“Get up,” Ezra snarled, scowling at where I lay flat on the mat, frustration hardening the unforgiving lines of his features even further. “I said go left, not right! You need to listen!”
Two and a half months ago, when Ezra had said he had his work cut out for him, well, he had hit the nail on the head, and my little one-finger salute had only egged him on, not helped the situation. He didn’t like being argued with. He didn’t like anyone telling him no. He didn’t like being told what to do. Or, apparently, being flipped off — I should have figured that out the first day I had met him, but no, I was an idiot — since he had laid into me from that day forward.
Even more so now than before.
These new, unimproved, extra morning sparring sessions were followed directly by meetings — right before school — with the Kings and the other Prodigies, since we were at a “Level 5” threat worldwide, compared with previously being at a “Level 10” after Dominic died. An example of peaceful times would be the day before his death. We had been at a “Level 1” then.
That had shown just how complacent the Mys community had become: we had not been clued-up with the intel that a Prodigy was being targeted, much less, all of the Prodigies by the Coms. Our intelligence agency had taken a major hit, to say the least. Only thirty-five percent of those employees still had their jobs within the MSA (Mystical Shield Agency), owed mainly to King Kincaid’s fury. The new, and fresh, sixty-five percent were all hardcore, dedicated to the dangers we now lived in.
Pushing onto my side, I glared. “No. You said right, then left!” Sucking in a harsh breath, I realized Ezra had badly bruised my left shoulder blade. Letting my head fall, I bit my lip and blinked tears away. He was so strong. Not to mention, he was so fast I could barely track him.
He growled, stalking me in a circle as I pushed onto my hands and knees. “No. I didn’t. Pay attention!” He squatted, glowering into my blinking, glistening eyes. “And there’s no damn crying when you spar with me. Learn. Get better. But don’t you dare cry.”
I closed my eyes. Some days it was so hard to even get out of bed, and when I did make it, the mornings still dark outside it was so early, I had to deal with this. My life. Purgatory had been an apt description by my current tyrant.
At least I was feeling regular emotions again.
“Leave her alone,” Pearl muttered from her perch on a soft, cushioned chair. Lucky her. Both she and Jack came over early daily to watch the morning sparring held in King Kincaid’s exercise room, since we had to meet in a half-hour anyway. “And your directions weren’t very clear.”
He grabbed my bicep. Yanked me to my feet. The force almost made me fall. “Again.” Grinding his teeth, he ordered harshly, “And this time, left, duck, right.”
“Fine,” I grumbled tersely, gingerly rolling my aching shoulder, but stayed on the balls of my feet, knowing he would be coming without notice.
I was right. He came at me, and I punched left. Ducked his roundhouse kick. Punched right. Then, he pulled an Ezra move, swiping my feet out from under me when I thought we were done. I grunted as my back hit the mat, and quickly rolled, escaping the foot he slammed down where I had been a second ago, but missing his elbow that hammered against my stomach as he dropped. In these last three months, if I wasn’t Mys, he would have killed me.
I gasped, punching blindly through the hurt.
He merely grabbed my wrists, smashing them above my head. Nose-to-nose with me, he whispered harshly, “Not good enough! An experienced Com could take you down. Even with your strength.”
Trying to catch my breath, a scowl was all I could manage.
He pushed himself up, stalking across the mats, muttering under his breath.
There were days I could run far, far away, never to see any of these people again.
“Don’t even think about it,” Antonio groused, eyeing my expression as he stood from the couch where he and King Venclaire had been diligently watching — they always observed our sparring — and privately talking. He was dressed simply in a pair of black cargos, grey t-shirt, no shoes.
I wished I was wearing that much. Instead, Antonio demanded we wear what King Hall had determined as the best attire. Not enough clothing, even if it improved maneuverability.
Me: black sports bra and tiny, black cotton shorts.
Ezra: soft, loose-fitting, black cotton capris.
Moreover, to add to my never-ending misery, it was freezing down here in the basement where the exercise room was located.
Antonio started toward me, and I quickly rolled, pushing to my feet. Whenever he became physically involved in my training the hurt always doubled. Strolling easily, he snapped his fingers at Ezra and crooked a finger, but the obstinate Vampire just stared, not coming as bid. Antonio sighed heavily, muttering, “Ezra, get over here. I don’t have time for your attitude today, and her,” an agitated jerk of his hand, “flight risk.”
Ezra only planted his feet further.
