She appeared to mull that over. “Yeah, you don’t see us long-term, but that’s never stopped us from spending some one-on-one time together.”
“She has nothing to do with that.”
Ash stopped at the top of the porch steps, half turned away. She wasn’t smiling anymore as she looked over her shoulder at me. Challenge burned in her cobalt gaze.
A challenge I had no intention of meeting.
“Prove it,” she said.
I stared at the two Luxen males who rarely ventured out of the colony. They weren’t very much older than me, but they stood in front of me like two fresh recruits about to enter the marines.
“We’re r-ready to begin patrolling,” one said, looking everywhere but at my eyes. Yeah, I was going to have to do a hard pass on this guy being ready.
Beside me, Adam chuckled as he eyed the two guys. “An Arum would eat you alive, spit you back out, and then suck you down like a smoothie.”
The other Luxen blanched, and I thought he might hurl.
I sighed.
Helping prepare these two asshats on how to patrol for Arum and not get killed in the process was not how I wanted to spend my afternoon.
Especially when Kat was with Dee, and even though I’d asked Dee to make sure they stayed home, since Kat was virtually a glow stick, I knew that my sister ultimately did whatever she wanted.
As did Kat.
But stepping in and making sure members of the colony were able to help with the doubling of patrols would keep them both alive, so I was going to have to deal. And really, it wasn’t that bad if I was being honest with myself. I got to be in my true form, and damn, that was like stripping off clothes on a too-hot day. There was nothing like the wind glancing off your essence when you hit speeds that broke the sound barrier. Superman had nothing on a Luxen.
Just thinking about it got my heart pumping.
“This is boring,” muttered Andrew.
I smirked.
It had also been damn amusing to drag Adam and Andrew along to help out. Neither wanted to be there. Adam stayed relatively quiet as we ran the newbies around the whole damn mountain, pushing them to run harder and faster. Andrew bitched the entire time. No big surprise there.
The one who looked like he was going to puke stepped forward. I think his name was Mitchell. Maybe Mikey. I was going to go with Mitchell. “I know we’re not as strong or fast as any of you, but we are ready.”
“Yeah, you’re about ready to die,” Andrew replied, snorting.
I shot him a warning look. “Way to be motivational.”
He flipped me off. “Whatever.”
Stepping forward, I clapped my hand on Maybe Mitchell’s shoulder. “It’s not just about being fast and strong. It’s about focusing and preparing for the worst. It’s about outsmarting the enemy and anticipating their next move.”
“But being fast and strong helps,” Andrew chimed in, and I thought maybe I should’ve left his ass back at the house. “Like I’m stronger than Daemon.”
“What?” I dropped my hand and turned around, arching a brow. “Are you on drugs?”
“High on life, man.” He winked. “And I’m totally stronger than you.”
I chuckled. “If you sincerely believe that, then you are high.”
“Huh.” Andrew shot Adam a look as he swaggered up to me. I watched him snatch up a small rock. “You see that tree over there?” He pointed at an ancient oak several yards away. “I bet I can throw this rock right through the middle.”
“And you think I can’t?”
“I know you can’t.” Andrew turned to Maybe Mitchell and his nameless buddy. “What do you think, guys?”
They looked nervous, not wanting to answer.
“I bet Andrew can do it,” Adam said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “And I bet you can’t.”
They were out of their damn minds. “You’re going to make me embarrass you.”
“I’ll take that risk.” Andrew tossed the rock up and caught it. “It’s a bet, then?”
Why the hell not? I nodded and waved my hand toward the distant tree. “By all means.”
“Perfect.” Andrew took several steps back and squinted at the huge oak. A second later, he slipped into his true form and let the rock fly.
He didn’t throw that rock like a human would. Using the Source, he turned it into a damn missile. It flew through the air faster than the eye could track. Bark splintered when the rock made contact and embedded deep.
Maybe Mitchell let out an exclamation of wonder.
Andrew grinned as he faced me. “Beat that.”
I snorted as I picked up a rock that was smaller than my palm. “Easy. And I can do it without even switching forms.”
“You know what Dee was telling me the other day?” Adam asked as I stepped back. “It’s real interesting.”
Ignoring him, I lifted my right arm. The two tools from the colony exchanged looks. The Source rippled down my arm.
Adam continued. “She was saying that Katy ran into Simon, that footballer at school, at the store and thought they made a cute couple. She thinks he’ll ask Katy out, too, and you know what happens after a date with that Romeo jock… Someone will be getting—”
I looked at him sharply as I let go of the rock. Adam better not be suggesting what I was pretty sure he was. The only thing Simon looked good with was my fist, sure as hell not Kat.
The twist of Adam’s lips told me he was lying. Kat hadn’t run into that dumbass.
Glancing back at the tree, I cursed. That tiny moment of distraction cost me and screwed up my aim. The rock had zoomed past the tree, missing it by a mile. Dammit.