“Yeah.” The Anisau grimaced. “I’m debating sleeping in the woods.”
I picked up a bun that was so fresh my fingers dented it. “Well, the roof had these bodacious pointy-roofed turret things that I leaned against. Not as comfy as a tree.”
Bree stared at me. “Bodacious?”
“Anything would be more comfortable than the roof,” Nar stated at almost the same time. “Is that where you were?”
“It was quiet,” I said.
Nar’s brows rose. “Until a Dragon lands on you. They use it all the time.”
I shrugged. “I’ll bear that in mind.”
“You were up all night, thinking?” Breana asked. I saw the worry in her eyes.
“Yeah. I’m okey-dokey now. I just needed the time to myself.”
“You sound—different,” she stated.
“I’m fine.” My eyes dropped to her tray. “Not sure the green icing is an improvement over the pink.”
Breana looked at her pastry. “I think their baker needs some new food coloring options. Green is rather unappealing.”
Her mouth twisted, and even that expression set my heart on fire. I grabbed hold of it and shoved it somewhere deep. Her brows dropped as I concentrated on shoveling as much food into me as I could.
Adilyn and Leah were discussing the relative merits of glamoring as a means of escaping the morning run, with Sid providing occasional moral support—mainly that faeriedust won’t help you if you’re outrunning a troop of bloodthirsty mercenaries—and Nar never missing an opportunity to insert a sexually charged barb. The chatter gave me the shield I needed to remain silent.
I’d just gobbled my last mouthful of eggs when Cara appeared at the door. She first went to Tez, and when he rose to follow, she then came to us.
I looked from Tez to her.
“I’m working with all three of you today,” she said.
I immediately regretted telling her that Tez could draw the blasted sword. And by the twinkle in Cara’s bright-blue eyes, she knew just what I was thinking. I had no memory of what she’d been like before I’d almost died, but I had the feeling thatmeddlesomehad been in my portrayal of her then as well.
It was only marginally reassuring that Tez didn’t look any happier about it than I was. He stayed well away from me. Andby the way he moved, I was quite certain he was armed. Knives, likely.
We had this ridiculous moment as we entered the hall outside the cafeteria, where neither of us wanted to walk ahead of the other. Cara solved it by pushing Tez ahead of herself.
No way I was turning my back on this blasted guy. We were halfway across the back field before I realized there was more to it than that—I was also keeping myself between him and Breana.
Perfecto.I silently cursed. I either wanted her, or I didn’t. I needed to make up my mind.
No, I wanted her. I knew that. The question was whether I should allow myself to.
Cara glanced at me, and I swear her eyes were dancing. Blasted woman. Meddlesome wasn’t a strong enough word. Did she think he belonged with Breana?
Or did she think he belonged withus?
My mind rejected that notion outright. The guy was so arrogant he looked like he had a rod shoved up his ass. And something about him set off every alarm bell I possessed. He was nowhere near my size, but my gut said that he was dangerous as heck.
My gut? Just another confusing dynamic to add to my already chaotic life. Like I needed anything more.
We paused at the gateway while Cara oriented it. I expected to go through to the beach, but we emerged on a savanna instead. A line of trees showed where it gave way to forest along the horizon.
Not a drop of water in sight.
“Why are we here?” I asked.
