Page 48 of Hunters and Prey

"His parents?" I asked, looking at Roxas. His face grew red before he glared at Alec. "She doesn't need to know that."

"From the guy who said, 'tell her everything'," West mocked.

"Roxas and Aaron went to his parents’ house and told his dad what happened. His parents are both ranked highly in the magic world and were able to meet your mom before she went to London alone. That was two days ago. They should be on the plane heading to London as we speak," Alec explained.

"You talk too much," Roxas mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "It was my parent's’ idea."

"I fully recall you essentially ordering them to go after Alice's mom because they had to protect her, or Alice would be sad and worried," Aaron pointed out.

I glanced back at Roxas, whose face was beet red. "No one was talking to you!" he snapped back.

"Just admit you're embarrassed. Jeez," Aaron argued.

"Here they go." Rome sighed, coming to sit next to me. "Want some of my ice cream, Alice?"

"Sure," I replied, already more intrigued by the frozen delight than by listening to those two go another round.

Once Rome and I finished his share of ice cream, Aaron and Roxas were fully going at it.

"Why are you acting like the leader of all of this anyway?" Aaron demanded.

"Because I was the leader then and I will be now," Roxas argued.

"You haven't even asked if we want you as a leader again," Aaron snapped.

"It shouldn't matter," Roxas fought back. "I remember ninety percent of my memories, while the rest of you don't yet. It's not like we can all wait until we pass twenty before facing whatever wants to end Alice before she awakens her powers."

"Someone wants to end me now?" I whispered to Rome and Alec.

"We're not sure. We know that people are going to be after you for your magic, but we don't know who they work for and all that," Rome admitted.

"See, the Council is supposed to help out with this, but we have to wait till you’re eighteen. You're only allowed to see the Council then," Alec explained.

"You guys are all eighteen?" I asked. I knew Aaron was because his birthday was in March. The three of them nodded.

"We're all eighteen but Roxas. He's turning twenty in July," West answered.

"July. Same month as mine," I mumbled.

"July 10th?" Alec asked.

"Ya. How'd you know?" I questioned.

"You guys share a birthday then," Rome revealed. I returned my attention to both of them, noticing they were still arguing.

"Aren't you guys afraid they're going to get into a fistfight?" I asked.

"Uh." Alec followed my gaze. "Sometimes you just have to let them fight it out."

"At least they aren't using magic.” West let out a sigh. "Last time they got into a fight, they almost caused a forest fire."

"I remember that. Weren't they both grounded and had to wear bands?" Rome clarified.

"Is that what this thing is?" I asked, lifting my wrist up. I hadn't said anything when I noticed it on my wrist, but I couldn't figure it out how to take it off in the washroom. Thankfully, it was waterproof. It appeared to be a simple silver bracelet inlaid with little symbolic charms. Each charm kind of reminded me of the ones that had appeared on my skin during the tornado mess.

My memories were still blotchy regarding what happened, but I did remember the highlighter part now.

"Yes. It's a bracelet that tones your magic level down. We tweaked it a bit so it wouldn't completely shut off your magic, because that can have negative effects on people," Rome explained.

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