated just as bluntly, “Felix, I’m not looking for anything serious, and you seem like the serious type.” And, the oh-my-God tasty type.
His lips twitched. “Not that serious. Only in the work I do.” His mouth curved. “Be it professional or pleasurable. Anything outside of that, I’m not looking for permanence.” His eyes held the truth, not just his words. Honesty and sorrow.
I believed him. “Alright.” I took a small step back. “I’ll see you later.” Oh yes, I would.
He held my gaze, his golden eyes glowing the tiniest bit in assumed anticipation, before nodding and moving to help Brock.
The four of us stood next to each other, watching as they expertly assembled our tent.
Jack elbowed me, asking, “Have a play date set with the panther?” He was smirking.
Shrugging, watching as Felix bent over, I elbowed Jack back. “I couldn’t let you guys have all the fun.” My head cocking, I ogled Felix’s ass. “Do you guys know anything about him? He’s strong. Held my gaze longer than any Shifter at King Hall.”
Pearl was texting Gideon, but said, “King Nelson said Antonio asked him to transfer. He’s from California.”
I stilled. “Antonio asked him to come here?” Odd didn’t even begin to describe that.
Ezra nodded, also watching him. Just not the part of his anatomy I was eyeing. “That’s what I heard. King Venclaire said he was the power at his old school.” Spring green eyes met mine, and his eyebrows rose. “Any clue why Antonio would ask him here?”
I shook my head, turning my attention back to Felix.
“I heard Antonio’s been transversing,” Jack meant disappearing out of thin air, “everywhere. King Fergus said there may be a few more transfers to King Hall.” Jack hesitated. “The King’s actually a little worried,” he confided, rubbing his chin with the back of his glove. “He said if Antonio’s permanently come out of hiding, it’s probably a bad sign.”
King Kincaid hadn’t discussed any of those thoughts with me, keeping our dialogues strictly to teaching since I was far behind on what it took to be a Queen.
The four of us glanced to where Antonio was speaking with a lone bodyguard, though there were many more guards here. Barely seen through the trees, the other guards were posted throughout the forested area, the students being in the middle of their protective circle. Mrs. Jonas, along with a few other teachers, was here with us, too, but we had even more guards than normally present watching over everyone. We had dropped to a threat Level 4, but the guards had only increased. It hadn’t slipped our notice.
I murmured, “He never says until he chooses. In time, he’ll tell us what this is all about.”
Slipping inside our tent many hours later, I was sated and relaxed, which was somewhat surprising. Each Prodigy had taken our own subjects to four different points, speaking with them, getting to know them better. That, in itself, had been stressful and nerve-racking, but then, when all four groups came back to camp, we’d had to persuade them to mingle.
Peacefully.
It was required. We had pulled a few Mys individuals from our own groups into the other Mys factions that we had thought they would get along with. It had been a trial and error sort of event. United, yes, in the Mys community, but on a dark winte
r’s night in the middle of a forest, they had become more than a little distrustful of one another.
That hadn’t been so much fun. The enjoyments had come afterward, once they had loosened up and food was cooked over the fire. At that point, I had taken the opportunity to slip away — so had Jack and Ezra, who had snuck off like the many others I saw in my trek — and met up with Felix in his tent. And my, my…I was definitely relaxed now.
“Took you long enough,” Pearl griped, her irritability showing. I didn’t hold it against her. The longer you went without your mate — while they were living — the crabbier you became. After that stage came depression. Gideon wouldn’t be gone long enough for that to hit Pearl, but she was still becoming prickly. She tossed her phone down, crossing her arms. “You were supposed to be here a half-hour ago.” Yeah, we had decided to be there by midnight.
“You know she’s always late,” Jack grumbled, stretching like a contented kitten, his eyes roving over me. I wasn’t going to argue with his statement, but I did have it in mind to work on my tardiness. He murmured, “Besides, she’s got a nice, healthy, flushed face.” His smile was lazy. “Enjoy your time, Lily?”
Said flush burned brighter, but I realized something. “Why is it warm in here?” It was like a freezer outside, but in the tent it was almost balmy. Ezra and Jack were only wearing pajama bottoms and Pearl just wore an oversized t-shirt, which I thought was Jack’s.
“You didn’t answer my question. Don’t think you’re getting away from it,” Jack grinned, “but I had a fire Elemental do a little magic on the tent.” Lying on his back, he spread his hands wide. “And then, there was heat.”
I snorted, maneuvering through the three Prodigies. The tent was just big enough for the four of us to lie down with our bags around the edges. “The same fire Elemental I saw you sneaking off with?” My brows rose as I took my jacket off. I was starting to sweat.
“Ah, Selene…” Jack murmured, sighing in content and confirming my assumption.
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