Shifter Academy- an Impish Christmas

by Angel Leya

  “Yeah. He came back to me with questions. Questions I wasn’t interested in answering. He was patient, weaseling them out of me over time. And now he’s kind of my best friend. For a non-mer.” He gave her a lopsided grin.

  “And that’s how you two fell in love.”

  Trevor chuckled. “Yeah, no.”

  “What exactly did you tell him you were going to do with the device?”

  Trevor reddened. “Nothing.”

  Kenzie leveled her gaze at him. “Um, yeah, that wasn’t nothing.”

  “Let’s just say I hinted at using it in a game similar to the prank he pulled on me.”

  “Mmmhmmm. I see.”

  “Hey, it was just the cover story. I thought he’d be more interested in getting it done if he thought it would . . . benefit me.”

  Kenzie let the silence hang between them, enjoying letting him squirm for a moment. Served him right, using her as a pawn, even if it was for her benefit.

  When her curiosity won out over her love of torture, she asked, “So what’s this about you dreaming of me?”

  Trevor’s shoulders relaxed and he shook his head. “It’s complicated. I’m not really sure . . . Well, it’s complicated.”

  “You said that.”

  Trevor ran a hand through his hair. “Well, it’s a long story, and we have work to do, getting this HIT set up.” He winked, and Kenzie rolled her eyes.

  Her stomach also took that moment to chime in. Loudly. She put her hands on her belly, her face reddening.

  Trevor smirked. “And from the sounds of it, it’s time for lunch.”

  “I swear that thing has a clock,” Kenzie muttered.

  “Then we’d better keep it on schedule. Come on.”

  Kenzie followed Trevor, aware that he was dodging her question. No worries. She had time to weasel the truth out of him. Maybe even just like Mike did.

  Chapter 20

  As they approached the Dining Hall, Kenzie slipped her hand out of Trevor’s. She wasn’t ready to face the backlash of walking into the student hot-spot cozying up to the mer. And Wes might be there. Kenzie tried to brush the thought away, but she felt the truth of it deep within. Was she being rash, rushing to Trevor for comfort? But the severing felt so final. She didn’t think there was even a chance Wes might take her back, but still . . . Hope is a funny thing.

  Kenzie shook her head. He’d rejected her, not the other way around. She wasn’t going to just sit on her hands waiting for him to come back to her. If he wanted her, he knew where to find her.

  “You okay?” Trevor asked.

  Kenzie nodded. “Just a little nervous about what my friends might think.”

  Trevor smiled and shrugged. “Best way to weed out the losers is to sprinkle in a little conflict.”

  Not really her style, but Trevor seemed determined to stick by her, no matter what. She’d have to face them sooner or later. She just wished it could be later. Much, much later. Still, they all had to eat. Right?

  They rounded the corner and the view of the Dining Hall opened up. Kenzie felt a sense of panic bubbling beneath the surface. It took only a second to find Wes seated with their friends, smiling at something. The sight, which normally would’ve filled her with warmth, brought closed fists and a glare instead. He should be hurting right now, like she was hurting. But here he was, with their friends, looking fresh and happy and relaxed.

  She didn’t know when she’d stopped moving, or why she couldn’t bring herself to look away. You just freaking severed our bond, and you have the nerve to be happy? she wanted to scream.

  Wes looked directly at her, his mouth open. After a blink, the look on his face transformed into a scowl. He picked up his tray and marched toward the door, throwing away everything that was left. Apparently he’d lost his appetite.

  A hand on her shoulder made her spin with a start. Trevor. She’d forgotten they’d walked in together. She glanced toward the door, then pasted on the best smile she could muster.

  “You okay?” Trevor asked.

  Kenzie pressed her lips together and nodded.

  As Trevor steered her toward the food line, Kenzie peeked at her friends. They looked as bewildered as she felt. Kenzie hoped Trevor’s presence wouldn’t alienate her further from everyone else she cared about.

  But as they made it through the line and headed toward the table, Kenzie was greeted by brave smiles. Yeah, this isn’t going to be awkward at all.

