Cheyenne wrinkled her nose. “Was it that obvious?”
“Transparent.”
“I really don’t mind them. Seriously. It’s not like I spent a lot of time staring at walls. Or art. Plus, I told you to take the reins, and you did.”
Ember wheeled herself back and forth at the edge of the area rug, waiting for the halfling to drop into one of the leather armchairs. “And I can’t even tell you how much fun I’ve had racking up bills on your card the last two days.”
Cheyenne waved her off and crossed one foot over the opposite knee. “You didn’t make the Goth-box for you, though.”
The fae grinned and stopped rolling. “I nailed that one, didn’t I?”
“I’ll put it this way, Em. If I enjoyed shopping, I couldn’t have made that bedroom any better than what you put in there.”
“And the pillow, huh?” Ember flipped her friend the middle finger, and they laughed.
“You get me.”
“Yeah, well, you’re not that hard to read.”
They sat there for a moment, then Cheyenne looked over the back of the armchair at her bedroom door. “You didn’t…have Matthew Thomas help you with that, did you?”
“Pshh. No. I brought in professionals for your room. Matthew was good for hanging two pieces of artwork, then he just sat down and started talking.”
“He does like to do that, doesn’t he?”
Ember rolled her eyes. “I didn’t have the heart to ask him to leave. The dude’s really lonely.”
“Aw, tell me you didn’t fall for that spiel.”
“No falling. Just sitting.” The fae patted the armrests of the wheelchair. “I don’t know. He’s not that bad.”
“Say that again in a week.”
“No.”
“Just saying. If he thinks there’s even a tiny chance of you maybe kinda sorta liking him, he’s not gonna give up.”
Ember rolled her eyes. “Whatever. New topic.”
“I’m drawing a blank.” Cheyenne laughed at her friend’s frown and spread her arms. “I know. There’s always something goin’ on in my head. Maybe too much today. Might’ve fried a few circuits.”
“I bet that line would be a hit in front of your new students.”
The halfling cleared her throat and slowly shook her head. “New topic.”
“New Netflix series?”
“I’m down. Oh. I forgot to get your—” A low buzz came from the wall beside the door. The sturdy-looking long black cabinet under the weird artwork wasn’t just a cabinet. The top lifted slowly, revealing a massive flat-screen TV inside. Cheyenne turned back toward Ember, who’d pulled a shiny black remote out of her pocket and now wiggled it. “You’re unbelievable.”
“You’re footin’ the bill.”
“Damn straight. And happy to do it.” The halfling turned sideways in the chair and slung both legs over the armrest. “Whatever you wanna watch. I’m going to see Corian in a bit, so I need to zone out until then.”
“Yeah, ‘cause this might be the last Saturday you have free before you’re hunched over your desk grading papers.”
“Well, then don’t ruin it.”
Two and a half hours later, Cheyenne pulled up in front of her Nightstalker mentor’s rental unit. With her backpack slung over her shoulder, it took her a little extra maneuvering to pull the basket of magical supplies and the leather case out of her back seat. Then she closed the door and looked across the grass. At least he’s not standing out here this time watching me.
She moved quickly across the lawn and down the damp concrete steps to Apartment D. The metal door flashed orange and opened swiftly before she could decide on the best way to knock.
“Hurry up.” Corian nodded for her to step inside, and he closed the door before putting the wards back up again. Then he glanced down at the basket in her hand and blinked. “What the hell did you bring over?”
“Spell ingredients. Remember?”
“Damn. Remind me never to have you do my shopping for me.”
“I’ll never do your shopping for you. Moving on.”
“Mmhmm.” The Nightstalker frowned at her supplies, then nodded toward the shelves. Just set it over there. Trials first. Remember?”
“What trials?”
Corian just blinked with zero expression on his feline features.
With a sigh, the halfling gently set everything down beside the overstuffed metal shelves, then opened her backpack and pulled out the puzzle box. “Where to tonight?”
“You know, I kinda like watching you figure it out when we get there.” Corian brushed past her and stopped in front of the circle of candles in the middle of the floor. “Hurry up.”
“Yeah, okay. You in a time crunch or something?”
“Aren’t you? The faster we get you through your trials, the easier this’ll be for all of us.” He lifted his hands in front of him and waited for the halfling to stop at his side. Several whispered words in O’gúleesh and quickly executed gestures later, a portal opened in the center of the circle.
“I’m so glad it’s not an island.” Cheyenne stepped over the candles and passed through the dark, glimmering portal toward trees and underbrush and boulders strewn across a hill. Her Vans slid sideways on a carpet of pine needles, throwing her off balance for a second before she caught herself. Then Corian stepped through, the portal disappeared, and the halfling turned back to shoot him a disbelieving glance. “We’re training on the side of a mountain?”
“What, you think every piece of terrain you’ll have to fight on is gonna be flat?”
“You’re right. No problem. If I go flying down that hill, I’ll just hope I’m fast enough to catch myself before bashing my brains against one of those boulders down there.”
“You’re fast enough.”
The halfling took a second glance at the steep hill and the large outcropping of moss-covered boulders below. “Speaking of terrain, where are we this time?”
“I don’t know. Somewhere in Yellowstone.”
“National Park?”
“You know the drill.” The Nightstalker crunched across the ground, tilting his body to expertly adjust for the steep incline. “I’ll wait.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Just what we need. Blasting apart a national park and stirring up more Bigfoot stories. Cheyenne untied the knot in the chain around her neck for the millionth
