by Eden Ashley
“Chemistry was lame. I skipped out.”
“These girls hate me.”
He looked over his shoulder at the court and shrugged. “Why? You’re not so bad.”
“Ha. Ha. You’re a funny guy.”
Rion’s mouth twisted into a crooked grin. “I try.” His face didn’t change as he nodded almost imperceptibly toward one of the players. “That blonde with the ponytail, her boy was your last conquest.”
She followed Rion’s gaze and realized his eyes were tracking Stacy, Trevor Walker’s ex-girlfriend. Yep. The most adorable and long standing couple in Ridge Creek High had broken up after Trevor was caught getting hot and heavy with Kali beneath the bleachers. “How could you possibly know that?”
“Since I sat down, she’s looked at you every five seconds. It’s not a friendly stare.”
“Great. At least she hasn’t thrown any balls at me.”
“Don’t worry. You’re safe while I’m here. My spider sense will feel them coming even if I’m not looking.” He cocked his head to one side. “She’s got a really nice butt. I’m not sure it’s as nice as yours though. Maybe if you two stood side by side, faced the wall and did a few squats--”
Kali punched him in the arm. “You’re a perv.”
“I’m not perverted. I may use a feather or two, but not the whole chicken.”
She laughed. “What does that even mean?”
His eyes twinkled. “Think about it.”
“I think…I’d rather not.”
“How often did you take from them?”
It took her brain a moment to register what he was asking. “By high school, it was up to once a week. Maybe twice during the monthly red.”
Not even flinching at the overly personal tidbit, Rion whistled. “Wow. At that rate, it wouldn’t take long at all to move through the entire football team…and basketball team and baseball te—Ow!” He rubbed his arm where she’d pinched him.
“I haven’t touched them since Rhane.”
“Hey, I wasn’t judging, just curious.” He stood up and patted her head. “I gotta go, Kali. See you at lunch.”
“Will we be alone?”
Rion looked confused. Then his face cleared. “Oh, you mean the brawny twins. Those guys are good, aren’t they?”
“If you say so.” Kali glanced around. “I’m kind of surprised to see you here and not them.”
“Actually, I did pass by Ander on the way in. He’s posted at the back exit near the ball field. And if you look closely, right over there.” Rion pointed across the gymnasium, but his aim was up toward the ceiling.
“I don’t see anything.”
“Right there.” Rion adjusted the angle of her head. “You might have to squint.”
Kali did and gasped softly. Matthias was perched in the rafters, crouching in a dark corner where no human would have ever noticed him. He was perfectly still, like a bird of prey.
“That is way creepy.”
“Be glad he’s on our side.”
#
Not that Kali was looking for him, but to properly avoid someone required knowing their whereabouts, and she hadn’t seen Cal all day. He wasn’t in either of the two classes they shared. And those stormy blue eyes were nowhere to be found in the cafeteria. She did see Rion making his way across the room. Several kids waved him over to their tables as he walked by, but he cheerfully declined each of their invitations. She smiled as he took a chair next to her. Then she directed a pointed stare at the two guys behind him.
After cleaning up and covering up, Matthias and Ander really did look young enough to belong in high school. But something about them was off. Kali thought the other kids could tell too, because all of them, even the bullies who’d hassled Warren, had given the kindred a wide berth. Maybe it was the fresh haircuts showcasing ears that were just a bit too pointy. Or maybe it was because they were so quiet and still. The reddish tints in their brown eyes made them look a little frightening, but no scarier than the nest of kids dressed in all black clothing, guyliner, spikes, chains, and piercings sitting a table over.
“If those guys would talk, maybe smile once or twice, they wouldn’t seem so scary.”
Rion looked at the kindred and waved. Kali didn’t notice a reaction.