  “Hey,” Kenzie said, sitting next to June, and Trevor slid in beside her. “Everyone, I think you know Trevor.”

  Trevor gave a nod.

  “And Trevor, this is Jesse, Leya, and June.”

  June and Leya waved.

  Jesse crossed his arms. “So, what exactly are your intentions with our selkie?”

  Kenzie rolled her eyes. “Come on—”

  Trevor’s hand on her shoulder stilled her. “Just a little experiment in cross-cultural associations.”

  Jesse’s lips pulled back in what looked like a snarl.

  “Trying to put an end to the pointless enmity between the mer and selkies?” Trevor said, raising his brows.

  “And there weren’t any girl mer that could do the job?” Leya asked, playing with her fork.

  Trevor cleared his throat. “Let’s just say I’m the only one who thought it a worthy cause.”

  Leya rolled her eyes toward Jesse. June sat with her hands in her lap, looking at her plate.

  Jesse let out a long breath. “Look, I get it. And I’m all for bringing people together, but this?” He pointed at Kenzie and Trevor. “I don’t know. I don’t like it.”

  Kenzie reddened. “We’re just friends.”

  Leya snorted. “Right.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry you find that so hard to believe. Maybe if you weren’t so busy kissing your ‘friends’ when it’s convenient, you wouldn’t be judging me for making a new guy friend.”

  Leya stiffened, her gaze cutting to June, whose head had finally popped up, her eyes wide and mouth open. Leya stood, huffing as she marched away from the table. June got up a moment later, quietly following behind.

  Jesse got up last, shaking his head at Kenzie. “Maybe you should consider who your real friends are before you go biting everyone’s head off.”

  “Maybe I wouldn’t need more friends if the ones I had were willing to help me make Christmas great again,” she grumbled.

  Jesse shook his head again, then sauntered off. Kenzie watched him go, her heart hammering, her hands trembling. She didn’t know what to feel, and settled on something akin to numb.

  “I’m sorry,” she said to Trevor when she felt she could trust her voice. “It wasn’t supposed to go like that.”

  “Forget them. They’re idiots. You don’t need them anyway.”

  Kenzie rested her elbows on the table and her head in her hands. She’d been trying to tell herself that her whole life, that she didn’t need people to like her. But she did. She needed people to believe in her and support her crazy schemes and laugh at her stupid jokes. And those people had just walked away from her. First Wes, now the rest. “Why does it feel like every choice I make these days is the wrong one?” she mumbled.

  “We’re all just doing the best we can with what we know.”

  “Yeah?” Kenzie turned her head a little and cracked a smile at Trevor. “What does that say about you?”

  Trevor shrugged. “I think we’re all just a little bit broken. That’s why friendships come and go. They come from the good parts and go when the broken pieces start to rub together.”

  “So no one can make it.”

  “Maybe not. I can’t say I’ve seen a whole lot of relationships that have lasted a lifetime. Have you?”

  Kenzie turned her face back into her hands. She’d thought eternity was exactly what she had with Wes. She’d lost so many people throughout her life—her dad, all her friends back in Shallow Grave, even Myreen and Juliet, who were there, yet not. Not to mention she’d just watched everyone she ca
red about in this place walk out on her. Would Trevor be more of the same? And if so, what was wrong with her, that she kept losing people like she did?

  “Forget it,” Trevor said, his voice soft as he rubbed her shoulder. “I tell you what. Let’s you and I do something fun together later.”

  Kenzie shook her head. “Not today. Not until this imp is out of the picture.”

  “Okay. All right. Then eat up and we can get to work on it.”

  Kenzie pushed her plate away. “I’m ready when you are.” She must really be feeling bad to turn up her nose at food, but she’d honestly lost her appetite. Her stomach had even ceased it’s grumbling.

  Trevor stuffed the last bite of his meal in his mouth, then cocked his head toward the door.

  Kenzie nodded. As they made their exit, Kenzie’s gaze roamed to the sad remnants of her attempt to decorate the entrance, still clinging to their miserable existence.

  “Maybe we should come back and fix that,” Trevor said.

