There goes my mind, blowing up all over again. “Like…？”
“Like in Hawaii, there’s a school that specializes in water shifters.”
“Water shifters?” I repeat.
“Yes,” Flint answers with a laugh. He must know what I’m thinking, because he adds, “Mermaids are real. So are selkies and nereids and sirens, among other things.”
“Seriously?” I ask.
“Seriously.” He shakes his head in obvious amusement. “You look dazzled.”
“I feel dazzled.”
“Vegas has Ceralean,” Hudson adds from near my head. “It’s a school for succubi, among others.”
Out of all the mythological creatures, that’s what you come at me with? I give an exaggerated eye roll. A creature known for its sexual appetites?
“Hey, I was just adding to your knowledge base.” The look he gives me is so innocent that I’m amazed he doesn’t have a halo sparkling…right around his feet. “You’re the one who asked.”
I don’t even bother to say anything this time. I just roll my eyes again…at least until I realize Flint is staring at me like he suddenly thinks something is really wrong with me. I’m proven right when he asks, “Umm, do you have something in your eye?”
“Yeah, I just got some dirt in there or something.” I rub my eye. “All better.”
“Really? Dirt in your eye?” Hudson makes a disgusted noise. “Nice to know where I stand.”
Somewhere below an eyelash and above pink eye.
He cracks up, and the sound of it nearly stops me in my tracks. For a guy who’s such a jerk, he’s got a surprisingly nice laugh.
Flint and I turn one more corner, and I’m so busy arguing with Hudson in my head that I don’t realize Jaxon is waiting by my classroom door until I almost run into him.
“You okay?” he asks at the same time Flint says, “Whoa.”
“I’m fine,” I tell them both a little heatedly, annoyed at the way they keep frowning at me in concern. They should try balancing multiple conversations at the same time—especially when one is in their head, where no one else can hear it or keep up.
“Let’s be real,” Hudson says. “It’s not like either of them would be able to keep up even if they could hear. The two of them are more brawn than brain, if you ask me.”
It’s so blatantly untrue that I don’t even bother to get offended. Instead, I poke him back because I can…and because riling him up is too much fun not to at least try. You’re just jealous because you don’t have any brawn at the moment.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m jealous of.”
There’s something fleeting in his tone that gives me pause, but it’s gone so fast that I don’t have a chance to figure out what it is.
Plus, Flint chooses just then to say, “I’ve got to get to class. But hit me up about those flying lessons soon. You’re going to need them for Ludares.”
I wave at Flint, then lean forward and slide my arms around Jaxon’s waist and smile up at him as he does the same. “Sorry I missed out on seeing you at breakfast this morning. I was so tired, I didn’t wake up until fifteen minutes before class started.”
He smiles back. “That’s actually why I stopped by. I thought you might want to meet me at the library after art. I have to make up a midterm from yesterday during lunch today, but I thought we could spend some time tonight researching how to kill the Unkillable Beast.”
“Awww, how cute. Little Jaxy-Waxy wants a study date.” Hudson sneers.
“Are you serious right now?” I demand. “Leave your brother alone.”
Jaxon looks over his shoulder at the empty hallway I’m currently yelling at and then raises an eyebrow at me.
I shrug and just say, “Hudson.”
Jaxon’s eyes narrow, but he nods. What else can he do?
Hudson leans against the stone wall, next to another huge tapestry depicting an army of dragons in massive metal armor soaring over a small village. It’s terrifying and exhilarating at the same time, and I make a mental note to look at it more closely after class.
“I’ve got a better idea,” Hudson says as he readjusts, crossing his arms and resting the bottom of his foot against the wall. “Why don’t you leave my brother alone for a little while? Watching the two of you make goo-goo eyes at each other is nauseating.”
“Give me a break. Pretty sure you need a body to be nauseated.”