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