Evolutionary Magic by Christina Herlyn

Author:Christina Herlyn
Format: epub

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I stared at her scowl, mouth open just enough to show two fangs protruding below the upper lip. It was a black and white drawing with the blue skin implied. I vacillated between victory that my wanted posters existed and disgust at the artist’s rendition of my face.

“I do not have a uni-brow.”

Mac stood behind me. “Right you are, lass. That looks nothing like you, anymore.”

I glared at him. “Anymore?”

“Well, you might try smiling a little. You don’t see many glowering yoginis. They tend to be peaceful.”

I forced a wide smile.

Mac flinched. “Maybe without teeth; and your eyes glowed.”

The call to board our train sounded over the intercom, and I relaxed a little. We’d be out of Leavenworth soon. Just before we crossed the bridge into Kansas, Mac rolled my katana back inside the mat with the promise that I could pull it free much easier next time. There were no livestock cars on late trains so we’d stabled the horses with a friend of Mac’s. On the way, we’d passed at least a dozen soldiers. None of them had looked my way twice, but it only took one spark of recognition to bring my downfall.

We made our way to the boarding platform and joined the light, Friday night crowd. A few casually dressed people like Mac and I waited, though they were likely off for a weekend of fun. Most of the travelers were tired men and women who worked in Leavenworth all week, and now they headed home.

Soldiers patrolled, clad in the drab gray and black of the military. All young and strong, the soldiers’ bodies contributed to the tally of weapons they possessed. Below their caps, their sharp, observant eyes flashed as they moved on the perimeter of the boarding crowd. One soldier stood beside the conductor who studied tickets and directed passengers at the top of the steps.

“Damn.”

“You’ve no reason to be nervous. Just be normal,” Mac said with only one corner of his mouth moving. “Quit acting like it’s an issue, and it will no longer be an issue.”

I nodded, focusing on deep breaths and smiling without teeth. We mounted the steps, and Mac handed over our tickets. The conductor’s hand shook a little as the soldier peered over his shoulder. I watched the soldier through lowered lashes. He glanced at Mac then me before moving his attention further down the line.

I was two feet past him before he said, “Wait. She can’t go in first-class.”

Slowly I turned, squelching the desire to challenge him with a fist. He wasn’t looking at me.

I’d been so wrapped up in myself, I hadn’t noticed an Evolutionary teen with her parents in the line behind us. On the short side, with dark blonde hair and skin the color of blueberry milk, she stood half-hidden by her father. His eyes sparked, and he raised his chin. Her mother placed her hands on the girl’s shoulders.

“This is our last trip before she goes to The Academy.” Her father argued. “We paid for a first-class sleeper.

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