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?”

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  p**n .”

“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?”




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