17
Bree
I sat on my bed. Leah sat on the other, while Adilyn reclined on top of her log in her Faerie form.
“You were effing lucky that Cara knew you were in trouble,” the Faerie snarked. “They might never have found you.”
We’d decided to let people think that Cara had sensed my predicament. As she pointed out, most people had no idea what a Watcher was capable of.
“I didn’t realize my flight muscles would fail when they got cold,” I injected a bit of indignation into my voice. “Live and learn.”
“If you don’t know what you’re doing, practice flying with a buddy.” The edge to Adilyn’s scolding increased. “It isn’t as if you were born to it. Flying is hard. Even Faeries get it wrong now and then. Well, some Faeries, but never me.”
I sensed an undercurrent of concern beneath her abrasive tone.
But I had a question. “Did you guys know I can shift to a Gryphon?”
Leah waved a hand. “The entire school knows you can do that.”
“Thanks largely to Leah’s effing big mouth.” Adilyn was on a roll.
Leah shrugged, unphased by the criticism. “People want to know.”
The Faerie frowned at her, but then her gaze returned to me. “We all know that Sorceress did a number on you guys.”
“Did Riggs really carry you home in his arms?” Leah said with a dreamy sigh.
“Yes.” It blew my mind that he’d actually envisioned where I was. But it had saved me. Saved us.
“Were they as strong as they looked?” Her dark eyes glimmered.
“Very big and muscley, I am sure.” Adilyn was likely rolling her eyes. It was hard to tell when she was only two inches tall.
“I was kind of out of it,” I hedged. “So I’m not sure I noticed.”
A snort of disdain echoed through my mind, but Caliel didn’t comment. I tried not to let that worry me.
I was exhausted and crawled beneath the covers. Even when I pulled them up to my chin, however, neither female looked inclined to move. And then a spot along the wall shimmered…
“Nar, we are not going to do a threesome,” I said in exasperation.
A section of the wall stepped away, and the Sea Krayt materialized. “How about a foursome?” he asked hopefully.
“No.”
“No,” Adilyn insisted at almost the same moment. “If you are looking for entertainment tonight, you can look elsewhere. Be off with you.”
The little puff of sparkly dust was a giveaway, but neither Nar nor Leah seemed to notice it. Leah rose, and Nar wound an arm around her before escorting her out the door.
“I am glad you are okay,” Adilyn stated. “You are a good roommate. You don’t actually snore, and your farting is kept to a minimum.”
I bit my lip and decided to take it as it was meant—an honest assessment of my value as a roomie. “Thanks, Adilyn.”
As she disappeared into her log, I decided that there was something to be said for her honesty. It wasn’t always easy to hear, but it reduced the insecurity of deciphering truths in platitudes.
And that meant you could trust her.
I reached to switch off the dresser lamp and lay in the darkness, staring up at the moonlight on the ceiling. Usually, when I started to nod off, I sensed Caliel with me. Ready to take over and fly us through our dreams.
