Page 66 of Darkness Defined

Lucas snorted. “Last time I tried to hint around, they stared at me while a film covered their eyes before sliding back in a weird double-blink.” He shuddered, and I was right there with him. Neese did something like that and that was on top of his long tongue and hissed consonants. “I know supes come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and what have you, but you gotta understand. They didn’t say a word. And I could hear the film move across their eyes. As much as I love being a werewolf, there are some perks I could do without.”

Sam leaned forward on the table. “I’m guessing your roommate doesn’t do that.”

“Definitely not.” I chuckled, feeling slightly easier. “We’re both Shadow Demons, though he clearly knows more about that than I do.”

“So, what’s the deal? He a snob or something?” Sam tilted his chin.

I shrugged a shoulder and shifted to relax my stance. “I thought he was at first, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. He’s actually really nice, even been helping me with some of my classes.”

Sam’s lips twitched in an almost smile. “Sounds like he’s a really great guy.”

Lucas shot him a glare. “Did something happen?”

My heart rate quickened like it did right before a fight or when I was about to snatch and run. Did I dare tell them about what had happened? I certainly could use some solid advice, like if either of them had ever kissed a guy and what it felt like. Was it different to kissing other people? Was it all the same? Why did I feel like it was different? And why did I want to try it again?

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.” Lucas squeezed my shoulder and there was no way he could miss how tense I was.

Problem was, I did want to talk about it… with Alex. Then there was the whole hang up of appearing weak in front of my new friends. What would they think when they realized I clearly didn’t have my shit together? Not to mention I didn’t know whether or not Alex was out. But now I was going too long without talking again and I had to say something. “We got drunk together the other day.”

Lucas and Sam frowned, but it was Lucas who spoke. “Okay… Someone puke or something?”

“No, no,” I repeated with a forced laugh, “nothing like that. It’s just now things are… weird. We may have gotten a little too honest.”

“That’d do it.” Sam leaned back in his chair, clearly believing he had one up on gravity. Given he was a witch, heck, maybe he did. “I can think of a few drunk truth-spells I wish I could undo. Never,” he angled his hand at me, “I mean never tell a girl her dress makes her look like a cow. Even if it is cattle print.”

I snorted into my drink and subsequently choked laughing. “You didn’t.”

“Oh, he definitely did. But he hasn’t even told you the best part,” Lucas said with a smirk.

“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

“Not on your life.”

I set the remnants of my beer aside. “What’s the best part?”

“This dumbass,” Lucas pointed his thumb at Sam, “proceeds to create an illusion of himself as a cow-person.”

Sam groaned and dropped his head to the table. “It really sucks, because I was pretty sure that was going somewhere until I went all drunk magic.”

“Is that a thing?” I asked at the same time Lucas said, “That’s not a thing.”

“Well, it should be. I shouldn’t be held liable for what my magic does when I’m shit faced,” Sam huffed.

“You’re ridiculous.” I shook my head and straightened up. Maybe my current conundrum with Alex wasn’t so bad in the grand scheme of things. “Thanks for listening, but I think I’m gonna call it a night. Hopefully next time I’ll be in a better frame of mind.”

“Anytime.” Lucas smacked me on the back, not bothering to check his werewolf strength. I coughed out air in a big gust.

“Geez, man, what are you trying to do, kill the guy?” Sam asked.

“It’s cool, I’m fine. Trust me when I say that’s nothing. Caught me off guard is all.” I glanced between the two of them. “You sure y’all are okay if I bounce?”

Lucas shrugged. “To be honest, I have a paper I should be writing, but I didn’t want to miss a chance to hang. And someone has to make sure Sam doesn’t get us all banned from here.”

Sam stuck out his tongue and hopped free of his chair. It tilted alarmingly before coming to rest miraculously without falling over. Magic. That was the only word for it. “If you two are bailing, then I’m hitting up the witch bar.”

I glanced at Lucas, who shook his head. “Trust me, it’s better not to ask. You think he’s a handful? Imagine an entire bar filled with people three times as bad.” We waved to Sam as he headed deeper into town, then angled toward the university.

“I get the impression you’re not too keen on witches.”