by Avril Sabine
“A couple of minutes. I have to get home. I can’t go sneaking in at daybreak, I might get caught.” Amber reluctantly stepped out of Kade’s arms. It had felt surprising right surrounded by them.
“I wish you didn’t have to go.”
“I don’t want to. I didn’t want to go in the first place.”
“Will you come back and see me?”
Amber glanced at Kade who nodded slightly. “Yes. As soon as I can.”
“I miss you. Nothing is the same without you about,” Crystal said.
“I know. Nothing is the same for me either.” Amber stepped forward to hug Crystal, trying not to think about how much things weren’t the same. “Never do that to me again. I don’t care what you’ve done. Tell me so we can get past it.”
“I will. I promise.”
When they were alone in front of Crystal’s house, Kade looked around. “What now? Is that all you wanted to do?”
Amber smiled wryly. “I would like to say I need to go and punch Josh in the face, but that probably wouldn’t be a good idea.”
“I wouldn’t mind taking you there. I hate disloyalty.”
Amber was tempted. But she worried she might lose control and who knew what might happen. “I can’t. What if I became a panther?”
“I’ll keep an eye on you.”
Amber thought about it for another minute. She shook her head. “No. It’s best not to. Every time I think of him, I want to shred him with my claws. Even more so now I’ve spoken to Crystal.”
“You aren’t even curious about why he did it?”
“Yeah, but not enough to risk losing control. Can you take me back to my grandmother’s house now?”
Kade nodded. “Let’s find somewhere secluded.”
Amber grinned. “That sounds like a pick up line.”
“I don’t need a pick up line. I’m coming home with you.” His grin was pure trouble.
Amber opened her mouth to argue. She changed her mind. The last thing she felt like dealing with was a wyvern. Her freak abilities were unpredictable and since it was Kade’s fault she had them, he should do guard duty. And she had school tomorrow. She needed some sleep to be able to cope with that.
“Are you going to continue to ignore me at school?”
Amber glanced towards Kade. “What?”
“Never mind. I guess I’ll find out eventually.”
Chapter Eleven
Late the next morning, Amber glared at Justin where he sat on the edge of her desk. She was beginning to wonder if he’d been to any of his own classes. Justin turned seventeen at the beginning of the year, his sister at the end. There was nearly twelve months between them. Although they were both in her year, she couldn’t recall seeing them in any of her classes. Well, before today that was.
“I need to open my book.” Amber kept up her glare.
“Then where will I sit?”
“How about in your own classroom?”
Justin grinned. “You’ve got such a good sense of humour.”
Amber’s hands gripped the edge of her desk as she tried to control herself. Her senses sharpened. Under the mix of smells that included soap, shampoo and deodorant, Amber could smell warm, sluggish prey.
“Amber!”
“I’m doing the best I can. Do you know how hard this is? I need something to eat and I’ve still got to get through this class before lunch. Why’d you have to land on my balcony that night?” She wished she had the ability to turn her fingernails into claws so she could dig them into Justin to get him moving.
“There’s a party this Saturday night. Are you interested in going?” Justin rose to stand beside her desk. He leaned forward, one hand resting on the back of her chair.
“If you don’t do something about this idiot, I swear I’ll do something drastic, Kade.”
“I’m nearly there. Hold on.”
Amber opened her maths book. “Not interested.” She glanced up as the classroom door opened. Hoping it was the teacher, she smiled when she saw it was Kade. Even better.
Justin turned to see who had entered. “What’s he doing here?”
Amber slid from her chair and was in front of her desk by the time Kade reached her. He wrapped his arms around her and their lips met. The classroom receded. Her annoyance at Justin evaporated. She smiled up at Kade as he pulled back slightly.
“Is that what you were looking for?” Kade whispered.
Amber grinned. “Perfect.”
“I’ll see you at lunch. This might help until then.” Kade pressed a chocolate bar into her hand before he lightly kissed her then strode from the classroom.
Amber opened the wrapper as she turned back to face Justin. He stared at her with an expression that could only be amazement. “As I’ve said a million times. I’m not interested.” She took a bite of her chocolate.
“You didn’t say you and Kade were seeing each other.”
“It doesn’t matter the reason. I’m not interested.” She pushed past him to sit in her seat. The classroom door opened. This time it was the teacher.
Without another word, Justin left the room. Amber smiled as she leaned back in her seat and had another mouthful of chocolate. Her feet crossed at her ankles and her eyes met those of her teacher, Mr Carlton. He didn’t look happy.
“Is this a classroom or a café?” Mr Carlton’s hands went behind his back as he slowly walked towards her. The class fell silent.
Amber crammed the last piece of chocolate in her mouth and shrugged.
“I don’t want to see you eating in my class again. Understand?”
Amber swallowed the chocolate and wished she had a drink to wash it down. “Sure.” She bet he wouldn’t still feel the same way if she turned into a panther and fed on his students.
Mr Carlton continued to stare at her a moment longer before he turned and walked towards the front of the classroom, hands still clasped behind his back. “Homework out. Hand it forward. Then go on with the pages written up on the board.”
