“Really?” Gael quirked a brow. “Like what?”
“Well, you know how Mr. Frost, er, I guess Enchanter Frost now…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, Mr. Frosty, go on.”
“Okay, so you know how he helped me learn how to move my spikes.”
Gael nodded, noting how Gael would make a few larger spikes around his shoulders or calves to limit their placement. It’d even helped improve the damage to his wardrobe, keeping him from constantly having to replace or repair ripped clothes. But, of course, Gael’s mind didn’t fixate on the practical day-to-day uses this new skill had in Gael’s life. Nope. Gael’s one-track mind flitted with inappropriate perks.
“Bet that helps with all the make-out seshes.”
Gael blushed, making the spikes around his pale cheeks all the whiter by comparison.
Then, Gael—being the most obnoxious person in the world had to go on. “And the ass slamming too. Although I bet Kenzo would like a little spiky ass slapping. OhMyGod, does he ever slap your spiky butt? Or do you slap his with a full-blown spiky palm? Oh, don’t make a spiky palm, I just realized that could go terribly under solo circumstances, and…”
“Please stop talking,” Gael muttered, ignoring the rambles of his annoying friend.
“I’m just being supportive.” Gael grinned, batting his lashes playfully. “All kinks deserve appreciation.”
“You realize this is why Kenzo doesn’t like you.”
“Nice way to phrase hates,” Gael said, continuing his lewd gestures. “And like he needs a reason to hate anyone. If someone so much as breathes around him, they end up on his shitlist.”
“Aaaaaanywaaaaay, back to my new technique.” Gael covered his forearms in spikes and the top half of his face, bending them in such a way that it looked like a mask. The spikes were so thick in their coverage, they completely hid Gael’s pale skin.
“Whoa. The masked porcupine!”
Gael’s smile dropped away, and he blinked with a moody, flat expression.
“The spiky likey,” Gael continued as King Clucks bawked. “Yeah, yeah. The bone blender. The landshark. The giant—”
“Cierra la puta boca.”
Gael laughed. “We’re just teasing. It’s super cool, dude.”
Despite the giggles and the rooster’s weird wheezy laugh, Gael let it go and continued.
“Yeah, and Evergreen said if I keep working at it, eventually I’ll be able to make a full suit of armor just from my spikes.”
“Coooool.” Gael grabbed his meteor hammer. “Wanna test how durable your armor is?”
The spikes lining Gael’s face shrank a bit sheepishly. “Um, I’m gonna pass.”
“I promise to aim right for your face.” Gael started twirling his meteor hammer over his head. “I swear, I’ve gotten so good with this. I’m practically a pro.”
“Yeah, not gonna happen.”
“Come on, dude. My aim is perfect.” And just like that, Gael swung a little too low and clipped a few trays at a nearby table, throwing food everywhere. “Sorry!”
“Cl-cl-cluck.”
Yaritza, Jamius, and Melanie continued working under Enchanter Ortiz with a newfound respect for the man after he nearly died trying to face off against the Celestial Coven witch.However, they hadn’t seen any action even half as exciting—or terrifying—since then.
While they might not have been thrilled by the prospect, I was grateful. They’d faced a threatening foe, shone brilliantly, and lived to learn from the experience. I’d be happy if the rest of their internship focused on banishing fiends and handling paperwork.
Today was particularly boring for the group as they’d been dragged to some stuffy Kraken Guild ceremony. Lots of posturing and speeches meant to convince patrons to dig deep for their donations.
It took place on the rooftop of the guild, basking in the starlight above with a beautiful view of the city.
