“You were studying, weren’t you?”
Dario shrugs. “Yes, but I am trying to take more breaks. Arden told me I need to give my mind some rest, too. So, going for pizza with you and the girls is the perfect rest.”
“He is right, I will make sure to distract you from now on,” I joke.
“You have always been good at that,” he retorts. “Every time I got into trouble, it was because of you!”
“Excuse me! Way to shove off the whole responsibility to your older brother.”
Dario snorts. “By a couple of minutes!”
“Still older,” I grin.
Talking to Dario makes me feel much lighter again. I can focus on something else, other than that awful party. There is one thing I need to share with him, however. “I accidentally used my gift,” I tell him. “Just briefly. It’s so annoying.”
“Did anyone notice?” he asks.
“No, only Gisela, but she knows us, so it doesn’t count.” I pause. “I am not sure what triggers Kiran.”
“Stress, maybe?” Dario offers.
“Hm.” I frown. “There were a lot of people, and we got pushed around. So maybe you are right.”
“It’s not just that,” Dario says. “You have been stressed a lot recently.”
Furrowing my brows, I contemplate his words. Is it true? “Maybe.” I sigh. “I don’t know. What triggers yours?”
“I am in the same boat as you,” he mutters. “I don’t know. It’s definitely not stress. Last week I had to give a presentation, and you know how much I hate those, but it didn’t trigger my gift.”
“Maybe you just have better control over it,” I suggest.
“No, I doubt that. You received your gift much earlier than I did,” he says. “Besides, you are the stronger of us. You are more in tune with your lycan.”
“Maybe it’s mental?” I offer. “That would give you an advantage. You are very smart.”
“Would it?” he blinks. “I don’t think being smart has an influence on it. Connecting to our lycan spirits is more on an emotional level.”
“So, my emotions are confused?” I muse.
“Probably, the ones that trigger you,” he suggests.
I sigh, stretching my neck. “Why can’t there ever be an easy solution?”
“Beats me.” We have reached our destination, and Dario parks the car in the parking lot. Charlie has meanwhile messaged our group chat, asking us to order for her and Gisela, so the food will be ready when they are there.
What do you want?I type back.
The usual,she says.But the demon next to me wants pineapple on her pizza.
You are kidding me!?I grimace.I knew there was something dark hidden deep in Gisela’s mind.
There is a short break before I see Charlie typing again.Gisela says she wants to kick your ass.
I grin.I want to see her try.
She is grumbling now.
I chuckle, putting my phone away. Dario has his phone in his hand, catching up on the group chat. “Pineapple, huh?” He curls his nose. “Well, as long as we don’t have to share…”
