Theo takes a step back, her gaze darting to the guards by the door, then to the scowl deepening on Alexis’s face.
—Pull it in, boys— Theo’s mental voice gives me the slap I need.
Turning away, I watch the floating Fateball nets and take a couple of breaths.
Theo clears her throat.—I’ve an idea, but I need you both to stop thinking with your dicks long enough to help me execute it—
—Whatcha need, Sparkles?—
—Make opportunities for me to touch Willow during the game—
—Sure, but why?—
—I want to channel Lumina into her, see what happens—
I look across to where Bloomhower is standing in a group with her brother, and two other Ordinarii girls.
Donovan grins.—Super-charge our bestie? I like it!—
A small smile appears on Theo’s face.
—I’ll tell Alexis to match up our teams—
Two seconds later, Alexis is blowing his whistle. “First group; Bloomhowers, Arnhalt and Adair. You’ll be taking on Watson, Larsen, Hart and Wilson.
I give River and Willow an intimidating stare then crack my knuckles. “Can’t wait, coach,” I yell.
My cousin rolls his eyes, then picks up a fateball. “This has been reprogrammed so only minor level spells can be used for points. I want a real battle between teams, but keep the bloodshed to a minimum, understand?”
“Yes, sir,” Theo murmurs, and I see heat in her eyes.
Huh, I wonder if she and Lexi play naughty schoolgirl/stern teacher.
Lex blasts the whistle again, and we fall into position. Willow is acting as defence, so I make Theo our second ‘forward’.
“On my mark.”
The ball falls from on high, and I instantly catch it. “Go long, Sparkles.”
She runs forward, dodging around River, who really does nothing to stop her. As I launch the ball, I see her body tense, but she catches it nimbly, then heads straight into Willow, clashing hard.
They both collapse to the ground in a tangled heap.
“Elite foul, Ordinarii free-throw.”
As Theo helps Willow up, I clock the surprise in her friend's face. They hold fingers for a few seconds longer than necessary. The hair on my arms stands up as Theo passes on some sparkles.
Alexis blows the whistle. “Air spells only, Bloomhower.”
Willow turns towards the net, eighty yards away. Everyone watches as she launches the ball then immediately starts casting, guiding its path directly into the moving net.
That’s a complex move even for an Elite.
The buzzer sounds and the Ordinarii kids go wild.
“Nice work, Bloomhower.”
At the end of the first half, which is all of five minutes, Elite and Ordinarii are tied. Willow has defended every attempted strike but one.
