Leaving the library, they walked hand in hand to what had been her childhood bedroom. As soon as they passed through the double doors he shut them with his mind. The rest of the world could wait outside. Tonight was just for them. He whipped her around to press her back against the doors avoiding wedging the door handles into her back.“I think this is where we left off,” He took her mouth, and shocked her.“Now?” She questioned between breaths.“Oh absolutely now.” I have thought of nothing else since we were so rudely interrupted.He took his lips on a slow sensual journey down the column of her throat.“Do you have a problem with that?” He whispered as his teeth nipped at her earlobes.Everything inside her quivered, liquified.“No, no, now would be good, now would be...”His hands skimmed up to brush over her breasts.“Now would be exceptional.”Wanting more, she wrapped her legs around him. Thrilled by the crazed rhythm of her own pulse, the overwhelming pull of her own nee

Panic ensued. All scurried to Zinnia’s side. Dakari reached for her tiny wrist and felt for her pulse.“I don’t know what a fairy pulse is supposed to sound like, but she definitely has one.” He sighed, relieved. Already everyone was feeling like she was the glue holding the group together.Luca reached over and took the crystal from her hand. What had looked so menacing in her hands looked frail and small in his own large palm. It seemed to pulse as if it had something to say.Palm opened, he looked around at the group, “Did anyone see how this got here?”Before they could utter a word, Zinnia began to stir. As she tried to turn on her side she moaned with pain as her wing was stuck beneath her. No one knew how to help. She closed her eyes and began to glow. Her purple aura intensified as the wing visibly began to heal itself. It was like watching a movie in fast forward. Within seconds she was clearly revived. The group watched in disbelief.“When I am in wolf form, I heal

They planned to leave the following morning. Grandfather called the hangar and had the pilots prepare. Grandmother served another feast for everyone and secretly plotted with Zinnia for a way to take her on a tour of the island. Zinnia squirmed with excitement at the prospect. After eating and relaxing, the four visitors packed what meager belongings they had into the backpacks and duffles that Katalea had shoved into a closet over the years. As Katalea handed out pink and purple backpacks, complete with enough rhinestones to blind an army, she giggled to herself. Feeling the hard plastic square sewn into a hidden pocket in one of Dalya’s bags, Katalea’s fingers searched for the little opening. She found it and removed one of the tracking devices that she had used to avoid Dalya in their high school years. With her thoughts on her prior tormentor, Katalea had slipped down the hall to visit the girl who had once caused her such anguish, and now was looked at like a si

The group gathered on the ferry as the island was shrouded in a thick, concealing mist. Katalea had called the mist to swirl and entwined the heady scent of the salt water to cover the scent of her new friends. It would do no good for the curious to come investigating. The water appeared gray, reflective of the colorless sky. There would be no other passengers, and the jaunt across to the mainland promised to be rough. Katalea didn’t mind the ferry as it jostled them to and fro, it kept her mind from contemplating the scene they had encountered in Dalya’s room. Her friend had been possessed by an erratic weredragon god. If she hadn’t witnessed it with her own eyes, she would have doubted anyone who tried to convince her of it. That was why she wasn’t sharing the story with the others.They had spread out to different parts of the ferry for their quick excursion. Aquina was leaning over the railing, hands outstretched, trying to play with a few of her friends as they swam

With backpacks slung over their shoulders, the group got their first glimpse of Rio. The airport in Praia do Galeaão fanned out like the spokes on a wheel, with airplanes of every color in the process of loading and unloading their passengers. In the distance a beach could be seen, and Katalea had a momentary longing for a high-speed run in her feline shape down the white sands at home. Two by two, they ambled slowly down the airstairs, trying to find coordination in their limbs after so many hours of non-use. They were met by two lovely assistants, dressed in conservative navy blazers with crisp white shirts beneath. Beecher’s eyes gleamed incredulously when they explained that the group would not need to join the thousands of other travelers at the customs office. They had a private customs area set up just for them. Katalea smiled at Dakari, “Leave it to Grandfather to do things with style,” she messaged him. He discreetly nodded and followed the others to the