So not happening.He was there, and then gone again.
But he’d sounded cheerful enough, so we wove through the booths, commenting on the jewelry, rolled bolts of cloth, and other merchandise from all over the realms.
A familiar figure leaned against the alley wall as we approached the gate.
Did you girls have fun?Matt asked.
We did. Did you?I was curious as to what he’d been up to. He wasn’t carrying any bags.
But all he offered was aYep.
Aria slipped into the office to pay the gatekeeper and then emerged. “Okay, girls,” she grinned at Matt, “time to go home.”
He snorted. “I’m only putting up with that because you have scales and a sword.”
“Well, I can also kick your butt.”
His eyes gleamed as I picked up Trix and took Aria’s hand. He folded his arm around me, but his focus remained on the Dragona. “Next fight class, you are so on.”
Mari took Aria’s other hand and rolled her eyes. “We go from armor to flowery dresses—and then slide to challenges about beating each other up. Surely this is a unique combination of characteristics.”
“One can only hope,” I said, as Aria took us through.
* * *
Matt was positively squirmy through lunch, and it persisted through Alex’sTheory of Team Strategyclass.
You got ants in your pants? Or rather, your scales?
They keep popping up in unexpected places,he complained.At the moment, they’ve got my balls plastered—
I don’t want to know more.
Oh yeah, you do.He waggled his brows.
We are supposed to be listening to Alex’s team strategy. Which is actually quite interesting.
As interesting as growing scales on my dick?
You’re growing scales—
Well, around it, actually.
Matt. Shut up.
But the squirming continued. Mari glanced over to me and rolled her eyes, then moved one seat over from him and spread her tree trunk legs into the aisle.
Matt’s scaly descriptions—or possible images of them—did distract me from the class, but it was interesting enough that I absorbed quite a bit of it. As we filed out, I raised a brow at him.You ready to drop the sweatpants?
Any time, Angel.
No, I mean... Never mind.
He, fortunately or otherwise, kept them on. When Cara didn’t appear, I joined him as Alex took us on our final run.
Through supper, I kept an eye open for Cara. As students were leaving, she appeared in the doorway. We joined her and followed along to her quarters.
Bess stood at her kitchen table. It was scattered with huge books and crystals. Centered among them, lay a spiral horn.