“You’re right. If another kid takes missing, even briefly like Trevor did a month ago, they’ll be the first to be hauled in by the rent-a-cop hall monitor for questioning. Hang on a sec.” Rion shoved back his chair and went over to the next table. A minute later, he returned with Matthias and Ander trailing behind. They sat opposite each other while Rion put himself across from Kali. “In order for anyone to believe you guys are actually not sociopaths, you’re gonna have to be way less weird. Start acting like normal teenagers. And one thing that teenage boys do is eat…a lot.” He pushed his tray in front of Ander. “I got extra. Have a slice of pizza.”
Ander stared at him. He might have blinked once.
“OK.” Rion gestured for Matthias to try the pizza. After taking a huge bite that devoured half of the slice, a huge smile split his face. “Awesome, right?”
Matthias nodded. “It is good.”
“What do you guys usually eat?”
“We hunt.”
Rion opened his mouth. Kali stopped him. “Please don’t. Right now, I’m enjoying this salad and I think the answer to whatever it is you’re about to ask might ruin my lunch.”
Rion winked but didn’t pry any further. Matthias finished the pizza. Ander watched with a softening gaze. By the end of the lunch hour, she expected him to cave and give human food a chance.
Pizza in one hand, Rion had the other rummaging through his backpack. He came up wearing a look of triumph and holding a box of rock candy. “Teenagers also love sweets. Here, try these.”
Matthias looked at him like he was crazy. “Why would I eat rocks?”
“It’s rock candy. Have some,” Rion insisted. He put the box right under Matthias’s nose.
Everyone was surprised when Ander stuck out his hand. “I will taste the balls.”
“Okay, but they aren’t balls. It’s called rock candy.” Rion shook the box until three crystallized pieces dropped into Ander’s open palm. He chewed them deliberately. Rion and Matthias looked on intently. Their faces were so anxious that Kali almost laughed, but found herself drawn into the moment as well.
“Well?” Rion shook the box again.
Ander giggled.
The sound carried over the noise of the crowd, grinding conversations throughout the entire cafeteria to a halt. Nearly every head turned in their direction. Kali slid down in her chair a little. She hated being stared at. Though for once, she wasn’t the cause.
“Rion, your balls taste wonderful.”
Rion’s face turned a bright, shameful red. “Dude, you gotta get the terminology right. It’s rock candy.”
“May I have more?” Ander asked hopefully.
Already with both hands clamped over her mouth, Kali bit into her palm to keep from laughing out loud. In a few seconds, the whole school would be laughing. She couldn’t be the one to start it.
“I would like to taste your balls too,” Matthias added.
“Rock candy,” Rion almost shouted. The room erupted with laughter. The bell rang. It was the five-minute warning before the start of next period. “Thank God,” Rion muttered. “Let’s go.” Still holding onto a piece of unfinished pizza, he took Kali’s arm. “We have AP Calculus next.”
Her fit of giggles ended in a snort. “I hate Calculus,” she managed to gasp while almost keeping a straight face. Underneath Rion’s exasperated glare, her attempt at a stoic demeanor broke. She laughed again. “I’m so sorry, Rion. But I bet you didn’t wake up this morning thinking your balls would be the hottest gossip at Ridge Creek High by afternoon.”
“Ha. Ha. Laugh it up, Kali. It’ll be my turn next.”
“What are you talking about?”
“In about six minutes, Mr. Carlson is going to hit us with a p
op quiz on last night’s homework.”
She stopped dead in her tracks. The laughing mood was gone. “Tell me you’re joking.”
Rion shook his head, flashing a lopsided grin. “I bet you didn’t wake up this morning thinking you were going to fail a test.”
With nothing to say to that one, Kali punched him in the shoulder as hard as she could.
Chapter 31
“Okay. Let’s go over this again.” Rion was leaning against the lockers, looking very unhappy. The school day was over. He’d waited outside of Kali’s classroom until the end of last period, ready to escort her back to the manor. But she had other plans. “This company sold you out to the highest bidders and almost got you killed barely a month ago but you’re happily returning to work for them?”
