Six
Zamir
Magic prickled over myskin as I closed the door behind me, and I sighed in relief. Finally.
I breathed deeply for a moment. Too much had happened since last night, and I needed to think.
A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I was reminded that I didn't have time to think, not until I'd fed.
Once I felt steady, I made my way to the main hallway, aiming for the Forest, where Keoni would be waiting for me. Keoni, and his life force.
I slowed down as voices from the headmaster's ajar door reached my ear. Was that... Khush?
I knew I should keep walking, but I paused, listening in to their conversation because, well, because I was concerned. Had something happened to Dustin when they'd been locked in? Dustin was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, after all.
"I think it would be best if Dustin and I stayed in the human world. We can't take any risks with his or the baby's health, and if something like this were to happen when Dustin went into labor... I hope you understand."
"I do, Khush. But what about you?"
"I'll manage. I'll take the wheelchair, and I'll stay in my snake form if I have to."
"And your claustrophobia?"
"I've been doing better, and Liam's place has a roof. I'll be fine, I promise."
Khush was a naga who'd never been able to take a full human form. While his upper half was mostly human, his lower half was a snake. A beautiful, green snake. He could also take the form of an actual snake, which was how he went out with Dustin when he wasn't in the mood to use the wheelchair Draven—a genius dwarf who lived in the Forest—had devised for supes with... unusual lower halves.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Liam said we could use his apartment, so we'll be seeing him and Haruto regularly. As soon as we know things here have settled down, we'll be back."
"I'm really sorry about this," the headmaster said, sounding wrecked, and my heart ached for the guy. This place was his home, a home he'd built with his own hands, his magic. We were all his kids, in a way, and I hated that we couldn't do anything to help.
Zephyr Morrigan—or Headmaster, as we called him—was a proud man, and he refused to let us help. None of us knew why exactly things had started to go wrong, and he wouldn't tell us, no matter how much we pestered him.
With a shake of my head, I kept walking, not wanting to get caught eavesdropping.
I pushed through the Forest door, and breathed in deeply. The scent of fresh grass, warm soil, and ripe cherries filled my lungs, and for a moment, the relief I felt overwhelmed my hunger.
Nolan's company had helped, so much so that I hadn't realized how worried I'd been about not getting back home. The thought of not being among these trees again, of not seeing my friends again... it was abhorrent.
"Zamir!" Keoni shouted, appearing at the top of the slight hill, his blue eyes bright as he grinned at me. He took off running, and I braced myself as he threw his arms around me, giving me a tight hug as soon as he was close enough. "I was so worried! Are you okay?"
I nodded, kissing the top of his head. While I was close with everyone in the Forest, Keoni and I had grown closer in recent weeks because of our shared envy of our friends. How would he react when I told him I'd found my mate? I didn't want him to be sad, but I also wanted to tell him.
"I have so many questions for you, like where you spent the night, and if you got drunk last night, and why you don't have my bottle of Dragon Fire with you, but I'll ask them later. Let's get you fed first. I can't even tell you're a supe anymore. It's a wonder the doors let you in."
I was in no position to argue, and I followed him into the trees. I couldn't hear anyone around us. They were either off doing chores, or out, now that the doors were working.
"Is here okay?" Keoni asked, and I nodded.
Giving me a pat on the arm, he stepped closer. "Go on then."
I exhaled softly, shaking out my arms. No matter how many times I did this, it never got easier.
We were only a few inches apart, and Keoni parted his lips, knowing how it went. I'd fed from him many times before, and other than Jacinta, he was the one I felt most comfortable feeding from.
I sucked in a slow, even breath through my lips, and soft, golden wisps slipped out of Keoni's mouth and into mine. Every person's life force had a different color, a different flavor.
