Book 2 Chapter 14
1135 Words
14
This time there’s no scorpion watch dog. Still, I make sure that Hepa wants to stay behind.
“Are you sure?” I ask again. “We have no idea what else might be out here, or if they’re patrolling for Nico. Remember, this is entirely unsanctioned, so no one is going to come looking for us, if—”
She smirks. “I’m pretty sure if you go missing again, Val will quickly volunteer to lead a search party. Are you sure the two of you are broken up?”
“Val?” Nico growls. Thick sideburns form on his face as he turns to me, getting right up in my face. “You dated a vampire?”
I plant my hands on his chest and shove. He doesn’t move. Not an inch.
It’s intimidating having an angry werewolf boy all hopped up on testosterone in my face.
But it’s also pissing me off. I can feel my dragon firing up, ready to give Nico the extra crispy treatment.
“Hey man, I get it.” Jordan slings an arm around Nico’s shoulder, pulling him away from me. “It’s like the world is this delicious babe buffet. But there’s no sneeze-guard. So who knows who’s been there first?”
Nico jerks away from Jordan, he breathes hard, his chest visibly rising and falling. But he doesn’t come any closer to me.
Jordan, meanwhile, continues philosophizing. “The thing you gotta realize, man, is there’s more than enough for everyone. So, who needs a sneeze-guard anyway, when it just makes it harder to reach the babes?”
“I get it. You’re not at all picky about who you dine on,” Nico says with a shake of his head.
Jordan frowns. “Not cool, dude. Don’t s**t shame me.”
“Yeah, that’s not cool,” Greg says.
“Guys, can we please focus up,” I ask. Nico shoots me an apologetic look. It’s not an actual apology, but it’s enough to make my dragon stand down.
Then two seconds later, it nearly bursts out of me again as Nico pivots from being a d**k to being a total bossy-pants. I mean, I get it. He’s way more experienced at this than I am, but he also was captured by monsters so…
“Panther,” Nico says, and Jordan steps forward. “You’re with me. We’ll scout the area and report back. I think it’s best if Edie creates a distraction while I extract Cassie.”
“Hold on a second,” I say. “Who put you in charge?”
Nico looks surprised. “Every team needs a leader. I’ve held that position many times and assumed—”
“I’ve been a team leader too,” I cut in. “At this exact spot, actually.”
“Yeah, man,” Jordan chips in. “Edie’s a great leader. And a great kisser. Two things I learned on our last mission.”
“Jordan, please don’t help,” I mutter.
“I knew you made out with him,” Hepa snaps.
“Unbelievable!” Greg adds. “First Val. Now this wolf guy and in between you had Jordan. When are you gonna give me a chance?”
“I’m a person, not a pie, Greg. Everyone doesn’t get a piece.”
“You’re not entitled to her affections,” Jordan jumps in.
“I know, I know,” Greg nods. “I’m just saying, I can do things with my tongue that these other guys probably can’t—”
“Seriously?” Hepa rolls her eyes.
“Wait, I’m interested in hearing more,” Jordan says. “Give us the deets on the tongue action.”
I throw up my hands. “Fine, Greg, let’s get it on. Right here in the sand. Is that really want you want?” I ask, sarcasm dripping from every word.
He tilts his head, thinking. “Is that on the table—like for real?”
Hepa laughs and Jordan starts to say something else when Nico barks, “ENOUGH!”
Amazingly, we all go quiet. He points to Greg.
“Bat shifter…”
“Greg,” Greg tells him with a glare.
“Whatever. You’re gonna be plan B, once we’re inside. You’re small enough to fit through the bars of Cassie’s cell so if I’m detained you’ll need to get the keys to her. Do you think you can handle that?”
“Yeah, I got it. I’m Plan B,” he tells Nico with a sigh.
“Or,” I interrupt, feeling bad for Greg. “Why don’t we send him on ahead? He can fly into Cassie’s cell and let her know we’re coming. She might even be able to help from the inside.”
“Fine,” Nico says, with a shrug. “Go ahead, bat.”
Greg gives Nico a nasty look, but it lasts a second too long, descending into confusion, then panic.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I…I can’t shift,” he says.
“Oh, bro…” Jordan stares at him. “That’s not good. Have you tried prunes?”
“SHIFT!” I correct Jordan, who immediately looks down his shorts to make sure the favorite part of his anatomy hasn’t changed without his knowledge.
Greg’s face is red, all his effort focused onto something that should be natural… but it’s just not happening.
“Greg,” I reach out, but Nico grabs my hand.
“If he’s sick, it might be catching.”
Jordan takes a few steps back, then shifts to make sure he still can. The resulting panther trots farther away.
“Witch, we need you,” Nico shouts to Hepa.
Hepa comes over to us and puts her hand on Greg’s shoulder. “You’re hot,” she tells him. “If you can’t shift, this is serious. We should go back.”
“No,” he says, droplets of sweat flying as he shakes his head. “What if Fern can’t steal the keys again? I’ll just stay here with you.”
“I might have to put more effort into healing him if he gets worse,” Hepa tells us. “I won’t be able to protect us if you come back with anything on your tail.”
“I’ll stay too,” Jordan says, back to human form. “I’ll protect Greg and Hepa.”
“Good,” Nico says. “Back to a two-person mission. Edie?”
“Yes, let’s go.” I look at my team. Again, our mission is a disaster. Almost derailed before it’s even started. “Be safe,” I tell them.
Hoping this bad beginning isn’t the end of us all, I follow Nico across the sands.
- Writer