  Kenzie nodded. “Maybe. When the imp is— Whoa!” She landed on her bottom with a smart, and Trevor joined her a moment later. Kenzie looked at the floor, which felt weird, and cold and— “It’s ice.”

  “What? How?” Trevor looked around, but that all-too-familiar laughter echoed from the far end.

  Kenzie met Trevor’s wide-eyed stare. “He’s here? In the middle of the day? Oh, this can’t be good.”

  “Why? What does it mean?” Trevor pulled Kenzie to her feet, and the two of them began carefully making their way to the end of the hall. Kenzie hoped the ice didn’t extend past there.

  “According to the grimoire, the spell advances the longer it holds. If the transformations are occurring more frequently, then we’re reaching the point of no return.”

  “And if we can’t trap him and fix it . . . ?”

  Kenzie wobbled, but caught her footing before landing on her bottom. “Then whoever’s transforming into the helper will be the helper. Permanently.”

  “Good thing I still have the HIT on me.”

  “You might want to stop calling it that, or I might have to comply every time you say it.”

  “HIT? What do you—? Hey!”

  Kenzie punched him in the arm, then blinked innocently. “I did warn you.”

  Trevor smirked, shaking his head.

  Thankfully the ice did taper off as they made their way out of the Grand Hall. Kenzie could still hear the imp’s laughter, though it was far in the distance. There were some surprised yelps of unsuspecting students in the hall behind her, but Kenzie had her mind on one goal only.

  “What do we do now?” Trevor asked.

  Kenzie looked at him. “Have you ever thought of growing a beard?”

  Trevor’s brows furrowed, his mouth screwing to the side. “I can’t say that I have.”

  “Well, here’s your chance. Faésógha,” she said as she pulled him around the corner, envisioning him with a nice Santa beard. She was practically in fits by the time he realized what was happening. It was the wrong time to laugh, of course, but she couldn’t help herself.

  “Seriously? You think this will draw the little guy out?”

  Kenzie shrugged. “Here, give me the device.” She took the case, opening it and pushing it off to the side. The device she held in her hand just behind her back, her finger on the scanning button. “Oh, helper!” she shouted, putting a hand to her mouth. “I found you a Saaaaantaaaaa.” She grinned.

  Trevor rolled his eyes. “Yeah, like he’s going to fall for—”

  A Santa hat fell on his head, and a moment later there was a popping noise, followed by his body blowing up like one of those inflatable sumo wrestler suits.

  “You were just missing a hat, and some fat, and some annoying little brats,” the imp said, dropping to Trevor’s side, a smirk on his face.

  Trevor made a face at the imp. “Funny. I think you’ll do for the annoying little brat part.”

  Meanwhile, Kenzie had homed in on the imp with the device, and the second button had flashed green. The imp’s head swung around just as she hit the button.

  Kenzie’s triumphant shout stopped mid-squeak, her body coming to attention, her head tilted toward the ceiling. No, no, no! her mind screamed as she realized the device had locked her up. Had she pointed it the wrong way and targeted herself by accident? She didn’t think so. The handle part was smaller than the front of it. She was certain.

  “Oh, yeah! Hey, Kenzie— Kenzie?” Trevor’s warm, fat hands were on her arm a moment later. “Kenzie, are you okay?”

  Of course not, she wanted to shout. Dang, this being frozen thing sucked. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t speak, she couldn’t even roll her eyes. She was trapped in her own body, with no way to communicate. And her magic was stuck there with her. Not. Cool.

  “Crap. You must share some sort of psychic link with the imp. Dang it!”

  Whatever. I’m fine. I’m just fine. Not like I’ll develop a back ache standing like this or go crazy only being able to talk to myself. I’m fine.

  “Shoot, I’ve got to get you out of this. I’m sorry.”

  No! Dang, this was not good. Leave me here until the imp changes back! Please! As much as she wanted to get released, she wanted the imp taken down more. She could stand a few hours of this, right?

  “I’m sorry, Kenzie. This sucks. I can’t just leave you in the middle of the hall like this, and frankly, I’m not sure I could carry you anywhere else, let alone fit through any of the doors with all this extra . . . fluff on me.”

