Page 50 of Spirit Trials

I recognize that tone from Rysden; he’s most definitelynotkidding. I head over to the best tree I can find, hoist myself up, and easily climb to the top. I hear a lot of muttering; I think it’s still coming from Harper. I settle myself on a branch and wait for them to reach the top, so we can climb back down. The girls finally reach the top, and I prepare to climb back down. “Congratulations, you made it to the top. Now, see if you can stay there all night.” He turns to walk away, and I stare at his retreating back in shock.

“Are you serious?” I call out.

He doesn’t bother turning back around. “Deadly.” Lox and Jamik follow him a moment later.

I stare at the three men as they head out of view and eventually disappear inside. “What in the world, Farrah?” Harper practically screeches.

“Are we really going to stay up here all night?” That’s from Kinsley.

I’m still staring at the house. “Farrah!” Harper demands.

I have a decision to make. Either we do what Rysden says, or we head back inside to our warm comfortable beds. My shoulders drop, and I turn to look at my branch before I sit down and try to get comfortable. “You’re not seriously thinking of staying out here?” Harper asks.

“I am. Look, you two don’t have to stay out here. I chose this; I was the one that wanted the guys to train us. I’m not sure what Rysden’s trying to prove, but I’m not going in there. I’m going to stay out here all night. I’m going to prove that I can do this, butyou two have nothing to prove. I’m not going to back down, but you two can.”

Neither of them says a word for a little bit. “If you’re staying out here, then I am too,” Kinsley says.

“Ugh,” Harper groans. “Fine. If you’re both staying, I’ll stay too. We’ll prove to the Wolf Prince jerk that we’re tougher than he thinks.”

“He’s not a jerk,” I say softly, but I don’t think either of them hear me.

“What’s going on between the two of you anyway?” Harper asks. I lean against the tree trunk and try to get comfortable. It’s not like I haven’t done this very thing a million times before; it just feels different knowing it’s going to be all night. But I solace myself with the fact that it’s just a few hours. As soon as the sun rises, I’ll be back inside where it’s warm. I shiver and wish I would have brought out a fur with me. “Farrah?” Harper interrupts my thoughts, and I remember her question.

“Nothing’s going on between us.”

“Riiiiight,” she says.

“No, seriously.”

Harper snorts out a laugh. “I think you actually believe that; you’re more delusional than I thought.”

I close my eyes. “Really? We’re back to the whole ‘me being delusional’ thing again?”

“Yes. Because you are.”

“I’m not, Harper. There’s nothing between us.”

“You may not think so or believe it, but Harper’s right,” Kinsley says in her sweet voice.

“Of course, I’m right,” Harper snaps. “The man nearly murdered his friend when you were injured and bleeding everywhere. Then he grabbed you and hauled you upstairs caveman style and wouldn’t let anybody near you.”

I open my eyes. “Really?”

“Which part of that do you not remember?” Harper asks.

“He wouldn’t let anybody near me?”

“Harper and I both tried to come see you, but he wouldn’t let us in,” Kinsley says softly.

“Yeah, I even made that idiot with the smile try; and he couldn’t get in either,” Harper adds.

I can barely help but snort at her description of Lox. “Is everybody an idiot to you, Harper?”

“Pretty much.”

“Well, I don’t know why he did that, but there’s really not anything between us,” I say with finality.

It’s quiet for a few minutes, and I study the area around me. “Why were you upset when you came in after talking with him?” Kinsley asks quietly.