There were uneasy glances exchanged among the students.
“He’s sure got a way of putting people at ease,” Trenton muttered.
Shea looked down, smothering her smile as Reece went through the list of rules that Shea still knew by heart.
Follow where the lead goes.
Don’t try to pet the wildlife.
Don’t go off on your own.
And above all, walk softly.
Short, simple, sweet. Yet, somehow, someone always managed to screw it up. She wondered if things had changed since she’d had to conduct these little training excursions.
Reece stopped speaking and the group arranged itself in a line. He gave a nod to Shea in greeting.
She filled in the back, Trenton and Wilhelm at her side. She took the rope, sliding her wrist through the loop when it reached her, before handing the end to the other two men.
“Are we going through the mist?” Braden asked, his face puzzled.
Shea nodded.
“Great, I needed to check up on the rear party,” Trenton said.
“We’re not coming out the other side,” she explained.
Both of them looked at her, their faces filled with curiosity.
“Shea!” Dane exclaimed from a few feet away.
Shea turned and found herself wrapped in a hug before Dane stepped back and clapped her on the shoulder. “You’re coming too?”
“Uh, yeah.” She took in his outfit and the long tube strapped across his back. It was the same weapon he’d had in the mist—something people typically called a whomper.
Dane looked relaxed, standing with an easy confidence. Over his shoulder, she noticed Peyton had drifted close, her eyes pinned on the back of Dane’s head with a hawk-like intensity.
“Just like old times then.” He thought about it and then lifted his shoulder. “Well, maybe better. If I’d known you were going, I would have told Witt to come to.”
Shea couldn’t help her smile. “That would have been nice.”
“Next time,” he said with a grin.
Before she could respond, Peyton whacked him on the back of the head. “You’re late.”
“Ow, Peyton. I’m only a few minutes late,” he said, rubbing the spot and glaring at the woman.
She rolled her eyes. “Stop exercising your jaw and get ready.”
Shea ducked her head and tried to keep herself from smiling. She was mostly unsuccessful.
“I’ll be right there,” Dane said.
Peyton gave him a hard look before moving off, reluctance in the line of her body.
“She’s always so strict,” Dane grumbled.
Shea pressed her lips together and lifted an eyebrow. “Is she? You two seem quite close.”