  You can! You can do it. Come on, dang it. Oooh! The gurneys. The school’s gurneys are like, zero gravity stuff, right? One of those could carry me and the imp. It was useless talking to herself, but she couldn’t help it. Her mind was racing a mile a minute with nowhere to expend all the thoughts running through it.

  But his hands were on her fingers, prying them off the device. If he managed to lift the one on the button—

  “There!” Trevor said.

  Kenzie’s body went slack, and she fell backwards as the weight of her limbs returned to her control.

  Trevor was bending over her a moment later. “Are you okay?”

  There was a hiss from behind Trevor. “A mean little trick from jolly Saint Nick.”

  Trevor spun on his heel. “Oh, so you’re the only one who can pull a prank?”

  The imp grinned, then turned.

  “Wait!” Kenzie cried, holding out her hand to him. For the first time, she sensed something coming from the imp, something she couldn’t quite pinpoint, but she recognized the pain around the edges. “We’re just trying to help. Please, stay with us until you change back.”

  “If back is good, then up is down. We paint our lives with a frown.” He winked at Kenzie, then took off.

  Kenzie slumped back onto the floor and groaned.

  “What the heck did that mean?” Trevor asked, his gaze settling on her once more.

  “I have no idea.” She covered her mouth to smother a snicker. “Santa.”

  Trevor joined her in laughing, and she laughed even harder as his stomach wobbled like a bowl full of jelly.

  She wiped her eyes. “Ah, that’ll be one for the grandkids.”

  Trevor nodded, still struggling to keep his laughter subdued. “Any chance you know how to fix this?”

  “Come on. There’s gotta be something in that grimoire. If the imp could do it, I should be able to, and undo it.”

  “Boy, I hope so.”

  Me too.

  The walk to the Avian Mastery room was long and quiet.

  Kenzie finally spoke up, keeping her voice low. “You could’ve left me like that, you know. Until the imp transformed back.”

  Trevor grimaced. “I know what it feels like to be trapped by that thing. I couldn’t leave you stuck. We’ll find another way.”

  “We have to.”

  Chapter 21

  Back in her room, Kenzie got to work, shuffling through the pages of the grimoire, hoping to find a way
to unload Trevor’s extra . . . weight. Not that it seemed to slow him down, but he’d tripped several times on the way here. She could only imagine what it must feel like carrying around an additional hundred pounds or more. Probably why these things were designed to happen over time.

  It had been a pain to keep lugging the grimoire back and forth to class, but she didn’t trust herself without it these days. She needed its magic more than ever, whether she had school permission or not. And it was a good thing she was prepared, too.

  Trevor sat on the other side of the bed, looking over the items she had out—cell phone (dead), the Twilight books, her black nail polish, and a notebook full of reminders and tips for the grimoire, most of which probably only made sense to her.

  “Twilight?” Trevor asked.

  “Yeah, I kinda get Bella.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Not the ending, of course. She chose a vampire over a shifter. I mean, what kind of idiot chooses the bad guy?”

  Trevor smirked. “Isn’t Edward supposed to be some romantic, vegetarian or something?”

  Kenzie huffed a laugh. “Yeah. And sparkly. Let’s just say I’ve met the real thing, and I’m not buying that bull.” There’s only one vampire worth his salt, and his heart’s already taken.

  “So why read it?”

  Kenzie tore her eyes from her grimoire to fix him with a stare. “Why watch movies or read a book when you live among shifters and magic and vampires? If that was the case, then the normals wouldn’t give a crap about stories that take place in everyday life.”

  Trevor lifted his hands. “Hey, I’m not judging.”

  “Besides, she may pick the wrong dude, but the romance is still epic.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Kenzie turned her gaze back to her book. “What do you like to read or watch or play?”

  “Eh, I’m an action guy. Keep the pace up and the story moving forward, and I’m usually set.” He scratched at his chin, still Santa-like and furry.

  “Oh!” Kenzie said, her head shooting up again. “I forgot about your beard.”

  “Fat first. If I’m going to be as heavy as Santa, I’d rather have the beard to go with it.” He smirked.