She slid one of the few remaining textbooks at Ridge Creek High into her messenger bag. The five-inch thick study of world history settled in comfortably next to the school issued computer tablet. Closing her locker, she glanced over at Rion and started down the hall. “I love my job. And I still think I have a chance to get the Davidson Founder Internship. You guys should have already talked about this. Isn’t it, like, your duty to know where I am and what I’m doing every second of the day?”
“We did talk about it. But I want to understand you. Getting to dissect the brain of a crazy person doesn’t happen often for me.” He cut in front of Kali, forcing her to slow down. “You nearly died.”
“Yeah well, Rhane thinks the danger at the firm is minimal now. He’s totally okay with this.” She moved past him and kept walking.
“You’re crazy if you think Rhane is okay with any of this.”
“What?” Kali stopped and turned around. “What are you talking about? He won’t let me go anywhere that’s not safe.”
“Rhane has too much crap flying at him to risk being at odds with you, the woman of his dreams.”
“He said that?”
“No. York did.”
She frowned. “Do you agree with him?”
Rion rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Honestly, Rhane has been a very different guy since he found you. He’s become more of a man, less a soldier.”
Her mind flashed back to River’s words spoken by the pond. She bit her lip. “So…Rhane makes bad decisions when a situation involves me.”
“No. We’re not saying that. Rhane is a great leader.” He lifted the bag from her shoulder and slung it across his body. “And even if he does make a mistake or two, it’d be worth it. We’re all just glad to see light in his eyes again.”
“Nice save.”
“Hey, it’s not a save. It’s the truth.” He gently bumped her forward. “Come on. War should be out front.”
“I hope he reacts better than you did or explaining this all again will make me late for work.”
Rion laughed. “Actually, War will be glad to hear it. It’ll be next week before he’s allowed back in school. This is an assignment he can help with. I’ve got a feeling that guarding you at Mack Ventures is going to be a job for more than one man.”
“Won’t Ander and Matthias be there?”
“Those two barely made it through a day of high school. They’re not ready for the big city just yet.”
“Maybe feeding them more balls could help ease the transition,” she said with a teasing grin.
“Ha.”
“Where are those guys anyway?”
Passing through a side exit near the science hall, Kali noticed a car parked just ahead. She didn’t recognize it, but the mop of auburn hair visible from the driver’s side window was unmistakable. Rion lifted his nose to the wind. “War is their relief. Ander and Matthias had orders to return to the manor as soon as he made contact. They’re headed there now.”
“So what’s the rest of the plan? It will look a little strange having you guys follow me around the office all evening.”
“Actually…” Rion’s eyes trailed over to War as he opened the car door for Kali and flipped the seat forward so she could climb into the back.
“Actually what?” She didn’t like the look that passed between the two. Nor did she like the sly grin on War’s face.
“You’re looking at the new junior analyst at Mack Ventures, Inc.” Rion beamed proudly.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Kali smacked her forehead. “How did this happen?”
“I’m very good with computers.”
“I’m not convinced.”
“And Rhane knows a guy.”
She blinked. “Who?”
“I’m not allowed to say.”
“Rion.”
“Sorry, babe.”
She tapped War’s shoulder. “And what about you? Are you the new junior assistant communications operator or are you going to be stuck out outside pretending to be on a stake-out?”
War laughed dryly. “No. I’m the new night operations manager.”
Kali almost laughed out loud. “There is no such thing.”
“There is now.”
Rion giggled. “It’s a fancy way of saying he’s the janitor.”
“This is un-freaking-believable. Nothing is going to happen. Mr. Richards, the one responsible for the whole send-Kali-to-the-desert-to-die fiasco, is missing. There is no danger. You guys are going to be bored out of your minds.”
“Maybe so, but seeing your reaction makes every second of a wasted day totally worth it.”
