18: Good Taste

A/N: I’m really sorry it’s been so long since I’ve updated, and that it’s kind of short. I moved recently and work’s been crazy, and then I had spring break but prioritized finishing . But that book is done now, so I should be devoting all of my writing time to this project. I hope you enjoy the update, and whether you do or not, I’d love to hear what you think of this story!Of Love and Valor

CALLUM POV

“Goddamn it!” Xander curses after trippin’ over a tree root for ’bout the seventh time since we started on the trails. It’s darker than it usually is when we come out to train, but Drake and I ain’t havin’ no trouble, and our eyes work same as Xander’s. He just ain’t awake yet, not that I blame him; it’s real early, way earlier’n Xander likes to be outta bed.

“Tell me again, Lover Boy, why we’re out here so fucking early?” Xander demands, glaring at Drake as we jog along our usual trail, the one that leads to the field where we can actually train, without havin’ to pretend to be normal humans.

“I thought it’d be a nice change of pace,” Drake answers with forced brightness, but he ain’t foolin’ no one; he’s on high alert, scannin’ the trail and the forest for any sign this Nikki girl he’s into might be around.

“Come on, man. Lyin’ to yo’ friends ain’t cool,” I needle him gently. “She tell you she was gon’ be out here this early?”

“She said if she was coming—”

“IF?!” Xander explodes.

“—that it would be this early,” Drake continues as though Xander ain’t spoken. “But it’d all depend on studying and stuff. Their grad program sounds really intense.”

“Makin’ you reconsider law school?” I ask while Xander grumbles unintelligibly under his breath.

“Hard to reconsider something I haven’t 100% decided on in the first place. There’s a lot of factors to take into account….” He mighta said more, but all of us hear footsteps up ahead, light but steady, getting closer, and his nerves are suddenly taut as a bowstring.

Then we round a bend in the trail and, sho’ nuff, there she is, joggin’ along our trail goin’ opposite way as us, green eyes flashin’ in the dark. Ain’t nothin human bout that. Can’t believe Drake ain’t figured out what she is yet, in the time they spent together.

“Nikki?” Drake calls, hardly daring to believe what should be perfectly obvious.

“Drake?” she replies, seeming equally surprised. “Wasn’t expecting you to make it out this early, especially not all of you. You said none of you like mornings—”

“We don’t,” Xander growls, “but Drake here decided—”

“That we could all benefit from a little mo’ variety in our routine,” I interrupt, shootin’ a warnin’ glare at Xander. Drake would play wingman for you in a heartbeat, and he has before. Pull yo’ shit together.

“Right, what Callum said,” Xander amends with a glance my way that says I’ll be owin’ him somethin’ at some point. “Speaking of, our usual workout routine has been getting kinda dull. You down to join us?”

“Well, that depends,” Nikki answers coyly, toyin’ with a piece of hair that’s escaped her ponytail. “I’ve been running for a while already, and I’ve only got so much time before I have to go get ready for classes and stuff. What are you planning for this morning?”

“Normally we do some running, strength training, martial arts,” Drake replies.

“I haven’t done much with martial arts before. But I’m always willing to learn. Have you warmed up at all?”

“Just the jog from the parking lot here.”

“Let’s run some, before we get to the more intense stuff,” I suggest. “Drake always lookin’ for someone new to race.”

“I don’t think—” Drake starts.

“That’s a great idea,” Xander interjects, eyes alight with mischief. “Wish I’d thought of it. Unless you’re not into competition?”

“I’m willing to give it a go,” Nikki responds. I can’t quite read her expression, but her heartbeat picked up at the mention of racing, for all her tone is cool as a cucumber. More concerning is that I can’t identify her scent. What the hell kinda creature don’t even have a scent? “Right now, or after you’ve had more chance to warm up?”

“I’d prefer the warmup, if it’s all the same to you,” Drake replies quickly. He nervous. Don’t know why. Ain’t like she stands a chance of beatin’ him. “This trail makes a giant loop. Let’s…take a lap or two, and then head to the usual spot, guys?”

“Sounds good to me,” I agree.

“Yeah, I’m down,” Xander confirms.

“Great. Lead the way,” Nikki smiles. Gotta give it to Drake, he got good taste. She’s smokin’ hot, and the way she moves as we all start joggin’ again, sort of in a clump with her an’ Drake side by side, is nothin’ short of extraordinary. Like she’s made of liquid, but also powerful. Someone gotta ask, an’dif he too chicken, guess I can do it. But we gotta know.

“So. Nikki,” I call from behind her and Drake. “I can’t help wonderin’ if there’s more to you than meets the eye.”

It’s true, but also the agreed (an’ only legally acceptable) code phrase, among non-humans, to verify whether whoever we talkin’ to is considered supernatural or not.

If looks could kill, Drake would be murderin’ me with his eyes right now. Nikki, on the other hand, looks completely unfazed.

“What do your senses tell you? They surely do not lie,” she answers without missing a beat. Just as I thought. Supernatural, not human. But her exact species is still a mystery. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered anyone like her in my life, even before Mom an’ me moved from Louisiana to Maine.

“They still a bit confused, to be honest.”

Nikki laughs a little and picks up her pace; Drake matches her again in a couple steps. “Maybe the rest of our workout will provide them with more clarity.”