Amber wasn’t the only one who groaned when they read the pages listed on the board.
* * *
Amber dropped her schoolbag just inside her bedroom. Kicking off her shoes, she locked the bedroom door and dropped onto her bed. The week had been far too long. She was glad it was Friday. Two blissful, school free days. Two days without idiots hanging out with her because she was with Kade. Two days without turning a corridor and finding yet another female with a hairstyle identical to hers, right down to the colour. What did they think? Becoming her clone would be the way to catch Kade’s attention? Idiots!
She rose and restlessly paced. She had to get out of this town. Amber dropped onto the seat at her desk and turned on her laptop. Her head jerked up and she scented the air. A slight smile curved her lips.
“It’s unlocked.” She grinned as Kade entered the French doors. “Someone’s going to notice you coming through my balcony doors one day.”
Kade shrugged and dropped down on her bed, lying with his hands behind his head. “Do you think you can stay with us this weekend? All weekend? Your bed’s far too small.”
“There’s always the floor,” Amber said absently as she noticed Crystal was online.
“Ask.”
“Hmm.” She clicked on Crystal’s name.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Not really.”
Amber says: Hey.
Crystal says: Come home!!!!
Amber says: I wish.
Crystal says: Party tomorrow night. Wish you were going too.
Amber says: So do I. There’s a lame one on here. Don’t think I want to go.
Crystal says: Come here then. Stay the weekend. Pleeeeeeeease.
Amber says: Got no way of getting there.
Crystal says: Catch a bus.
Kade leaned over her shoulder. “You can’t stay there on your own. Only if Maira can sleep there too.”
“Where would you be?” Amber looked up at him, their faces centimetres apa
rt.
“About.”
“Would you be in Brisbane too?” When Kade nodded in answer, Amber frowned. “Where would you stay?”
“We’d get a room somewhere.”
“Why?”
“Because it isn’t safe for you to be wandering around on your own.”
“No, I meant why would you do that for me?” Amber ignored the beeps coming from her laptop.
“Would you normally go?”
“I’d try and convince my mum to let me go.”
“Tell her Maira can drive you.”
Amber smiled. “Thank you.” She turned back to the laptop.
Crystal says: You still there?
Crystal says: Hello???
Crystal says: I didn’t think it was that bad a suggestion.
Amber says: Sorry. Was talking to Kade. If Mum agrees to let me go can Maira sleep over too?
Crystal says: Shouldn’t be a problem. Mum’s fairly laid back about who I have over. Unless it’s a boy. Why?
Amber says: She can give me a lift.
Crystal says: She there too?
Amber says: brb.
Amber turned to Kade again and tugged a lock of her hair from his fingers. “We don’t have an audience.”
Kade grinned. “I’m not that nice.”
“Meaning?”
“Even to help you get the message through to Justin I wouldn’t kiss you if I wasn’t interested.”
Amber stared at him, trying to think what she could say. Her eyes were drawn to his lips. The last thing she needed was more complications in her life. Her heart leapt. Obviously it didn’t agree with her mind. She rose to her feet.
“Amber.”
Eyes met. Held. Amber’s lips parted, her mouth suddenly dry. Words failed. Her lips curved slightly. Words weren’t always necessary. Reaching for him, her eyes closed as her lips met his and she was lost in a swirl of emotions. When a sound like a purr rose from her throat, she pulled back, eyes wide.
Sight, sound and smell were all heightened. Her skin felt tight and she knew how to bring forth the panther. It would take seconds. She forced it back down. It wasn’t her. She was human.
“What’s wrong?”
“I know how to change. I don’t want to know that.” Amber stepped back. “I’m human!”
“Change.”
“What?”
“You need to know how to change. What if you accidentally change into a panther? You need to know how to change back at will. You also need to recognise the signs of when you’re going to change and how to stop it.”
Amber stared at him. “Change. Into a panther.”
“Unless you can manage a dragon, panther will do.” Kade smiled fleetingly.
“Fine!” She pulled off her uniform, standing in leather shorts and bikini top. She turned her back on Kade. His gaze was too distracting. She called forth the panther, feeling her skin tighten and senses heighten. She stretched out her arms and stared at her hands. She smiled as she recalled wanting to turn her fingernails into claws. She watched them change. She tried to hold it there. It was impossible. The changes continued, like a tremor through her body.
“Now talk to me.” Kade reached out and ran his hand along the fur on her back.
Amber growled in annoyance.
Kade shook his head. “Talk to me.”
Seconds passed until they turned into minutes. Amber finally figured out how to control the animal mind that wanted to swamp the human one. “Happy?”
“Try a sentence.”
“Just don’t expect me to recite Shakespeare.”
Kade laughed. “Okay. Change back now.”
It took nearly a minute before Amber could reverse the process. She stretched as she rose to stand on two feet. Her hands ran down her arms, surprisingly smooth after being covered by fur, fighting back an urge to do a victory dance. She didn’t want the ability to turn into a panther. It wasn’t like she could tell anyone. Turning into a dragon would have been more practical. Then she could’ve flown anywhere she wanted to go. She could have visited Cystal.
