King Hall (Forever Evermore, #1)(13)

I chuckled quietly. “Don’t say bad things about the woman you just screwed.” I tilted my head to the side, looking up at him. “It’s not polite.” I paused. “You should wait at least a few weeks, and never to anyone who would blab. Too many ears around here.”

His lips curved. “And here I thought it would be impolite to list her talents around you.”

I shook my head and looked back down. He was different.

The three of us grooved on the dance floor for another two songs, and soon we were surrounded by Elementals and Vampires, their heated bodies pressed against ours, vying to dance with the Prodigy hotties. I stayed in the masses, not feeling at all nervous or uncomfortable, but actually enjoying myself. It was probably my hybrid nature, but I didn’t get freaked when other Mystical factions were around me in large numbers.

You alright over there? Dominic asked.

I’m having a blast, I replied, meaning it. But I am getting a little tired. How about you?

Seriously enjoying myself, he answered. Not tired at all.

Jack lifted me straight into the air, twirling and tossing me a foot away to Ezra, who caught me around the waist, lowering me in a fluid dip before I was quickly sandwiched again.

After this song, I think I’m gonna head home, I added. I was a little breathless from all the twirling, jumping, and such. Plus, the rivaling Mystical women were totally throwing off body heat. Can someone give you a ride if you don’t want to head out?

I’m sure someone can. He paused. You sure you don’t mind?

No. I really didn’t. I’m good, but don’t take too long.

He growled. I may wake you when I get there.

Sounds good, my big, bad wolf. Wiping sweat off my forehead, I continued dancing, glued between Ezra and Jack, but began to glance to the left and right.

Jack asked, “Looking for a way out?”

I laughed, caught, but seeing no breaks in the dancers around us. “Yeah, I’m getting tired,” another swipe of my forehead, “and hot. It’s time to call it a night.”

Jack’s expression turned woeful.

I guessed, “You came with those two, didn’t you?”

Sluggishly, he nodded. “Can you give me a ride?”

“And me?” Ezra asked instantly, bending to speak against my ear. “The jackass brought me here in their car.”

“I heard that,” Jack muttered absently.

I sighed. “As long as you two don’t mind riding in a truck, not a limo.” They didn’t actually ride in limos to school, but the implication was clear. My truck wasn’t a luxury vehicle.

Both quickly agreed, and then were making their own tunneling hole through the crowd, with me still stuck in the middle, swiftly and safely exiting into the outer area of the pulsating, crowded dance floor.

I breathed in fresh air as I lifted my hair off my neck, trying to get a breeze.

As we walked, Jack grinned. “Want me to wet you down?”

I glanced at my skin-tight red top. “I don’t think so, but thanks for nothing.”

Ezra held the door open as we exited the building.

I waved to Pearl and Gideon, seeing Pearl sliding onto the driver’s seat of her car, and Gideon, apparently staying behind, squatting next to the open door. Although, a few beats later, I wasn’t entirely sure when Pearl would actually be leaving since Gideon had his tongue down her throat.

I hopped into my truck, unlocked the passenger door, and hurriedly put my seatbelt on. It was my very own heavy-duty getaway car. Lifelong learning of self-preservation wouldn’t have me own anything else. Ezra and Jack both squeezed onto the bench seat, and because neither man was exactly small, it left me squashed between Ezra and my driver’s side door. “You two should cut down on the ’roids.” I wiggled a bit, but decided it wasn’t going to get any better. “Put your seatbelts on.”

Ezra chuckled as both of them maneuvered to do as told, then he put his arms on the back of the seat, giving Jack and me a smidge more space. “So says the mini-Mys.” He paused, and I turned the ignition on, rolling my eyes at him. “You know, you talk like a Com. Steroids don’t do anything for us and most Mysticals don’t even know what they are.”

I kept my mouth shut and turned out of the parking lot, shrugging.

What was I supposed to say? That I had broken the Law by doctoring my school papers, and had actually spent the majority of my life with Coms? Not really an option with the Prodigies.

“You guys live with the Kings?” I asked into the silence, rolling my window down for fresh air; with their magic trickling inside the cab, the air was stifling.

“Yep,” Jack answered, leaning over Ezra to turn on the radio. He pressed buttons. Again and again. A station-surfer. Every fifteen seconds, he pressed a different button, switching the station.

After two minutes of it, I swatted his hand. “Stop that. You’re giving me a headache.”

Jack gazed up from the radio. “Mysticals don’t get headaches. Not unless you have a germ?” Blue eyebrows rose.

I sighed. “It’s a figure of speech. What I really meant is it’s annoying me.”

“More Com talk,” Ezra murmured softly, even as he knocked Jack’s hand aside when he tried changing the station again. “She’s right. That’s annoying.”

More trees and blacktop drifted by under the midnight blue sky as I drove to King Venclaire’s house first, keeping my mouth firmly shut against the Vampire’s awareness.