“You know, I want a different teacher,” I panted, still breathless, but my conviction was there. “We don’t work well together. All he does is yell. All I do is hit the mat. Find me someone else.” I crossed my arms, wanting a teacher who wasn’t such a drill sergeant. More importantly, someone who believed I could do this, and Ezra certainly didn’t.
Ezra spoke then, crossing his own much larger arms. “You won’t find anyone better than me. Not Shifter. Not Vampire. Not Mage. Not Elemental.” He smiled. It wasn’t nice. “I’m the best here, sweetheart.”
Glaring at Antonio, I ground out, “Find me someone else.”
Startlingly, I actually liked Ezra outside of the mat, especially when he had quit bringing up my Com slang. Rude, crude, and blunt he may be, but remarkably, I got along with him just the way he was when my back wasn’t being slammed against a mat repeatedly. Just like I got along with Jack and Pearl. All three of them had been wonderful and supportive since Dominic’s death; all of us were frequently together because of the elevated threat level. I was beginning to consider them friends, but if Ezra and I kept this up much longer, it was a real possibility I would begin to hate him. Politically, it wasn’t wise to continue risking our future civil relationship.
Ezra opened his piehole, ill-mannered thoughts written all over his features. “I’m the only man foolish enough to even try to train you—”
“Both of you, shut up,” Antonio barked loudly, harshly.
We did.
Antonio hardly ever raised his voice, but when he did, it was prudent to at least contemplate obeying.
“Ezra, get over here.” He paused, shoulders rising and falling, and added, “Please.” When Ezra nodded at the more polite request, his feet moving in our direction, Antonio turned his frustration on me. “He’s right. He is the best fighter here. You’re stuck with him, kiddo.”
My lips thinned, but I didn’t argue further, not right there.
Antonio pointed. “Ezra, stand directly behind her.” Ezra moved behind me, which elicited a flinch on my part. Having him there usually meant pain on the mat. Antonio rolled his eyes, griping, “I said directly behind her.” He reached over me and grabbed Ezra’s shoulder, jerking him forward. Ezra banged against my back, and I almost fell. Antonio nodded absently, dropping his hand, and muttered, “There. That’s about right.”
About right? Ezra was flush against me. I could feel his chest rising and falling against the back of my head; his body and mine were so close we could have been glued together.
Ezra’s chest vibrated my head as he asked, “Now what?”
“I have no chance getting away from him starting like this.” I tipped my head back, glaring at Antonio. This was going to hurt even more. “I tell you I want a different instructor, and instead, you make the beat down that much easier?”
Antonio slapped a hand over my mouth, rubbing his temple with his free hand. “Just be quiet and listen.” My eyes narrowed, but I stayed silent, complying, so he lowered his hand, remaining two feet in front of us. “Lil, I want you to close your eyes.” When I merely blinked, resisting him this time, he ordered, “Shut your eyes!”
“Fine,” I muttered, closing them.
“Now, I want you to take in your surroundings using your other senses.” He paused. “But, most importantly, I want you to feel Ezra behind you. I want you to feel his body heat—”
“What?” My eyes slammed open.
Antonio’s eyes were mere slits of gold. “Do as you’re told.” A blatant command.
With a clenched jaw, I exhaled heavily, shutting my eyes again.
“Now, as I said, use your other senses. Feel Ezra behind you. His heat. His breath. His strength. Every place his body’s pressed against yours.” He went silent, obviously waiting for me to do this.
“This is weird,” I muttered, voicing my opinion, only gradually following his orders.
With a roll of my shoulders, I studied how they moved up and down Ezra’s frame, where our bare skin rubbed; a light sweat was misting him, same as me. Inhaling deeply, I smelled his dark, heady flavor, a scent uniquely his own. I felt Ezra’s heat as ordered. Focused on it. His resonating warmth, not difficult to perceive, was a furnace of undeniable flames. His solid legs, their sweltering scorch pressed against the sensitive backs of mine. His lean hips, resting just above the small of my back. The sultry blaze of his pecs, brushing the flesh on my shoulder blades, and his rippled abdomen pressed against my back. His curved muscles, his arms lethal and aligned with mine, so much larger that their balminess enveloped mine completely.
Inexplicably, I found myself relaxing. The tension fell away. I nodded. “I’m there.”
“Good,” Antonio said softly. “Keep your eyes closed and follow his body. Follow his heat, his arms and legs, even his breathing. Don’t second-guess yourself, or you’ll get hit. Just move with him. Memorize how fluid his movements are, exactly how he’s moving. Learn it. Anchor it to your own reactions.” Antonio hummed softly. “Ezra, you’ll counter my attack, using only defensive, evasive actions. Do not use your Vampire speed. Only react at normal pacing.”