“How do you feel?” Kade took her hand in his.
“Only half human.”
Kade tugged her closer. “Join the club. Now, how about you get dressed and see what your mother has to say about going to the city for the weekend?”
Amber nodded, pulling her hand away. “Don’t hold your breath though. She’s not real happy with me.”
“What’d you do?”
“I got annoyed with my grandmother. Stupid old woman. She was hassling me. If they thought I was going to sit there and take it, they were kidding themselves.” She pulled a dress on over her head. “I’m not sure how long it’ll take me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
It took Amber nearly half an hour. She returned to her room with a grin. Locking the door behind her, she lost her grin when she saw Kade was at her laptop typing. He looked up as she stalked across the room.
“Don’t worry, I told Crystal it was me. I was bored sitting here waiting for you. So was she.”
Amber scrolled up to skim through what he’d written. Nothing important. Mainly what classes he was in and where he lived. Basic information she already had. “I need my seat back.”
“I take it you can go?”
Amber nodded as she took Kade’s place in front of the laptop.
Amber says: I’m back. Can I stay for the weekend?
Crystal says: When do you get here?
Amber says: Tomorrow. Tried for tonight, but she expects me to get homework out of the way first :(
Crystal says: Good thing you’re not here right now. Your ears would be bleeding from my scream of excitement!!!
Amber says: I’ll be there as soon as possible. Your parents okay with two extra bodies Saturday night?
Crystal says: Yep. Already checked with them. They wanted to know if Maira’s parents want to talk to them. Said to give them our number.
Amber says: That’s not an issue. They don’t live with their parents.
Crystal says: You never said that!!
Amber says: Sorry.
Crystal says: You’re not going to have time to sleep tomorrow night. I have a million questions to ask.
Amber says: Me too. I want to know everything that’s happened since I’ve been gone.
Crystal says: No problem.
Amber says: g2g. Need to get my homework done or I can’t come.
Crystal says: K. See you tomorrow. I can’t wait.
Amber says: Me too
Crystal says: Bibi.
Amber says: Later.
Amber turned to Kade. “Are you sure Maira will be able to go?”
Kade grinned. “Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten she has to follow orders?”
“You mean you can tell her how to spend her free time? Even what parties to attend?”
“They don’t get free time. I guess you could say they’re always on call.”
“That’s barbaric.”
“I never claimed it wasn’t.”
Amber could only shake her head. “Don’t expect blind obedience from me.”
Kade laughed softly. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Chapter Twelve
The music vibrated around them. Amber couldn’t stop grinning. She was in her own city, amongst friends. She’d missed this. She glanced around. There wasn’t much space to dance in the press of bodies. Many couples were plastered against each other, like Maira and Brann were. Amber was dancing in a group that included Crystal, Kade and Angela.
A new scent entered the room and Amber met Kade’s eyes. His body was no longer relaxed. If she hadn’t spent so much time with him, she wouldn’t have noticed. “Dragon, isn’t it?”
Kade nodded, stepping closer to her. “We have to get out of here.”
“Why?”
Brann and Maira appeared at their side. “I’m starving. Let’s go get something to eat.” Maira smiled easily at the crowd. “And not the chips an
d stuff sitting in the other room. I want real food.”
Kade nodded. “Are you coming, Amber?”
She could see the order in Kade’s eyes. “Sure. I could eat a horse… or deer.”
“Aww, stay. You were going to spend every second of this weekend with me,” Crystal protested.
“She can’t come.” Kade continued to stare at Amber. “Deal with this. Quickly.”
“We’ll be back,” Amber said.
“Then I’m coming too.” Crystal linked her arm through Amber’s.
“Me too.” Angela took Amber’s other arm.
“There’s not room for six in the car.” Kade kept glancing behind Amber.
Amber wanted to check what he was looking at. She managed to stay focused on Crystal and Angela instead. “We won’t be long. You know I don’t take forever to eat.”
“There’s room for me,” Crystal said stubbornly.
Amber managed to bite back a sigh. She looked at Kade. “She won’t budge. We’ll have to take her with us. We’ll be standing here arguing for ages if we don’t.” He nodded slightly and turned away, pushing through the bodies in the room. “I’ll catch you later, Inge.” Amber hugged her friend before she turned back to Crystal. “Come on then. Let’s go eat.”
They were nearly out of the house when they ran into Josh and a handful of his mates. Anger surged through Amber. She felt her skin tighten and forced herself to relax. She couldn’t change into a panther in a room full of people. Especially since she knew most of them. “Kade!” She sent a picture of Josh blocking her way.
“Look who’s returned to Brisbane. Weren’t you moving permanently?”
“Get out of my way, Josh.” Amber glared at him.
“Is that any way to talk to your boyfriend?”
“You’ve been replaced.”
“I don’t see him anywhere.”
“Then how about you turn around and look.” Kade came through the crowd to stand behind Josh, who spun to face him.
Josh took a step back and to the side so he could see both of them. “You said you’d be gone two months. Your mother was telling her friends she wasn’t coming back this year. I don’t appreciate being lied to.”
