Things That Should Stay Buried - Casey L. Bond Page 0,57

quietly tuning their instruments, consisting of a violin, cello, and bass. I glanced from them to Kes, finally swallowing another gulp of water. The entire scene looked almost medieval.

“I thought the two of you might appreciate some music to dance to,” Aries explained before I could comment on the entertainment.

“Wait, are you…? You’re recreating our prom night?” I asked.

He nodded once, swilling the water in his glass. Aries watched Kes twirl his noodles on his fork, using his spoon to help keep them on the prongs, then tried to copy his movements. However, his claws made using utensils difficult.

I gave him a small smile. “I just cut mine up. It’s easier.” I held up a fork full of small, chopped noodles and raised it as if I was toasting him.

Aries looked sheepish for the first time since I’d known him. He may have fumbled with his fork, but he knew how to use a knife. He sawed through the creamy pile of noodles without issue, returning my toast with his own, a satisfied and thankful smile on his face.

“So, how did you all wake up?” Xavier asked conversationally.

“The Zodia were entombed until someone disturbed their resting place,” Kes offered vaguely, smoothing the conversation.

Aries tensed at the question. The atmosphere shifted from light to heavy again in an instant.

“Tell me about prom,” Aries abruptly changed the conversation, focusing on Xavier instead of allowing Xavier to continue asking him about himself and his kind.

Xavier swallowed a bite and then barked a laugh. “Prom is a rite of passage, I guess,” he started, taking a gulp of water. Dabbing his mouth with a cloth napkin, he smiled at me. “The guys wear suits. The girls look beautiful.” He gestured to me, making heat crawl up my neck. “Your parents always want to take a million pictures of you and your date – like it’s a wedding or something. You go to a nice dinner, then you go to the dance for a while. After is up to the couple.” He shrugged, giving me a smile.

“What does that mean?” Aries asked, looking from Kes to Xavier again.

Xavier shrugged, missing the dangerous glint in his host’s eye. “Some kids have parties at their houses afterward. Some go bowling. Some get hotel rooms…” His voice faded when he looked up and noticed Aries’s stony expression.

I put a hand on top of his clenched claw for a moment, then awkwardly pulled away. “We were going to a bonfire.”

Aries was tense, but tried gamely to keep the conversation flowing. “How many people attend prom?”

“At our school, there would be about three-fifty, give or take,” Xavier answered.

I sat back in my chair, too full to eat more, too worried that Xavier might say something stupid and Aries would tear his head off.

Just then, the musicians began to play a song, something classical and romantic. “The two of you should dance,” Aries announced, gesturing to the empty floor in front of the musicians.

“Uh, it’s just the two of us, so that would be weird,” I said. I am so not dancing. As sweet as it was for Aries to try and give us our prom night, this wasn’t prom. If he sifted through Kes’s memories, he’d know we didn’t exactly ballroom dance. He’d realize what bumping and grinding was, and I wasn’t sure Xavier would walk out of here unscathed.

“Come on,” Xavier coaxed, flashing a smile at me. “We might never get another chance.”

“Oh, I’m sure we won’t…” I said under my breath.

He stood up and walked around Kes. My eyes widened at my brother, begging him to intervene – to do something – but he didn’t. Xavier pulled my chair out, took my hand, and led me across the floor. He wrapped his hands around my waist, I put mine around his neck, and we proceeded to awkwardly sway to the beat.

Ugh. The whole thing was awkward.

And unfortunate.

I wanted to sit back down, but Kes was talking to Aries in urgent, hushed tones. It was a conversation I shouldn’t barge in on, even though I wanted desperately to know what they were talking about.

“Wanna put on a show?” he said, grinning widely.

“Depends,” I challenged. “Do you want to walk out of here with all your bones intact?” I smiled sweetly, tossing a glance at Aries and Kes.

“Actually, yes.” He laughed, but pulled me closer. “You look amazing,” Xavier said so just I could hear. Or so he thought. “Your hair is different.”

“Yes, it is,” I said, stiffening, suddenly feeling