I move away from the belt, sliding my gifted carry-on with RDU merch winter gear onto the pull handle, and wait patiently. Xile joins me again and once more links his arm with mine. “Do you mind?” he asks.
“No.”
He sighs. “I’m really tired too.” He leans his head against my shoulder and closes his eyes. He has long lashes. I think they brush his cheeks.
When we all have our things, we’re herded outside, and wow. The chill has my eyes opening wide.
“Damn,” Corwin says.
The sound of unzipping fills the air around me as my classmates pull their new outdoor gear out. I do the same and instantly feel better with my new parka and beanie.
“Best gift ever,” Sarabeth says as she snuggles inside the warmth of her new jacket. I’m nodding along. Couldn’t agree more.
The shuttle bus isn’t as big and extravagant as the one we took from Glensdale to LAX, which is fine. This ride is twenty-two minutes, not eight hours.
And then we’re pulling into one of the coolest places I’ve ever seen. The accommodations we’re staying in are called the Engi Domes, and they’re just as they sound. The rooms are domed. From what I can tell, they’re basically yurts, but they look so damn cool and they’re all facing the mountains.
“Over here, kiddos,” Byndley says. “We’re breaking you into twos and threes. Mercy, Philomena, and Wendy—you’re in seven. Come get your keys.”
I watch as they take their keys from Byndley.
“Hang out and we’ll walk together so we get the same tour. Anna and Sarabeth, nine. Jerome and Samuel, eleven. That leaves Xile, Corwin, and Brevan in fourteen. Katai and I will be in eight. Dr. Weaver is in ten and Dr. Keller is in two. Everyone has their keys?”
We nod our heads.
“Along with your key are a couple maps. Of course, you’re welcome to use GPS, but for those who don’t have international coverage, there are paper maps like we had as kids.” I grin. Beside me, Xile giggles. “The first is of the Engi Domes site, located where all the domes are, and the surrounding amenities. The second map is of the town of Engi. You’re free to explore, nap, or do as you please until dinner. I know you’re all as tired as I am, but remember that your internal clock is already messed up, so if you nap, don’t nap too long. No matter how tempting it is.”
When Byndley is finished, we follow a person from the Engi Domes who leads us down the path. Their grounds are covered in snow, giving the entire area a magical feeling. The man points out various parts of the complex, and I mentally note a couple of places I want to check out.
The smoke from the chimney of our dome is far too tempting to take a nap, though. When we’re pointed to ours, I eagerly head inside. There are three beds. One is on the floor, while the other two are in the loft over the bathroom. I volunteer for the loft with Xile.
He gives me a wide smile and wiggles his eyebrows. I’m excited about the loft, too. It looks so cool.
Besides the sleeping accommodations, there’s a wood-burning stove, a couple chairs, and a small kitchenette that can’t truly be called a kitchenette. There’s a coffeemaker with individual cups of fancy espresso and the like, a teakettle, and a cabinet with nothing in it. However, the star of the show is the clear panel in the soft shell that overlooks the mountains.
Before I even head up to my bed, I stand in front of the window between Corwin and Xile. Together, we stare. Maybe it’s just because we’re tired, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something so breathtaking. The mountains are snowy, rising in the near distance like jagged peaks.
“It’s…” Corwin murmurs.
I nod. Xile leans into my side, resting his head on my shoulder and sighs. “It is,” Xile agrees.
We stand there for a long time, staring at the beauty. I only move away when I feel as if I’m truly swaying.
“Come on,” I tell Xile. “I’ll help you get your suitcase up.”
“You’re assuming there’s room for it up there,” Corwin says. “Better check first. I think we’re going to be using this weird little kitchen area as a closet.”
I head up the ladder first and… yeah. “Yep, change of plans. Kitchen closet it is.”
“Not weird at all,” Xile says as he pulls his suitcase to the side. He goes back for mine, and I decide to stay up and crash on the bed there.
It’s comfortable. Maybe the most comfortable bed I’ve ever lain on. There’s a chance that I’m just too exhausted to think otherwise, but for now, it’s heaven. A cloud.
I shift and twist until I’m bundled in the thick blanket and close my eyes. A waft of air hits me, and I manage to peel my eyes open. Xile dropped onto his bed and is lying there, unmoving.
“I’m setting an alarm for an hour,” Corwin says. “Byndley says we can’t sleep the day away, and that woman is a little intimidating.”
I grin and close my eyes. I’m out almost immediately.