“Alright,” Ezra murmured leisurely, not arguing.
“I’m ready,” I whispered, breathing in time with Ezra’s steady, deep inhales.
The raging warmth shifted as the heat of Ezra’s right leg pulled away. I followed it with my right foot uncannily. Still keeping my other senses open, I heard a swift, soft drag against the mat from below, and felt the sizzling warmth of Ezra’s chest press harder against my back. I went with it, ducking but keeping the heat close, not going too far. A whoosh of air from above.
So it went.
I followed the heat and the lines of his massive body. It wasn’t tough. I found it unusually easy, my movements becoming even more fluid as we pivoted and arched backward, more whooshes of air flying past us, exterior scents and heat rushing by. Our arms and legs moved in sync as we lunged, hands on the ground in a push-up position, his body heat still over me as a large whistle of air sprung above us. A second later, we were moving our legs, squatting and then twisting to stand. Crinkling on the mat sounded to the side. Another twirl, ducking with it, and external heat missed us. We stopped.
“Good,” Antonio crooned, sounding pleased. I realized I was panting a little from the rapid movements. It had to have been faster than I had thought, but it was still so simple. “Lily, you can open your eyes.”
I blinked, my other senses altering from being oversensitive to being natural as I regained my eyesight, and saw Antonio grinning, standing back a few feet and tapping his thumbs on his legs while Pearl, Jack, and King Venclaire stared wide-eyed. My own grin was instant. “I did it!”
Antonio chuckled, nodding, but glanced over my head, stating, “Train her this way, but make sure she has the movements memorized before you spar normally again.”
Ezra’s warm palms landed gently on my shoulders. “We can handle that.” I felt him peer down and I twisted a smidge, gazing up at him, still grinning like an idiot. He chuckled, his teeth blindingly white against his mocha skin. “You didn’t completely suck.”
Antonio sighed profoundly, walking away.
Only grinning wider, I stared into amused, spring green eyes. “Neither did you. I was following your lead.”
Rushing into the study, I heard King Kincaid and Antonio both sigh. I was never on time to these meetings after my morning bouts with Ezra. Always sweating disgustingly, I had to shower afterward. As it was, I wasn’t sure my socks matched. Luckily, you couldn’t see them under my own black cargos, and I was afraid to double-check to see if I had put on my red t-shirt with the black lettering, Shifters Eat Meat, inside out. That would be a shame because the back read, The Common Meat; the meaning was clear. I’d had it specially made on a shopping trip with Elly. I wasn’t in love with Commoners right now.
King Kincaid’s eyes narrowed on said shirt as I hustled to the wooden oval table in the center of his study, and he asked, “Is there anything written on the back?”
Flopping on my chair between Jack and Pearl, my expression innocent, I replied, “Can’t see it if it does.” Guess I had it on right.
Jack choked, having seen the writing, and quickly took a sip of his water, most glancing at him before he mumbled, “A little tickle, nothing serious.”
“Germ?” I asked, feeling ornery. He had asked me once.
Pearl snorted, but cleared her throat quickly, guiltless golden eyes following.
Not so virtuous, Jack leaned toward me, resting his arm over my shoulders, his mouth a few inches from mine. “If I’ve got a germ, you’ll have it by nightfall.”
“Oh, Jack,” I feigned sorrow, talking in a high, girly voice. “That is so sweet, but…our hair clashes. It’ll never work out.” And, really, red and blue? All we needed to add was a weak Shifter and it would be bizarrely patriotic.
Lips twitching, Jack’s mouth parted to say something I guessed was truly ornery by the gleam in his brown eyes, but Antonio cleared his throat, giving us a firm glance. Fine. We were in the presence of the Kings. We settled back on our seats and did what we had to.
We learned that the Com police investigation against us, or more like against King Venclaire, Jack, Ezra, and King Fergus, was officially over. They had been under surveillance since the night of the attack but, since no bodies had been found — a quick glance to King Fergus’s green hair told me they were probably buried deep in the earth — the investigation had been put to rest.
We also learned that there were no new leads into which Com group had instigated the planned attacks. All evidence showed it was a small faction — they were all small — and it was near impossible to point a finger at any one particular Com extremist cluster. King Kincaid hadn’t been at Hell’s Gate in time to capture any of the mob members that had infiltrated the club. They had struck hard, fast, killing not only Dominic, but sixteen other Mysticals, and then fled.
