“Me, too. She was sure she was the original gryphon. Erica had a wicked sense of humor, and we were becoming friends. Erica and Lola didn’t get along at all and I never got that. Erica didn’t seem like the type to victim blame ornotwant to help someone, but she took an instant dislike to Lola. Lola isn’t the type to sit there and let anyone insult her, so Radames and I tried to keep them apart. Then Erica just disappeared. She wouldn’t have gone back and left the school over Lola. She was excited about being a gryphon and wanted to learn. I feel like I’m the only one who even gives a shit she’s missing.”
Sage had her magicks, and I had mine. Death surrounded Mazen, and that wasbeforehe got into that pool and started unlocking his magical powers. Hecouldhave gotten those tattoos to survive like he said he did and only killed bad people, but most people with those tattoos killed who they were told to kill or they got murdered themselves. And Mazen could have enjoyed it enough to keep doing it when no one was giving orders.
“We give a shit,” Sage said. “We might get a little more insight than you if you’ll let Liam heal the trees so they can talk.”
“You’re shitting me,” Mazen growled.
“Mate, I’m an ancient nature and fertility god. If I can figure out how to do what I did where Lola got hurt, the trees can tell me if anything different happened. It’s all connected, so even ifthesetrees weren’t in the same clearing as when Lola got hurt, they still know about it.”
Mazen just cocked an eyebrow at Liam.
“I just keep splitting my pants accidentally shifting into a big black dog and I’ve made it thunder a few times. I haven’t figured shit out.”
Liam just shrugged.
“I accidentally healed the forest and passed out. We’re going to have a lot of accidents.”
“Your accidents don’t leave you stranded in the courtyard naked.”
“Oh, those horny tree fairies wouldlovethat.”
Mazen just smirked.
“They do. But I’m with Lola. At least, I think I am. She seems to be flirting withyouand everyone else.”
“Yeah, what was up with that? I sent Sage to Alexios because I thought I’d have a better chance of finding a lab partner than Alexios would. I wasn’t expecting Lola to volunteer and flirt with me. I’m a lot of things, but a cheater isn’t one of them. Sage hasn’t agreed to be my girlfriend yet, but I’m still faithful.”
“Did we need to have that conversation after the bathroom?” Sage asked.
“Oh, we’re having that conversation because I want to hear you say you’re ours, but not here. We have a job to do.”
“I couldn’t tell you why Lola decided to be your lab partner. She drives me insane because I never knowwhatshe’s going to do. She just decides to do something and does it.”
Sage had this look on her face. I could tell she was feeling something and not saying it. She did that sometimes. I figured it was up to her to tell us when she was ready.
Liam was able to heal the clearing before because he just got so angry. Now that it was his second time seeing the forest like that, it wasn’t the same. He couldn’t summon that same kind of righteous anger. He just kind of…walked around in circles grunting.
“You look constipated,” Lucian said.
“Really wanting to kick you in the kidneys right now, Prince of Darkness.”
“Why don’t you sing?” Sage said. “I’ve read enough that the sirens have magic when they sing, but you had some, too, when you were doing karaoke. The whole tavern was entranced. It might help you focus.”
Liam nodded and started singing. He wasn’t doing a song where he spoke most of it this time, he was actually singing. Liam was talented enough that if he wanted to form a band and do this for a living, he definitely could.
And Sage’s instincts were spot on, as usual. The dead flora started being replaced by greenery and all these native flowers started growing up from the ground as Liam launched into about four songs. There was a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead when he stopped, but it looked like we were in some nature conservatory now.
Mazen looked around in wonder.
“Must be nice to have magic that isn’t destructive.”
“Aren’t you a God of Storms?” Sage asked. “If there’s a drought or a forest fire, then a God of Storms is going to come in handy.”
“You’re kind. I don’t know why Lola hates you so much.”
Sage just grunted like she didn’t give a shit, but I didn’t like that at all. The majority of the reincarnations were under Lola’s sway until the compulsion wore off. We didn’t need her targeting Sage.
“The trees say the same thing. They said the predator came to the clearing angry. She screamed in fury and things went black again. Unlike with the other predator, there was no blood on the ground or fight. The blackness came and when the blackness left, there was no one in the clearing. The only trace anyone had ever been there was the sickness that was infecting them, but it’s a slow rot, so none of us noticed it during the trials.”