For the rest of the drive over, she stubbornly hoped Rion and War were only playing a huge joke on her. But, sadly they weren’t. Once they reached the office, both of the kin followed her inside and began orientation to their respective departments. Kali plopped down at her desk in defeat. She couldn’t help feeling a bit like Rhane had tricked her, pretending everything was fine and dandy with her return to work while simultaneously orchestrating a master infiltration into her personal life. School for her had never been normal. Having to lure teenage boys into dark corners to feed from their life forces prevented that. But home had always been a safe haven. And work was the place she could go and be a part of something she really loved doing. At the office, Kali saw her future. She’d imagined herself in college with her tarnished reputation left far behind in Ridge Creek, making a friend or two.
But things were very different now. Home was gone—at least it was no longer safe. Work had become, at minimum, a dubious environment. And the future she saw had completely changed. Rhane was a big part of it. With him and the others, Kali didn’t feel like a freak. For the first time in a long time she had friends she could count on to stick around even in the face of her flaws.
Admittedly, Rion and Warren on babysitter detail weren’t that bad. Rion was always good for a laugh. And looking like he practically walked off a photo shoot for men’s designer clothing, War made a nice piece of eye candy. Even Ander and Matthias had turned out to be pretty decent company—after washing off the bugs and dirt, and if you could get past the I-might-eat-you-for-breakfast look in their eyes. She sighed. Life could be much worse.
“Welcome back, Kali.”
She glanced up quickly. It was Gilbert from accounting. “Thanks.” She gave him a small smile. “It’s good to be back.”
“There’s fresh coffee if you want some.”
“Thanks,” she said again and immediately made her way to the kitchenette. She definitely wanted coffee. And she wasn’t the only one.
The pin straight blonde hair cascading over a thin set of shoulders was unmistakable. But visually, everything else about her was all wrong. A black pencil skirt (not overly tight) reached all the way to her knees. Cleavage was barely evident. And not a stitch of spandex or any other stretchy material favored by “working” girls made up Shannon’s attire.
As Kali neared the counter and reached for the carafe, the intern turned and welcomed her with an icy expression. In spite of it, Kali mustered an unreserved “hello.”
Shannon didn’t bother to return the greeting. “While Mr. Richards is away, you’re going
to be taking more orders from me. Don’t waste time trying to get used to it. Suck it up. There’s a stack of reports on your desk. Most are overdue. Have them done by the end of the day.”
Kali opened her mouth but shut it again, discarding her initial response. “I’ll stay until it’s done,” she finally said. As Shannon turned to walk away, Kali cleared her throat. “Shannon…um…how are you?”
“Why show concern now, Kalista? You left me for dead.”
Oh god. She remembers the desert. The cover story about camel herders wasn’t going to work. “Shannon, you were stabbed, and I thought you were dead. I ran for my life. But I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you or Mack.”
Shannon made a sympathetic noise. “You’re sorry.” Moving closer, she pushed a strand of hair away from Kali’s face. “Make it up to me, Darkesong.”
“Excuse me?” Kali stepped back in surprise. Coldness suddenly nipped at her hands and feet.
A pair of arms sprouted between her and Shannon. Slender shoulders followed, nudging a way through. “If I could just squeeze in here to replace those filters, it would be great.”
“S-sure.” Kali moved aside. On seeing War standing next to her, relief replaced the sudden coldness.
A tense moment passed while he manipulated the complicated mechanics of the single serve machine. Shannon continued to stare at Kali over his shoulder. He turned to face the intern, extending his hand. “Hi. I’m Warren, the new night operations manager. I don’t think we’ve met yet.”
Shannon scowled and folded her arms, looking down at War’s hand as if he’d proffered a toilet brush. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll keep pretending we haven’t.”
The blatant rudeness aimed at War was shocking. Typically, Shannon was pretty decent to anything male and had a pulse. Whipping her hair over her shoulder, she nodded toward a desk. “My trash wasn’t emptied last night. Go take care of it.”