Pretty much the exact same news as every other day.
I had no doubt that once we found the group responsible they would be dealt with swiftly and silently, since our Law didn’t always coincide with Com law. There would be no hearing, nor a trial. They would just be dead, once we had factual proof. I really hoped I was on that team, or even leading it. I wanted — needed — my pound of flesh.
When the meeting concluded, I was in the process of dashing out of the room when King Kincaid reprimanded, “Lily, that shirt’s not appropriate for what you’re doing today.”
I pivoted, my red brows together. “What am I doing today that I can’t wear this?” I hadn’t gotten out of the room fast enough, damn it.
“We’ve got that thing in New York with the Coms,” Jack whispered, yanking softly on the hem of my shirt. “He’s probably right.”
Jesus.
I had been going to get my book bag for school, having forgotten about the meeting with upper-class Com snobs — soon-to-be politicians of the United States of America — that was planned. It was a meet-and-greet for future contacts. I sighed and mumbled, “I’ll go change.” My clothing really wasn’t appropriate for that crowd, since we were supposed to be getting along.
Peering in the direction of my co-Prodigies, distressingly, I realized what I had missed since entering King Kincaid’s study. Not nearly recovered from Dominic’s death, certain normal, everyday actions and observations held utterly no sway over me, but now I really appraised their appearance; the delayed perusal showed just how off-kilter I was.
Pearl tempted in her black sassy dress paired with a gold, straight suede jacket. Jack invited with a black leather jacket, a shiny, blue button-up shirt, and black dress slacks. Ezra lured in his black, thin cashmere sweater, black flat-front slacks, and deep sapphire velvet jacket.
Definitely dolled up.
“Just give me a few minutes to find something to wear.” Driving them as I normally did every morning, they would have to wait.
“Do you need help?” Pearl asked, her tone careful not to offend.
A shake of my head, irritated with myself. “No. I can handle it.” I did.
Jogging to my gifted Hummer — thank you, Antonio — I stumbled, slipping a bit in the December snow, since I was actually wearing heels. Black. In fact, my whole outfit was black, as per usual now, dark like my soul. I had matched the pair of heels with a little black cocktail dress, strapless, the material hugging my chest, but feathered below so it appeared like scarves. A long leather jacket completed my ensemble.
The Prodigy ring Dominic had worn dangled around my neck on a short platinum chain. I hadn’t wanted to fit it down to my finger size — it was still his — so I wore it around my neck, close to where my mate mark used to be. When a mate dies, the magic that allowed the scar in the first place disappears, and my skin had healed, unblemished. The ring was one of the only items I kept of his. It was too hard otherwise. I had even switched bedrooms, and so had Antonio, following me like a shadow.
Strapping on her seatbelt, Pearl asked from the backseat, “Can we stop at school first? I need to see Gideon.”
“Sure.” I didn’t ask why she needed to see him. I understood. Turning the heater on low to warm it up and yanking my own seatbelt on, I shivered while waiting for the bodyguards following us to get into their cars. Two cars would drive in front of us, two behind. The new normal, with the threat level as it was. Honestly, it would probably happen from here on out. “You’ll need to call the front car to let the guards know.”
She nodded, retrieving her cell from her purse, and informed them.
My teeth chattered as I watched the black armored SUV in front of mine, waiting.
Ezra, sitting shotgun, reached over to me, his hand hovering above my exposed thigh. “May I?”
“Do your worst,” I muttered, shivers tormenting my body, my breaths visible in bitty puffs.
He rested his heated palm on my bare leg, his eyes flashing once as he ignited his power, a flare of spring green, and peace suffused my entire being.
Though I knew the effect was just mental, I didn’t care; I was not about to fight against his power. I felt tranquil instead of glacial, his gifted power not too overriding, soft and gentle, allowing me to feel my emotions, but still removing my immediate discomfort. I groaned, “Thank you.”
He nodded, not commenting, and knocked Jack’s arm away with his free hand when he tried reaching for the radio from the backseat. Hence, why Jack sat in the back. I had made the mistake of allowing him to sit shotgun the first day the other Prodigies rode with me, and we had all been irritable when we finally arrived at school that day.
The line of cars eventually started moving, and I pulled out with them. I swear it took longer to get the procession started than it did to actually drive to King Hall. Turning onto the road, I tested the vents.
Ezra asked, “Enough?”
