I’m even able to force myself not to think about the conversation I overheard between Mr. Qureshi and Ms. Alvarez. Every so often when it tries to dip back into my brain I simply shove it away. After all, I deserve a few days off after everything I went through, right? Prolonged stress will only make it harder to recover.
But reality had to crash back in at some point, and that wrecking ball comes in the form of Kaz Sunday night. Rafe and I sit across from each other on a couch in the common room, a stack of cards splayed out between us, a pile of my chips on his side.
I glare at him over my cards. “I knew I was dating a fox, but I didn’t realize you were also a shark.”
Wiggling his brows, Rafe lays down his hand and I groan. Yet again he has completely smoked me. It’s a very good thing we’re not actually playing for money. Not that I’d have anywhere to spend it in the afterlife, but still. I toss my own cards and shove the pile in his direction.
As Kaz walks up, I point my last, single chip at him. “Save yourself a headache and never play poker with this guy. He will take you for everything you’re worth and then some.”
Kaz chuckles. “I’ll keep that in mind. But if you’re done losing to him, do you have a second to talk?”
I glance at Rafe, then narrow my eyes at Kaz. “Are you breaking up with me?”
Rafe gasps dramatically. “Uh, have you been dating both of us? I’m not necessarily saying I have a problem with reverse polygamy, but I’d like full disclosure beforehand.”
I swat him with the back of my hand and he grabs a pillow, using it like a shield.
Shaking his head, Kaz drops into the closest chair, tipping forward onto his elbows. “I mean, what we had was special but I think if we’re going to train together we need to keep it professional.”
I splutter a laugh, more surprised that the ever serious Kaz is keeping up with the joke than his suggestion that we train together. He hasn’t exactly been stoic, but since our encounter in the woods, and subsequent intense conversations, I expected him to be a bit more solemn. It’s kind of nice to have my expectations subverted.
“You’re right. Though I might need some more information. What are we training for? Do ghosts have an Olympics?”
“You should do stand up,” Kaz says.
He has dimples when he smiles too, but they’re not quite as cute as Rafe’s. Whereas Rafe has one single, adorable indent, Kaz’s are almost too perfect. Xer perfect. They do, however, make him look much younger than usual. I realize that in spite of my original perceptions, I have no idea how old he actually is.
I have seriously got to start asking more questions.
“Anyway, I thought you and I could train with our medium magic,” Kaz continues. “Obviously we have no idea the extent of your skills from when you were alive, so maybe training together could help you figure some things out, trigger some life flashes. Not to mention the added benefit of giving you more protection the next time you and Rafe go out into the field.”
Spinning a chip between my fingers, I considered the offer. It would definitely give me more time to bug him with questions about The Twisted and maybe find a way to pump him for information about how the Healers suggested “taking care of” me. Besides, I can use all the practice I can get, and anything that might trigger another life flash would be helpful. Lifting my chin, I reach out to Kaz and he squeezes my hand.
“I don’t have to call your Master Kaz, do I?” I purse my lips to fight off a grin.
“I mean, I assumed you would,” Kaz says with a wink. “But if that’s a deal breaker, I’ll accept Lord Kaz as well.”
I chuck a poker chip at him. “When do we start?”
“Tomorrow after classes if you’re ready.”
I glance at Rafe, who gives me the cheesiest thumbs up in history, then back at the Ghost Guide. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
We agree to meet in the combat building, then Kaz gets ballsy and challenges Rafe to a card game. I’m still thinking about how badly my fox shifter beat him when we meet up the next day. I even giggle a little when I waltz up to Kaz in the middle of the mats. Mostly because my new combat partner started off looking so confident when he first got his cards.
Then it all fell apart. He’s horrific at bluffing. Rafe let him win a few rounds, building his confidence, then went in for the kill.
“Yeah, yeah I know,” Kaz says at the look on my face. “Believe me, I’m never betting on anything with that kid ever again.”
“You learn faster than I did.” I grin, crossing my arms. “It took me a few rounds before I realized it wasn’t just dumb luck. Rafe’s got a pretty amazing poker face.”
“Makes sense those wolf shifters nabbed him.” Kaz winces and shuts his eyes. “I shouldn’t have said that, it’s not fair.”
The oxygen thins out of the room and even though I don’t need it, the effect leaves me feeling the urge to gasp. I want to ask what he means. But at the same time, I also kind of already know. Rafe holds up a mask of calm or happy so well it’s difficult to see the turmoil underneath. Which means he lies easily, a fact that the wolf shifters exploited when they kidnapped him and his sister.
It shouldn’t bother me, but it does a little.
I shake off these ugly thoughts and focus in on my own crap. “So how do we do this? These spells keep coming to me in the moment, but I don’t think I can remember them
