But Wilder looked over, and not at Rain. "I'd rather kiss him."
My eyes followed his to see Keir. He was laughing with his friends, acting completely comfortable with all of this. Then again, he'd known them before us. It seemed that was ending up to be a benefit I hadn't expected, but still. On his other side, Rain was whispering with Aspen, and Torian was hovering beside them, likely making sure their words didn't carry. Magically, of course.
"Ok!" Torian said. "I think this place is good enough. Let's get out of here. I'm starving!"
Yeah, Torian was never starving. His mother had given him quite a few issues, and eating was one of them. Making a mistake was another. If there was anything he could've done wrong, he learned to avoid doing it. Very early on, the Mad Queen hadmade it clear the pain of an empty belly was easier to handle than the punishment she would give him for picking the wrong fork.
But his words got everyone headed out of the gym. Keir went first, and the sentinels followed with him. They were talking about something, but I was just far enough away that I couldn't make out what they were saying. Rain and Aspen headed that way next, and I caught when Rain brushed her hand against Aspen's.
But at the door, Rain paused. Aspen smiled at her, then Torian stepped in to wrap an arm around his sister's shoulders. There was a look traded between the three of them, and Rain turned back.
"We'll wait," Aspen called after her.
"It's fine," Rain said as she jogged up the handful of stairs that led to where Wilder and I were standing.
Wilder slid his hand around my waist, not quite holding on to me, but letting me know he was there as he moved over to one of the many benches so he could sit. I felt it, so I didn't need to look. I also didn't really want to. Right now, I was feeling overly self-conscious.
"Ok," Rain said as she reached me. "Torian said to make this fast, so what do I need to do?"
"You stand there," Wilder said. "I'm here to make sure he doesn't pull too much."
"I won't," I grumbled.
"And if you need more than she has," Wilder said, "I can hit her with something. Besides, she converts it better than you do, or so it seems."
Yeah, but I really didn't want him here for this either. Well, nothing to be done for it now, so I shifted closer, catching both of Rain's wrists.
"There's a pinch," I told her. "Like getting blood drawn. Nothing too bad, but it does leave a mark. Do you know where you'd want it?"
"Uh..." She looked at Wilder. "Suggestions?"
"Under your shirt," he said. "Sleeves, waist, or somewhere easy to hide for a few days."
"Arms," Rain decided, gesturing up by her shoulders. "Even my gym shirts come down that far."
"Ok." So I moved my hands up her arms until I was clasping her biceps up by her shoulders. "This may feel weird. If you tell me to stop, I will."
"It's ok," she assured me.
Pushing out a breath - and my tension with it - I bowed my head. Beneath my hands, I felt Rain relax quickly, and then I pushed my thumbnails against her arms. The prick was light. The resistance was minimal as my thickened talons sank into her flesh - and her power slammed into me hard.
I'd barely pulled at all when my head snapped back. The intensity of the Morrigan's Wild magic felt like my entire body had just been set on fire. Normally, drawing in magic was like drinking through a straw, but with Rain, it was like sucking on a fire hose.
I didn't even have time to stop siphoning before I was forced back, feeling like I was exploding! My ears rang. My vision blurred. Behind me, something rustled when I staggered, but I managed to keep my feet, somehow bending forward instead of falling on my ass.
"Shit," Wilder said right as the door to the gym opened.
"Hey, I left my..." Pascal's voice faded away.
"Out!" Wilder bellowed as he moved between us and Pascal.
Rain was hurrying over to check on me, but her eyes were wide - and not on me. I tried to straighten, to assure her I was ok, but the movement made my wings flare out.
Wait. Wings?
Fuck!
"Jevadu..." Pascal breathed.