“No.” I shook my head, still only feeling cold air. “Keep it going.”
He squeezed my thigh in acquiescence, turning on the radio with his other hand.
We listened to music on our short drive, entering school grounds through the gated entry. Pulling to a stop in front of the main front doors, we saw Gideon, who was there waiting. Pearl quickly got out with a sigh of relief, seeing him. We watched as they embraced, and I gritted my teeth at their connection, unable to watch for too long; their bond, their constant peace, was too much.
Only to be staggered when Jack cursed profusely, diving down onto the backseat.
Ezra and I scanned the parking lot, snickering simultaneously when we saw an air Elemental staring hard at my Hummer. Everyone knew we rode together now. Jack was hiding from another one of his flings.
Ezra’s snigger abruptly cut off, quickly fumbling for the passenger seat controls while wearing an instant expression of irritability, his seat gradually reclining until fully laid back.
My eyes scanning once more, I saw a Vampire woman staring steadfast in our direction and I bit my lip, chuckling deeply, my whole body shaking with it.
“It’s not funny!” Jack hissed from his hiding spot. “How many other ways do we have to say it’s only a one-off?”
Choking on incredulous hilarity, I asked, “Please tell me you don’t actually say that?”
They were both silent, and I really laughed.
Ezra grumbled, “That’s not exactly what I say, but it’s close.” He tilted his head to where Jack hid, grumbling, “You need to work on your tack, man. I’m surprised anyone even stays for the main event after that line.”
Jack chuckled cockily. “Oh, they want to stay.” I was still snickering when Jack muttered, “Keep laughing it up, Lily. When you get back on the saddle, you’ll be dealing with this, too.”
My laughter died directly, and I choked a little, an unbidden blush rising to my cheeks.
“Really?” Ezra drawled, watching closely from his hiding spot. “When did this happen?”
“What?” Jack asked, not seeing me. “What happened?”
“It appears Lily’s already climbed back on the saddle.”
“Oh,” Jack breathed swiftly, banging against my seat as he almost rose, but quickly ducked once more. “Who was it?”
“Um,” I fumbled, debating internally before deciding to keep it simple, “Antonio said I needed to get back out there. Said me puttering around the house every night for months wasn’t healthy.” Tense throat-clearing. “So, I did. A few times.” I shrugged, playing it down.
“A few times?” Jack banged my seat again. “Alright, who are they?”
Okay, so it was possible I had gone a little crazy in the past two weeks trying to edge past the infinite pain of loss. It hadn’t exactly worked. I hadn’t forgotten Dominic, but oddly, Antonio had been right. It had reminded me I was still alive. That I was here, breathing, and in the land of the living, not the dead. That I wasn’t in the past.
Opening my mouth to tell them, since we were on that level now, I stalled when a knocking on my window startled me, and my head snapped to the outside interrupter. I blinked at the Shifter staring at me. Christ, he was my latest. Even more awful, he still wore the same expression he had when I had left him two nights ago. Like he was love-struck.
I smiled — kind of — and muttered without moving my lips, “Karma’s a bitch.” He knocked again, his brows rising, so I rolled my window down with resignation, but my tone was polite. “Hi, Jim.”
“Hey, you,” he said softly, reaching inside the car to brush a piece of my hair from my cheek. He smelled like his animal, bear. “I tried calling you last night.” Yeah, he had tried calling seven times. Before dinner. That didn’t include how many after. “I wanted to tell you a group of us are going ice fishing tonight.” Of course he was. He was a polar bear Shifter. “Want to come?” His lips lifted in a private smile. “There’s a cabin there perfect for two.”
Even while hearing Ezra chuckle quietly, I gently took Jim’s hand — it was still lingering on my hair — and placed it back outside my window, saying just as softly, “Jim, that’s very sweet of you, but I’m not interested.” I cleared my throat, trying to be nice, my tone respectful. “I told you I’m not looking for anything serious.” Uh…you don’t say.
Jim’s mouth opened, but he was shoved to the side by a hip covered in pink leather.
It was Elly, her lioness growling low before she muttered, “Get out of here, Jim.”
Through the front windshield, I could see her dad’s limo — he was some high-level Mys official — driving off, having dropped her off for school, but moreover, I saw Jim’s jaw clench before he nodded as he cast me a glance that meant to say he would talk to me later.
I barely kept my groan at bay.
As Jim ambled toward King Hall’s entrance, Elly took his place at my window with a toothy grin. “You can show your thanks tonight with a tub of rocky road ice-cream.”
