I almost mentioned the smoothies, but he had confided things of a deeply personal nature just now. The last thing I wanted to do was draw attention to what might be instinctive behavior and step in it again so soon after my earlier faux pas. Working alongside a variety of different species required making concessions.
As much as I loved my smoothies, I was willing to share them now and then if it helped put him at ease.
“I was about to send out a search team,” Clay boomed as he strode over to us. “What took so long?”
“I’m out of practice.” I rubbed my arms, recalling the tacky sensation of webs. “Or out of juice.”
“You’ll get the hang of it.” He swung a heavy arm around my shoulders. “I’m proud of you.”
We walked to our SUV, the last one remaining, and I was grateful when Clay held the door open for me.
“I’m beat.” I slid down in my seat and shut my eyes. “I need to nap off that counterspell.”
Food worked best to replenish my power, but a raw steak on the hotel tab would raise eyebrows. Sleep was the next best cure. Weary as I was from the spells I had cast, I could face-plant in my pillows and not twitch until morning. Lunch on the flight was an eternity ago, but I wasn’t hungry. For food.
“We’ll head to the hotel,” Clay announced from the back, “eat dinner, and rest up for tomorrow.”
“I’m down for part one and three. I’m going to beg off dinner. I’m too tired to be good company.”
“We requested a connecting room.” Asa flicked his gaze toward me. “To make it easier for us to come and go for meetings in your room.” He smiled, just a little. “We gave you the suite.”
“Nice.” I settled in. “I haven’t had a good soak in ages.”
The tub and shower combo at my house barely covered my navel when I filled it to the top.
“Looks like it’s you and me, Ace.” Clay patted his partner on the shoulder. “Where do you want to eat?”
“I noticed a steakhouse past the airport,” he suggested. “Or a twenty-four-hour diner near the hotel.”
“The diner works for me.” Clay sat back and rubbed his stomach. “I love all-you-can-eat pancakes.”
Pretty sure he could eat them out of ingredients if he set his mind to it. Goddess knows he had plenty of times in the past. Once the free refills began to raise eyebrows, though, he tended to pay the bill, tip the waitress, and make his exit before management got involved while also hanging on to the receipt to remind himself not to hit the same place twice in one trip.
While the guys cemented their plans for the night, I let my thoughts drift and my power slumber.
I dreamed of counting sheep that leapt over stones and splashed down into a creek.
Somewhere along the line, the fluffy white sheep became sleek does with glossy eyes that didn’t blink.