Page 28 of Wolves & Watercolors
“Can we pick team names?” Onyx hollers.
Hazel’s look is so derisive I almost cringe, but Onyx just grins at her. She rolls her eyes before answering. “Sure, pick a team name.”
Onyx’s eyes light up, and I turn to see Cedar shaking his head.
Grasping my hands together, I bat my eyelashes at him and pout my lip. “Will you be on my team?”
He stares at me, mouth slightly open.
“Well, will you?”
He coughs. “Yeah, of course. Anything you want.” The words tumble over themselves.
“Cool.” I feel the blush climbing up my neck. Making him flustered was accidental, but greatly enjoyable. “Who else do you think we can get on our team?”
“Onyx and Ember.” He states it like a fact, no hesitation or second thoughts. When I raise an eyebrow at him, he shrugs. “Twin thing.”
“Twin thing,” I repeat to myself with a small laugh. People used to think Hazel and I were twins, but we were never that in sync. I’m interested to see Cedar and Onyx in action together. They’re noticeably different yet matched like a set.
Without being summoned, Onyx tugs Ember behind him as they circle around the counter and join us in the kitchen. Twin thing indeed. “So what’s our team name going to be?”
Ember rolls her eyes behind his back, her smile fond.
“Do weneeda team name?” Cedar asks.
“You heard Hazel! How about the Super-powered Siblings?”
“Only two of us are siblings,” I point out, propping a hand on my fist.
Onyx tilts his head. “Well, you are Hazel’s sibling. And Ember is Slate’s sibling. And we are, obviously.” His eyes are darker than Cedar’s. Like a night sky instead of a rainy day.
“Fine, whatever.” I raise my hands in surrender. “Why don't you go get our first clue?”
He practically bounds away, and I survey his girlfriend. Ember exudes confidence. She’s likely the shortest person here, aside from the baby on Cassia’s hip, but she holds herself like a queen. A queen with vivid pink hair.
“Nice to finally meet you,” she says. “Onyx said you’ve been hanging out with Cedar?”
“Um, not hanging out. Well, yeah, I guess so, actually.” Now I’m the flustered one. Ember’s eyes jump to Cedar’s face above my shoulder. “We went hiking. I’m an artist and I wanted to paint some cool scenery. He was nice enough to take me to this gorgeous overlook.”
“He is very nice, isn’t he?” she says with an enigmatic smile. “He’s done a lot for me and Onyx. Helped me out of some tight spots.”
“You’ll have to tell me more sometime, but right now we have a scavenger hunt to win. I’m dying to know the baby name!”
“Agreed.” The glint in her eyes tells me she’s just as competitive as I am.
Onyx throws his arm over her chest and tugs her against him while he holds up the first clue.
“What took so long?” Ember asks, tipping her chin up to peer at him.
“The other two teams couldn’t decide on appropriate names. I had to help them out.”
“Of course you did,” she replies.
“Well, let’s hear the clue!” I say, my eagerness getting the better of me.
Ember plucks the card from Onyx’s hand and flicks it open. “Where milk turns to treat, your next riddle you’ll meet.”
“Would it mean the diner?” Onyx asks.