“I’ll even add pink sprinkles,” I muttered, sighing. “We’re still on for veg night?”
She nodded once, but blinked, sniffing the air, then glanced over her shoulder. Her golden eyes quickly returning to mine, she whispered, “Tom’s on his way over. You want to see him?”
I stiffened. “Oh, hell no.” I ducked, sputtering, “He squawks.” He was a hawk Shifter.
Jack and Ezra instantly laughed at my words, even while Elly simply nodded. She started to turn to cut him off, but stopped. She was staring at my lap, so I peered down. Ezra still had his hand on my leg, gifting me gently with his power, the softest of tranquility past the chill.
I hadn’t even noticed. No wonder I hadn’t been cold. I had even forgotten to turn the heater up. To make matters worse, in Elly’s view, his hand had slipped under my dress when he had reclined his seat.
She bent halfway through the window, over me, asking softly, “What’cha think you’re doing with your hand up my Prodigy’s dress, Vampire?” Her lioness growled, and it was a fairly frightening sound, coming from a supposedly weak Shifter.
Ezra kept his hand where it was, grinning unrepentantly, not helping the situation any.
Taking a firm grip on her shoulder, I explained, “He’s only relaxing me.” Realizing that hadn’t come out right when Jack choked and Elly’s lioness growled louder, I added hurriedly, “Like, literally, relaxing me. With his power. I was freezing in this dress.” The growling died down, and I gently pushed her out the window when I smelled Tom on the wind. “I’ll see you tonight, Elly.”
She still glared at Ezra, but nodded, her nostrils flaring, and she quickly turned to stop Tom’s progress. Things had changed. I knew this as I rolled the window up. I wasn’t completely used to it — I probably never would be — but I knew why every Shifter treated me differently. I was their Prodigy. I had the power. It had altered my relationship with Elly. Not purposely, but it was undeniable. My mastery of being able to hide my Shifter power was even more important to me now, but it was still a work in progress.
Jack murmured, “Well, I do believe you have some clue what relations are going to be like from now on.” He chuckled, a few snorts categorical from the backseat.
Ezra slowly joined him, sputtering, “He squawks? Sweetheart, what were you thinking?”
I groaned, banging my head back against the headrest a few times. “I wasn’t.” I paused, and then added honestly, “I ended up wanting fowl for dinner. It was like he was prey.”
They thought that hilarious.
Arriving at the high-rise commercial building in downtown New York City, I parked in a parking garage a block away. Pearl was still laughing her butt off as we exited the Hummer, Jack and Ezra having a dandy time retelling what had happened. I took it like a champ, almost completely ignoring their ribbing. I shivered as I stepped into the frigid air, only then noticing Ezra must have gifted me with his power the entire drive there. Oddly, the others hadn’t complained about the chill.
Blinking slowly, I glanced back inside the car, comprehending that they hadn’t complained because the heat had still been on low. It was warm enough for a Mys, but Ezra’s added power had kept me oblivious. Wrapping my jacket tighter around my shivering frame, I slammed my door and locked it. Next time, I was going to wear pants when it was this cold, even if I had to dress up.
Pearl was wiping her eyes — still chuckling — and I reached up, fixing a smudge of her shimmering gold lipstick, which she had screwed up smooching forever with Gideon. “There.” I shoved my hands in my pockets as the guards surrounded us. “No one will know you had your tongue down your mate’s throat for a half-hour.” I smiled sweetly.
Said tongue peeked out in a rude gesture. Yep. That was the perfect golden doll.
As we exited onto the streets, everyone’s eyes turned in our direction. Stared. Nearly all Commoners, only a few Mysticals in the mix. Like, a ten-to-one ratio.
I shivered, and it wasn’t just because of the nippy weather.
Pearl walked next to me, Ezra in front of us, Jack behind, and a shit ton of guards — a mixture of Mysticals all dressed in black — stalked in a protective box around us.
Weirdly, it felt like the longest walk of my life. Even though I had lived with Coms the majority of said life, anxiety still crept up my spine, stiffening my shoulders. I shouldn’t have felt threatened, but there it was: my stomach was a churning mess as I eyed the Coms. Living longer lives was nothing when we were so few compared to them.
None of us spoke as we walked that one block. As if at once, the four of us understood the severity of our positions. No jacking around like we had been on the drive there.
Instead, we walked and acted like who we were.
Prodigies, the soon-to-be Kings and Queens, of the Mystical world.