A Gift of Three(10)

“None of your business,” he replied, sending another kick my way. He was fast this morning—yesterday’s date had obviously gone well. I’d forgotten that Phoenix seemed to thrive on his trips outside The Shade, no doubt syphoning at will and sweeping another poor, unsuspecting damsel off her feet.

“Oh, Phoenix,” I cooed, “you’re so handsome—I wish my hair was as nice as yours.” I fluttered my lashes dramatically, playing the part of the love-sick crushes I imagined he picked up in the human world.

He boomed with laughter, grabbing me around the waist to try to knock me down on the floor. I was too quick for him this time, slithering out of his grasp and shoving him backward. He didn’t fall, but was still bent over laughing.

My amusement dried up quickly as I saw Field standing at the edge of the clearing, watching us. His arms were folded across his chest, a white t-shirt showing off his toned biceps and highlighting his dark features. I blushed under his speculative gaze.

I’d totally forgotten about Phoenix, so when his attack came, I was completely defenseless. Once again, I went flying across the training yard from the force of Phoenix’s full body-slam, my back smacking into the ground and skidding to a halt.

I lay still, looking up at the dark sky and trying to catch my breath.

Humiliating.

“Watch yourself, cub.” Field’s voice drifted over, and then his head appeared over mine, blocking out the sky. His lips were turned up in a small smile, a dimple appearing on his right cheek.

Without saying a word, I scrambled to my feet, inwardly begging myself to cool my blushes. I dusted off my training uniform without looking up.

“Hey, Field,” I muttered.

Phoenix’s footsteps crunched on the gravel as he came over to join us. He was trying his best not to laugh.

“Are you all right?” he asked me, his concern somehow making it worse.

“I’m fine,” I replied quickly, “glad to be put through my paces.”

“Liar,” he replied, slinging his arm around my shoulders in a half-hearted apology while turning his attention to Field. “Want to have a go? I’m warning you, I’m feeling pretty spry.” Phoenix cracked his neck from side to side, grinning with all the cockiness of someone who had just landed his opponent on the ground.

“It’s so tempting,” Field replied. “Someone’s got to knock you down, but it can’t be me today—I’m on my way to see Maura. Tomorrow?”

Phoenix nodded. “Challenge accepted.”

At the mention of Maura, I started to back away, leaving them to discuss their training session. My boots scraped at the ground in frustration.

What is wrong with me?

I mentally kicked myself for not appearing more composed in front of Field. It just wasn’t okay to behave that way—partly because it made me look like a total idiot, and partly because he was with Maura. I needed to get over my stupid crush and get that into my head. I couldn’t compete with his girlfriend, and I didn’t even want to try: I really, really didn’t want to be that kind of girl, swooning after someone else’s boyfriend.

Maybe I’d be a bit more satisfied if I had Maura’s composure, her normal human looks…and her lack of hair. I wasn’t bad now, but growing up… Ugh. Thanks to my father’s wolf genes, my hair had been out of control. It had just grown everywhere, like an unstoppable curse that chipped away at my self-esteem from early puberty till I was about fifteen. That was when I’d begged Corrine to intervene. After a short episode of pleading, the witch had saved the day. She’d created a potion—not the nicest-tasting stuff, but who cared?—and after taking it every day for six months, my hair problem had disappeared, leaving it only in the places it should be. Things were so much better now, though I still sometimes acted like I was covered in hair. Like if I ever stood in direct sunlight—luckily not such a huge problem when we were in The Shade—I worried that everyone could see nonexistent fuzz on my face.

It was all right for my older brother, Jovi. He was hairy, but it just looked cool on him, mainly making him appear older and more dark and brooding than he actually was.

Field and Phoenix looked like they were finishing off their conversation, and I prepared myself for another ass-kicking. I watched the two men as they said goodbye—they were kind of similar in many ways, both dark-haired and muscular, with dark stubble covering their jaws, but Phoenix always appeared more arrogant and proud because he’d inherited Tejus’s distinct features. Though Field’s face was just as chiseled and stark, there was something gentler about his appearance. I supposed he was more traditionally handsome than Phoenix, and the dimple that appeared on his cheek when he smiled… that drove me to distraction.