Page 106 of Centaur Bolt

“Let’s hit the vending machines, and you guys can model your new clothes for me,” Kiko said.

Vali didn’t appear enthralled. “I was going to spend some time in the library,” she hedged.

“Nope. I want to see what you bought while I was busy,” the Satyr insisted.

“While you were screwing, you mean,” the Dragona stated with a roll of her amber eyes. She rubbed beads of sweat from her forehead.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said, although she didn’t sound completely sure. “The gate energy feeds into my Dragon. Right now, that isn’t a great thing. Whatever they injected me with to bring on my cycle isn’t going down without a fight. The herbs are barely keeping it under control.”

Guilt surfaced. “I’m so sorry. Maybe you shouldn’t have come with us.”

She shrugged. “It was worth it. But now I’m not feeling too great.”

“You’ll feel a lot better once you’re dressed in your new clothes,” Kiko pushed. She did pick odd times to be stubborn.

We entered the building and climbed the stairs. “I’ve got to have a shower,” I said. “No way I’m putting those new things on while I’m covered in grime.” I gestured to Kiko. “Why don’t you go raid the vending machines, and we’ll meet you in the room for the big reveal?”

She grinned. “Sounds good. How hungry are you guys?”

“I’m not really.” Vali began.

“I’m always hungry.” I forged ahead on the stairs. “See you guys in about twenty.”

I sprinted up the last flight. Left in my dust, Vali turned with Kiko into the small room that housed the vending machines.

Alone at last, my pulse raced. What I was about to do scared the crap out of me. I had barely rested since this morning, and my fingers still had a slight tremor to them.

But it was the only way.

I threw my bags into the room and retrieved the last of my crystal dust stash. Hurrying back down the hall to the washrooms, I swallowed every last bit of it. It zinged through my body.

My dream with Marcus had been early this morning. Where was he now? And more importantly, did it matter?

I thought of the hours that had passed since I’d dreamed of him. It had been overcast where he was, but by the light, it was likely early in the day. It had been before lunch in this realm.

It was now night, here.

If I thought too much about it, I’d never do it.

Just do it, Riley.

I pushed through the washroom door and entered one of the shower stalls. Sat on the little bench just inside, and breathed.

Then I closed my fist around Marcus’s ring. Thought of the strong lines of his face, and the way he felt beneath my hands. Of his marvelous eyes, and the way they altered color. Of the fingers that were both scarred from carrying a sword, and yet were capable of sculpting with such delicacy—and of a tree with a twisted trunk that looked like an old woman’s face, hanging over a pond filled with reeds. And finally, of the morning light filtering through the storm.

What if I didn’t find him? The panic wasn’t a memory this time. It was real.

White noise…

Snap.

34

Marcus

I sat beneath the twisted old tree, consuming Haba nuts and not thinking of Riley.

---