Have what covered? Elliott’s injury? Oh, Fernknewit was bad, despite his stupid claim of “rapid healing.”
“Fern, come here,” Liv said again, beckoning her over.
With her ass safely out of eyeshot, Fern tugged her dress over her head, laid it down beside Olivia, and took a seat. Warmth from the bedrock climbed her limbs as she braced herself on her palms and looked over at Elliott.
“He’s going to be fine,” Liv reassured her. “He does heal fast.”
“What does that even mean?” Fern frowned.
On the heels of a deep breath, Liv began, “Listen, there are some things you don’t know about us, and I’m gonna bring you up to speed.”
“You’re good,” Adam said to Elliott before leaping back into the water, drenching them all.
“Jesus!” Olivia shouted, her demeanor shifting on a dime. “I’m pregnant and suntanning. Stop bullying me.”
“Sorry!” He dunked to avoid her glare.
Chuckling, Elliott stood, shook out his wet shorts, and shuffled toward Olivia and Fern. “I’m fine. See?”
He tugged out his lip for her to study, and Fern blinked a few times before widening her eyes like some sort of cartoon character. Blood pooled in her extremities, making her pulse hammer in her wrists and ankles.
“What the fuck?”
He was fine. Perfectly, one hundred percent fine. There was no blood on his face, no slice across his lower lip, no red mark, not even a freaking scar.
He only shrugged and said, “I’m gonna help Ben with the grill.”
“What thefuck?” Fern screeched, slapping her hands down on the stone when she realized he wasn’t going to give her any answers. She spun on her butt to face Olivia, tucking her legs up and grabbing Liv by the shoulders. “Ihurthim. How is he fine? How, Liv?”
Olivia looked... excited? Her deep brown eyes sparkled, and her lips parted in a small smile. “I have to tell you something, but you can’t tell anyone. Not your mom—”
“I don’t tell her shit.”
“Not Renata.”
Fern scowled. “What’s going on? Tell me right this second, Olivia Montclair.” Her mind flew to her book, where Xyzandyr’s brother, Trynt, had rapid healing abilities. Swinging her finger around at Adam, Noa, and the back of the house where Ben and Elliott had disappeared, Fern asked, “Are they aliens?”
Olivia laughed.
“Not aliens,” she concluded. “Please tell me what’s going on.”
Adam whistled loudly, then yelled, “I think you guys are going to want to come back for this.”
“Coming!” Ben replied.
“What thefuck,Olivia?” Now she was just getting annoyed. Why washerbest friend in on some big secret with everyone in this weird fucking town? And why were they toying with her?
9
Fern learns the facts.
OliviasighedandgrabbedFern’s hands, scooching a little closer on their shared rock. “Sorry, lovey. This is weird for me. I’ve never done this before… You know how we only let tourists in two months a year?”
“For the animals and nature, yeah.” She nodded rapidly, coaxing Liv to get on with it.
“Right. So… we’re the animals. We need our privacy.” Olivia looked over Fern’s shoulder, and someone snorted.
Bewildered, Fern asked, “Is that some special terminology? Are you guys a cult? A big polycule or something?”
