Page 14 of Danny's Dance

Fair enough. I couldn’t imagine that King Damara was very happy with his son turning away from his throne and becoming a... “Redistributor”. But then again, I couldn’t imagine that my parents were very pleased with me straying across the country with my two mates and the twins. Which reminded me, Darren deserved a heads-up about thatone.

“Hey, listen... We’ve got two other travel companions and they are...” I paused, trying to find the right word to describe myfriends.

“D-Different?” JPsuggested.

“Special,” Regan chippedin.

“Eccentric?” I tried, making Darren shake hishead.

“I know what that means... That means batshit crazy,” hemuttered.

“Welllll... I’d disagree, but there’s really nouse.”

Our new companion let out a deep sigh and ran his hand over his face. “Dear heavens, what have I gotten myself into...” he muttered under his breath as he patted his cheeks, like he couldn’t believe he was actually joining us for dinner. I could imagine that his life as a assa... Redistributor was ratherlonely.

Maybe he should find himself his own group of friends. Or.... No, don’t think those kind of things, Danny. Don’t even gothere.

Chapter Nine - Aspen

“This is cosy.”Darren snorted at the sight of our abandoned barn. I shrugged and rolled my eyes. Surprisingly enough, I didn’t really care where we slept, even though I grew up in a mansion. Moving from deserted town to deserted town, crashing into desolated buildings and pitching tents, it didn’t matter. Not when I had JP and Regan to keep me warm atnight.

“Behave,” Regan growled at Darren, making himsnicker.

“Yes,dad.”

I locked eyes with JP and we let out a simultaneous sigh. This was going to beinteresting.

The heavy door creaked as we entered the barn. Darren rushed inside and as he did, tripped over our alarm wire, setting off the loud clanging of the cans. With a shriek, he almost fell on the ground, but regained hisfooting.

“Who do we have here?” I heard Ash hiss, her small blade pressed against Darren’sneck.

“It’s j-just us,” JP spoke, dumping his firewood next to the hearth and bending down to fix the trip wire Darren setoff.

“Darren’s got clumsy feet,” Regan added, shaking his head in disapproval, clearly disappointed that he wasn’t able to avoid our trap. Aspen appeared from the other room, looking at the scene in front ofthem.

“What’s going on?” Aspen asked, looking from Darren to Ash to us inconfusion.

Ash ran her hand through her dark curls and pointed at Darren. “Who’s the newguy?”

I placed my hand on Ash’s arm and tried to push it down. “Darren is...” I paused. How could I explainthis?

“Prince Darius Laruel. But apparently, he now goes by “Darren”,” Regan added helpfully, slamming the heavy doorshut.

“This kid?” Ash asked, squinting her eyes and tightening her grip. It didn’t look like she believed that in theslightest.

“Yes, he’s theone.”

Ashleigh carefully studied my expression, as always picking up on things I’d rather she didn’t pick up on. “The one. Isthatwhy you brought him along, Danny?” she grinned, winking at me suggestively. I groaned. This was why she was my best friend. She could read me like a book. It was like a freaking magicskill.

I brushed off her comment and added: “He also tried toassa...”

“Ahum!” Darren loudly coughed, shooting me a sharplook.

“Redistributeus.”

“What does that even mean?” Ash indecorously asked, frowning at me and mouthing “What’s goingon?”

I shrugged, not even entirely sure what was going on. “We’ve invited him over fordinner?”

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