Damnit, Lynx. We’re not supposed to ruin the body we’re in.I know it’s him. Lynx would be the only person to say something about getting freaky with a body during a trial.
We walk around mostly in shock as we look at our bodies from different perspectives and talk to each other. Some of us chuckle in discomfort or straight up feel ourselves up, like our arms, hair, and back—get your mind out of the gutter—or look on, indifferent as if dissecting a bug in biology class. I chuckle when I reach Zeke’s body because he straight-up licks my cheek, and I giggle. It didn’t even occur to me that Reaper would also be switching bodies. Yes, I put him on the jewel as Balam instructed in the beginning, but it’s not like I knew we were switching bodies as a trial when I placed him on it, so forgive me if I have goldfish memory for a moment.
“Times up,” Balam says, bringing Reaper’s body to the front. “Who wants to go first?” I raise my hand because even though we can’t say our name or use our special talents, I know my man.
Balam chuckles as I approach. “Your soul will be a delight to collect, Nerezza,” he says, leaning in and whispering into my ear.
“Don’t hold your breath. Actually…go ahead and do.” I smile.
“Leviathan is in Reaper’s body,” I say confidently, and Balam’s smile slides off his face as a green light flashes my correct answer.
“How did you know?” he squints at me. “He didn’t do anything but clean himself the entire time.”
I cock an eyebrow and smirk. “Exactly. That’s what Levi would do if he was an animal. Constantly clean. Next time, make it harder,” I say before moving back, but Balam doesn’t seem all that upset, and I wonder why.
Chester’s body is the second one on the platform, and Ryker’s body raises his hand to identify him. “I’ll go next.” Balam nods his consent.
“No one can mistake JP’s flirty ways when he speaks, no matter what skin he’s in. I would be able to pick out my man in a heartbeat. JP’s in Chester’s body.” The green light flashes once again, indicating the win.Well, I guess that means Zeke is in Ryker’s body.
Next, Moni zips up on stage and flies around in a circle super fast until she passes out and pops up within a heartbeat.
“We really need to get her better headgear; this is doing her some damage, I swear.”
“I’ll go,” raising my hand again and giving Balam a bored look. “Do you really need us to raise our hand, or can we just walk out here and say it?”
“Since you are sweeping this game so far, you can at least do me the decency by playing along with my rules, don’t you think?” he replies with a small smile with his human head, but his animal heads glower at me.
“As you wish.” I give him a tight smile. “That’s my best friend in my bestie’s body. Lynx has a certain way of talking, and you can’t mistake that in this group, so no matter what body you put him in, that will never change. His eccentric tendencies show through Moni’s shell,” I explain, giving Balam a small mocking bow when the green light goes off.
Next up is my body, and I smile as Moni complains about my clumsy body and how I should have wings to help balance. Before I can offer to identify her again, Knots’ hand raises up, shocking me.Why is he offering?Balam nods, and his body clumsily crosses the stage as well, standing before my body. But instead of turning to look at Balam, he turns to look at my body and slams his mouth against my own.
My jaw drops as I watch Knots’ body make out with mine. “WHAT THE HELL?” I’m more frustrated that whoever is in my ex’s body is using it to assault my body than anything else. Wait…do I have a right to be mad? God, this is confusing as hell.I shake my head as I watch them pull apart and hold hands, both of them with soft smiles on their faces.
“Nothing can distract me from my mate’s soul. Moni is in Rez’s body,” Knots’ body states…which explains who’s actually in that body—Chester. Well, I guess I’m not that pissed off. A little annoyed, yes, but I’ll get over it.
I’m pulled up next, and I turn to face the group, but no one raises their hands.Really? No one knows who I am? How could that be? Am I that hard to figure out?
“Are you kidding me? I’ll make sure you all pay for this.” I narrow my eyes and put my hands on my waist.
Moni’s laughter rings out as her hand shoots up. “Relax. I’m playing. I got ya,” Moni’s body flies up to me. “There’s only one person that can make that body look as good as I can,” Lynx teases in Moni’s body. “My Rezzi-bear is the only one that could pull off the proper Lynx!” The green light goes off, and Balam calls for Zeke’s body.
Before I can even move, Zeke’s body lumbers up and rolls over the floor before he barks. I stop and turn to give Balam a pointed look.
“Can I go ahead and answer? It’s kinda obvious.” I smile sweetly, and the Bull’s head lets steam simmer out of his nose with a low growl, but I hold my stance. I’m not breaking the rules; I’m just asking a question. The Ram's head nods.
“That’s my pup Reaper in Zeke’s body, and I know because he licked me, barks, and he’s acting like a dog.” The light flashes green, and Zeke scrambles off the floor and follows me off to the side as Levi’s body saunters to the middle.
Before looking at Balam, he stands up straight, and his shoulders pull back with a slight shudder. I have to admit, I didn’t get around to talking to Levi’s body, but I know that action…somewhere. As if something is missing? It’s a faint thought, but it seems to be slightly out of reach.
“Any takers,” Balam mocks with a knowing smile. His heads swivel in our direction with undeniable cockiness.
I raise my hand and walk back up there with confidence that I don’t have whatsoever. Trying to make a quick assessment of who has gone so far; it should only leave three others who haven’t been called out. We haven’t identified Ryker, Knots, or Knox. Ryker wouldn’t be standing here silently or this stiffly, so this is either Knox or Knots. As I approach Levi’s body, I look into his eyes, and I’m pretty sure I know who it is I’m looking at. But I’m positive when his hazel gaze drops away quickly as if he’s ashamed to meet my gaze. A small yet sad smile briefly reaches my lips before I turn and face Balam.
“Knots is in Levi’s body. I know this because of his mannerisms,” I say, not at all proud of the fact that my ex is the only one who would be ashamed to meet my eyes. I turn before the green light goes off.
Knox’s body is pulled up next, and while he walks up, I chuckle to myself because just by his walk, I can tell who it is. The swagger is an obvious giveaway that it’s Ryker. Hell, the smirk says it all. I raise my arm before he fully gets in place.
“Yes, Nerezza,” the Ram head calls on me.
