Feral Magic

him being a good liar. And she doubted that very much. Not based on his character, of course, but there were signs when someone lied. A tilt of the eyes, a shift in the body. He’d have to be a master of himself to lie to her. Though half-truths didn’t seem beyond him.
He’d eased back toward the middle of their group already, walking at a slow pace while talking to yet another of his followers. He did that every day. Started out by leading the line and then slowing down to speak to almost everyone as the day wore on. Vixin had counted forty-seven in total.
He glanced over his shoulder, eyes scanning until they finally landed on her. They always landed on her, like he was keeping track of her whereabouts, afraid she might disappear.
He talked and talked and talked. Smiling and laughing with the others. But when it came time to talk to her? Silence. She should enjoy that, really, but it irked her. Why could he be so merry with the others and then with her—nothing?
Zak glanced her way again and offered a grimaced smile when she met his gaze. A rush of annoyance flew through her and Vixin clenched her fists.
He hadn’t stopped by her spot on the outskirts of camp. He hadn’t invited her on their heists, though it didn’t stop her from going. And now, he wouldn’t even speak to her, yet somehow felt gawking time and time again was acceptable.
She’d had enough.
Vixin stalked toward him. She’d get to the bottom of this right now. Whether it was from her seemingly unpleasant company or the fire user’s almost death, Zak was going to tell her exactly what was on his mind.
Vixin grabbed his elbow while he was in mid-conversation and spun him around. “What’s your problem?”
Many turned to stare, but she didn’t bother looking their way. Zak just gave her a blank expression, blinking several times as if he didn’t understand. He nodded for the others to continue, but their backward glances told her enough about their inner thoughts.
“I’m not sure what you mean?”
Vixin waited for the nosey ones to be out of earshot and even glared at a few who lingered too close. “You keep looking at me.”
He cocked his head. “Is that a crime?”
“It is when you don’t speak to that person.” The way he looked at her now… Maybe he did want her gone. Vixin huffed. “If you want me to leave, then just say so.”
“What?” His eyes widened. “No, why would I want that?”
“Then what is it? If you have a problem with me, man up and—”
“Can’t a guy just admire a pretty girl?”
Vixin went still. The world shifted and everything she thought she’d been piecing together crumbled. She opened her mouth to speak, then clenched her jaw as an unfamiliar warmth filled her cheeks. Zak gave her a sheepish smile and her stomach flipped in response.
“Come on,” he held out his hand. Something he hadn’t done in days. “We still have a ways to go before we make camp.”
Vixin stared at his palm, then his smile, and finally stomped past him, still unable to form words. Zak chuckled behind her and her face heated again.
She picked up her pace, weaving in and out of the people as she made her way to the front. Away from Zak. She was running; she knew, but—pretty?
Had she ever used that word to describe herself? Had she ever had a reason to? Vixin suddenly became aware of how she must look. Hair in disarray, dirt caked over her face and clothes. And her clothes. Plain and tattered.
Functional, she reminded herself. They were functional and nothing else mattered. She had to survive, not worry about how she looked to others. Especially to some boy who thought he could lead his band of misfits to some kind of glory. She let out a breath. But that wasn’t Zak, he didn’t seek—Vixin shook her head. Enough.
She slowed her steps, took a breath, and shifted her attention back to the trees. Back to what she knew. Or tried to.
She’d never showed much interest in the opposite sex. Or the same sex for that matter and her father had never brought it up. She smirked at the thought. Perhaps her dad had been thankful for it. She could only imagine his attempt at the talk and how awkward that’d turn out to be.
At sixteen, she hadn’t given much thought to her future or who might be in it, but that was just it. She was only sixteen and didn’t have to. What was a relationship for anyway other than procreating? Her stomach tightened. She’d never be ready for that.
Pretty. Her face heated again and Vixin sighed. She’d always made fun of those stupid sappy love stories and the garbage they contained. Yet here she was, her heart fluttering at the simple thought of Zak’s smile.
He came up beside her like a wraith and she stiffened, suddenly aware of every movement. Her mouth went dry and Vixin swallowed, trying to calm her racing heart. She almost laughed to herself. She’d faced the wilds, animals and people alike. She’d learned to defend herself in the most hands-on way possible and yet here she was, a complete wreck because a boy had called her pretty.
“Something funny?” Zak asked.
Vixin shook her head and decided a switch in conversation was the best route. “You seem to know your way around the realms.”
“Like I said, we’ve been back and forth a few times. The first three, at least. I’ve seen the portal to the fourth realm, but we haven’t gone in yet.”
“Why not?”
Zak shrugged. “Why risk messing up a good thing? I know this area and the people in it. It’s an easy living.”
Vixin smirked. “Easy your thing?”
He cocked his head