King Hall (Forever Evermore, #1)(12)
Guzzling the rest of my water, I set the empty on the bar and headed toward the restroom, not feeling any guilt at leaving Elly on the dance floor, where she was being friendly with another lion Shifter. A slow grin etched my features as I passed the door of the room where Dominic and I had first come together. In many ways.
Hmm.
I paused, then stepped backward, opening the door, and slipped inside. I wanted a quick look for memory’s sake while I was sober. Swiftly shutting the door, I turned around. I gasped. “Sorry!” You are supposed to lock the freaking door if you are in here!
Ezra’s eyes slammed up to mine. He lay over a Vampire woman, both naked by the look of it. Luckily, there was a sheet covering their lower sections so I saw only their upper halves. Ezra’s pink tongue darted out, dabbing at the drop of blood on his bottom lip, even as the woman under him still groaned — and withered — from the lingering effects of his bite and whatever else he had been doing. Steadily and easily, he stated, “Get out.”
I jumped, nodding rapidly. “Right.” In a swift jerk, I grabbed the door handle, pointing at it with my other hand. “I’ll just lock this for you. You’re supposed to lock it so—”
“Lily, get out.” A bit of bite had entered his tone.
“Shit. Okay. Sorry,” I mumbled quickly, my gaze nowhere near them while I fumbled with the door handle until the lock clicked over. “There you go.” Sliding outside, I quickly slammed the door behind me.
Well…that hadn’t been awkward or anything.
Squaring my shoulders, I inhaled deeply and finished making my way to the restroom.
At least I had gotten to see the room. It was smaller than I remembered, but still pretty much the same except for the different couple occupying it. I suppressed a shiver knowing that I would have my ass handed to me on Monday. Mr. Bertrand thought it was hilarious keeping Ezra and I together as partners, though neither one of us shared his opinion. I always got my butt kicked, and Ezra never really got to spar, only teach. One month had turned into two, and two had turned into no end in sight until his graduation.
Done using the facilities, I wound my way back through the crowded, hot masses and eyed Jack standing next to the bar. He drank a mixed concoction of red and blue liquid with his head ducked down. I glanced toward the last location I had glimpsed Dominic and saw him, still content and dancing with the Shifters, so I veered toward the bar, tapping Jack’s shoulder. “Who you hiding from?” It had to be a woman. They had been all over him, just like they had Ezra, since the Prodigies had entered King Hall.
He grinned. Guilty. His blue hair dangling rakishly over one eye, Jack gestured to the right with his drink, not saying a word.
I squinted through the darkness.
Ah. Two Elementals. I wasn’t really surprised by this fact, but what did startle me was that one was a woman and the other a man. It was attention-grabbing and an interesting twist to the water Prodigy Elemental, but not entirely in my comfort zone of topics as I was definitely a more straight-laced woman. Some might call my delicate sensibilities prudish. They would probably be right.
I cleared my throat, peering away from the Elementals scouring the crowd. “You wanna dance? Get lost in the masses?” The easiest place to hide.
He downed his drink. “As long as Dominic doesn’t get mad.”
I snorted, taking his hand and yanking him onto the dance floor, maneuvering us through the crush. “Dominic trusts me just like I do him.” I pointed with my free hand to where Dominic was dancing with two Shifter women who were plastered all over him. “It’s a Shifter thing.”
He chuckled, watching. “Must be nice.”
“It’s not like that and you know it,” I retorted, turning to face him. The Shifters needed their alpha; touch was essential to the distraught. Jack still just stood there. “We gonna dance? Or watch everyone else have fun?”
Wary eyes flicked to Dominic. “You’re mated.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dance and save your butt at the same time.” I made him dance with me. For half a song he moved stiffly, but finally got with it and loosened up when Dominic nodded to us. Trust. We had it.
At first, I thought Jack’s dancing style was…odd. That was putting it nicely. I blamed it on our cultural differences, a bopping skill I wasn’t accustomed to, but I quickly realized he kept ducking because the two Elementals hadn’t given up their chase. I laughed, breathless, four songs down, as I watched him duck for, like, the thirtieth time. “You’re a love ‘em, and leave ‘em, kind of guy, huh?”
He shrugged, moving his hips with mine. “I don’t want anything serious right now. I’m enjoying myself without attachments.” He ducked again, rolling his eyes. “Everyone I get involved with knows it, but some take it better than others.” He glanced over my head, tilting his chin up in greeting. “Hey, Ezra. Enjoy your time with Lana?” He grinned. “I’ve heard she has her talents.”
I felt heat against my back, and smelled a hint of what was possibly cigarette smoke, right before I was sandwiched between Jack and Ezra. I stiffened at first, but within a few moments’ time, the three of us were moving together to the hypnotic beat. Jack’s hands were still on my hips, and Ezra slid his around my waist to my stomach, holding me casually as he said, “Lana’s cool.” He paused. “Too talkative, though.”