Clay, freshly showered and back to his beyond-gorgeous dark hair and beard that accented his dancing emerald gaze, joined me on the giant chair and handed me another slice before digging into his own. “You looked hungry.”
I was hungry and thanked him before inhaling the food. Now full, I let out a satisfied sigh and leaned back. Clay did the same, and we adjusted in the chair until we were comfortable, me curled up to him and resting my head on his shoulder.
Now, I just wanted sleep and closed my eyes. Clay’s hand gently brushing up and down my arm soothed me into a peaceful slumber. I’d nearly dozed off completely when the shrill voice of my lovely roomie crackled in my ears.
“Where’s the one without cheese? I can’t eat the cheese.”
Reluctantly, I blinked my eyes open and pushed to a sitting position. Jess whipped around to face me, the movement sending her springy blonde ponytail swinging. Good thing she had that ridiculously huge yellow bow in her hair to keep it in place. “You ate it, didn’t you? You are doing everything to ruin my life.”
Overdramatic much? “Yes, Jess. I went out of my way, found the one pizza you wanted in that mountain of boxes, and devoured the entire thing just so you couldn’t have any. I’m a bitch like that.”
“That’s not the word I’d use to describe you.”
“On that note, I’m out.” I pushed off the chair. My hand began to ache again, or maybe it’d been throbbing this entire time, but my hunger pangs had been stronger. Either way, I just wanted to pop some ibuprofen and go to bed.
“Come on, Montana. Don’t let her get to you.”
“Sorry, Clay. I’ve already had to deal with one diva today. I don’t have the patience to deal with another.”
“Greetings, fellow air elementals.”
Speaking of divas…
Spencer walked into the room and opened his arms as if expecting us all to fall at his feet and worship the very ground he walked on. Several females jumped up and surrounded him. Several males too. I rubbed my hand as I tried to shrink into the shadows. Maybe if he didn’t see me, he’d leave me alone. I didn’t want to go another round with him.
He stopped next to Jess and kissed her. Eww. It was on the mouth and everything. I shuddered. When did that start? Now my pizza threatened to resurface. “How are you, love?”
Love? Damn, he didn’t waste any time.
“The quint ate all my pizza.” Jess pouted. I turned to leave, not having the energy to come up with the level of witty, bitchy retorts required to go up against her right now.
“You call her that like it’s a bad thing,” Spencer fired back, and I froze. Did he just defend me? I turned as he went on. “She did save your life, lest we forget.”
“What would you rather I call her? She’s nothing but a dilute.”
The room gave a collective gasp like she’d just dropped the f-bomb in front of a group of nuns. Several elementals popped out of the room as if whatever she’d just said offended them so much, they couldn’t stand to stay in the same room. Those who remained stared at her, shocked into stunned silence.
Except Clay. He shot out of the chair and charged Jess. If I hadn’t shorted out his ability to call his elements earlier, she’d probably already be on fire. It took two guys holding him off and Spencer blocking his way to Jess before he stopped. “Who the hell are you to use a word like that on my girl, you bitch. Let me go. I have no problem hitting a girl in this instance. You think being a pure makes you better than her? Let me go!”
Oh shit. I didn’t know what a dilute was, what a pure was, or why it had Clay ready to beat the shit out of Jess. I whipped out my phone and texted the guys for them to get over here right away. Rob and Bryan popped in almost immediately, while Leo would take a few minutes since he’d walk from Aquae to Ventus instead of teleport.
The guys spotted Clay losing his shit and jumped in, pulling him back. “We got it,” Rob stated. He caught the way Spencer had his hands on Jess’s shoulders and handed Clay over to Bryan before regarding her. “You okay?”
She thrust out her pointy chin as Spencer squeezed her shoulders. With a quick nod, she gave him her curt answer and flipped her ponytail. “I’m thirsty.”
I’m confused. She went from whining about her pizza, to insulting me with whatever a dilute was, to now being thirsty? Clearly, the woman had already lost her mind. I just needed to be sure she didn’t lose out to the dark influences of her twin sister. I tossed a glance Bryan’s way. He had the same look of confusion twisting his expression I must have had. Clay still looked ready to cut the bitch, his face red, his muscles flexed, his hands in fists.
“Come, love. Let’s see what we can do about quenching that thirst.” Spencer led her out of the commons as I desperately tried to unhear what he just said. No way did that have anything to do with a drink. I was so going to have nightmares tonight.
Now that the show was over and the pizza gone, the commons cleared out, leaving me and the guys. Rob took a seat in the same chair Clay and I had occupied before the shit show began. Bryan sat next to Clay on the couch, staying close enough to stop him if he decided to go after Jess again.
I didn’t want to sit and chat it up. I just wanted sleep, but no way would I head up to my room. I needed to stay out of there as long
