Wicked As You Wish (A Hundred Names for Magic #1) - Rin Chupeco Page 0,32
their word to stay out of sight and inconvenience her like this.
The mood was hovering on ecstatic, passed on from reveler to reveler like a plague. The Elsmore Tigers had seized the day, winning 102–98 over the Wolves, and everyone was determined to party hard, get drunk, and pass out, likely not in that order.
Zoe had handed over her cell phone number before she’d disappeared, with stern instructions to call should any fresh trouble arise. On her own and friendless, Tala had resorted to climbing up one of the larger rocks overlooking the area, giving her a great view of the desert and also of the bonfire.
The crowds were substantial this year, in no small part because of the win. Magic seared through the cool air, petering as it breezed past her, only to gain steam again once safely out of her range. Spells glittered over hovering cell phones as people posed for group shots, trying to snap a few pictures quickly before the Invierno curse overwhelmed the charm and sent their phones tumbling to the ground.
No sign of her parents. No sign of Zoe. No sign of Alex. Tala tried calling them all, only to have an automated voice inform her that their cell phones were out of the current coverage area, and could she perhaps try again later? Every person she’d asked to borrow phones from had the same problem. It was a common enough issue when out here, but it was still maddening all the same.
No sign of Ryker either. But she shouldn’t be thinking about that.
Someone was distributing cups of wine coolers. She accepted one mechanically and made a face—the stink of the anti-hangover spells mixed in was stronger to her than the smell of alcohol—and set the untouched drink on the ground beside her.
“Hey, Tala?”
She looked down from her rock perch. Lynn Hughes was staring up at her, smiling nervously. “I was wondering…” She shifted from foot to foot, nervous. “I was wondering if, you know, you’d seen Alex anywhere?”
“Sorry. I really don’t know where he is.”
“He wasn’t in school. He’s not sick, is he?”
“He’s not. He was really looking forward to today’s bonfire, though. I’m pretty sure he’s wandering around here somewhere.”
The girl perked up. “Maybe you’re right. Thanks!”
“Poor girl,” Tala muttered, watching her leave.
“This seat taken?”
She froze again, not sure her heart could take any more shocks. Truthfully, Ryker Cadfael was the last thing on her mind given everything going on, but now that he’d reentered her thoughts, she was starting to forget everything else. He was already climbing up the boulder to her with the relative ease and sleekness of a mountain jaguar (or puma or panther, whatever, she was terrible at compliments), as precise with his movements here as he’d been shooting hoops. A few boys clapped him on the shoulder as he made the ascent, shouting their congratulations, but Ryker only had eyes for her. A thrill shot up her spine, not an unpleasant sensation.
“Want me to get you a drink?”
“A drink?” she echoed, then shook her head quickly. “Oh. No. No, thank you. I’m not thirsty.”
“Okay, then.” He slid beside her, grinned. “You looked distracted for a sec there.”
“Oh. I was wondering where my parents were.”
Ryker looked startled. “Your parents are here?”
Silently, Tala cursed herself. Way to look cool. “Yeah. Just for a few minutes. They like bonfires. My mom’s even been to Burning Man.”
“I think that’s great. Some parents aren’t around enough for their kids.” For a brief moment, Ryker looked sad, and Tala felt bad for even introducing the subject. Most likely his property-developer dad was too busy for him. “So. Didn’t see you at the stands during the game.”
Tala tried hard not to sound guilty. “Sorry. I was looking for Alex.” The words were out of her mouth before she realized again that she shouldn’t have mentioned that—not because it was supposed to be a secret, but because he might get the wrong idea. She was right; Ryker looked a little hurt, a little unsure of himself, which was a strange thing to see on someone who’d probably never made an unpopular decision in his life.
“You and Smith… Are you guys friends, or…y’know, if you have a history… I’m not angry, of course, but I would just rather know if you two had any—”
“No!” That came out too strong, too panicked. She forced herself to repeat it again, in a stronger, calmer voice than what she actually felt. “No. Alex is kind of my best friend.