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.

Glaring down at my snowsuit, I sighed, unsnapping the bulky thing. I mean, I had just put it back on. “How was your time, Ezra?”

Ezra nodded, lying on top of his sleeping bag and resting back on his elbows. “Enjoyable.” His head cocked, watching me. “Although, from the look of it, not as enjoyable as yours.”

Sitting, I pulled the snowsuit over my feet, ignoring the comment.

Pearl grumbled, “All I did was sit in this damn tent, waiting for you guys.”

Jack tugged on her golden hair lightly. “Now you know how it is when we have to wait for you and Gideon to pull away from each other.” Wasn’t that the truth?

She huffed, but a small smile lifted her lips as I dug through my bag, trying to find light pajamas to wear, but I was pretty sure I hadn’t packed anything like that for going into the glacial wilderness. Pearl scanned the tent and, from the corner of my eye, I saw her eyes glow golden, and I felt for a second a rush of her power, spells and time. I stilled, glancing at the tent. There was a golden glow shimmering on our tent’s fabric. Her hand fluttered as she said mildly, “We can talk without being overheard now.”

Instant privacy. “That’s handy.” I stared at the golden sparkles against the blue fabric.

“We’ll have to remember you can do that in the future,” Ezra muttered, eyeing it.

Jack nodded, eyes scrutinizing the magic. “We could definitely use this.” A glance to Ezra, then back to the tent. “You know Vamps and their hearing. This could be really useful.”

Pearl shrugged, but I could tell she was pleased.

“Can I borrow a t-shirt from someone?” I asked, zipping up my bag. There was nothing in there for this heat. “I didn’t bring anything thin.”

“You’re a Shifter.” Jack blinked, his blue brows puckered. “Just take your clothes off.”

Ah. They didn’t know I wasn’t all about getting naked in front of everyone. Only some of the Shifters knew. Those Shifters seemed embarrassed by it, so they kept quiet about my modesty.

“I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction,” I retorted sweetly. I wasn’t baring all in front of them unless I had to. They were my closest friends, not bed partners. Even if I would, essentially, be sharing a sleeping space with them. “Really, does anyone have a spare shirt?”

All three blinked when they realized I was serious.

I merely waited.

As they eyeballed me peculiarly — I didn’t blame them, knowing how often Shifters stripped — Ezra cleared his throat, rumbling, “I think I’ve got an extra shirt.” Twisting to dig in his bag, he tossed one to me.

“Thanks.” I caught it, and turned my back to them before pulling my sweater over my head. I had a bra on underneath, so it wasn’t a big deal since they had seen me in my training attire. I hesitated with my jeans, and decided to put on Ezra’s shirt before removing them, instead of standing there in my bra and panties.

Behind me, Jack whistled low as I started putting my arms through the armholes of Ezra’s shirt. “Get a little rough tonight?”

Arms raised, I stilled. Ah, shit. I had forgotten about the bruises, and scrapes, that had to be nearly healed by now on my back. Felix hadn’t held much back. Not to mention, he had a few on his own body, undoubtedly, which would still be fading. Coming out of my frozen state, I mumbled, “Strong Shifter, remember?”

“Is that a bite mark on her shoulder?” Ezra asked, sounding curious.

Quickly, I yanked his shirt over my head, blushing furiously.

“There was definitely one on her side.” Pearl reached to lift my shirt for another look.

I swatted her hand away. “Do any of you want me to bring up your sex life?” Jeans off, I turned around, crossing my arms over my chest. “We’re all different Mysticals, and I’m sure there’s freaky shit you guys do in the sack you don’t want aired.”

Beautifully, they went mute.

I smirked.

Jack cleared his throat and rolled — showing his bare back muscles with the movement — to pull four bottles of booze from his bag while changing the subject. “What do we want to play?”

I sat as he handed tequila to each of us, and was left staring at the huge bottle in front of me. Did he really expect us to drink all this?

When no response came, he offered, “Up and Down the River?”

Ezra opened his bottle, shrugged a powerful shoulder, and took a swig. “Works for me.”

“What’s that?” Pearl and I asked as one.

Jack grinned, plucking cards out of his bag. “You’ll see.”

My forehead banged against Pearl’s as I whispered, “Think…I’m drunk.” Oh, yes siree, we had most definitely played Up and Down the River. An hour later, and half my bottle downed by my lonesome, we were trying to figure out another game to play.

Pearl burped, giggling. “So’my.” She pointed with her own half-empty bottle to Jack and Ezra, neither of them seeming quite as fazed. “What’s it with men and holdin’ their liquor better?”

I shook my head and rocked the other way, right to Ezra’s face. I blinked, trying to study his features up close. Perhaps, I needed to get my eyes checked when we returned to town, since he looked a tad blurry.

He chuckled, returning my regard, letting me look my fill.

When my eyes finally focused, I examined him long enough to realize he wasn’t near as drunk as me, so I demanded with a slur, “Let me see your bottle.”

A black, arched brow rose in time to his bottle. Half gone. Same as ours.

I grunted, rocking to sit firmly on my butt. “Dunno,” I told Pearl. A blink. “Hey! We were supposed to do a game!”




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