“Yes, but she just doesn’t want to admit it yet,” James replied before Lily could answer.
“Whatever Wolf boy,” Lily grumbled as they followed the scents.
“That wasn’t a denial,” Tristen said when Lily didn’t say more and James burst out laughing.
“Keep talking kid and I’ll send you to your room,” Lily threatened her.
Tristen giggled, then made a mime of zipping her lips closed as they walked. They followed the scents through the woods and suddenly the scents disappeared. “This happened last time,” James said sniffing the air.
“What did?” Tristen asked.
James explained the scent blocker that Xavier used. “That stuff is super sticky though and they have to practically bathe you in it for it to work. There would have to be some kind of residue right?” Lily said as she looked over the place.
“It could have been but with the snow it may be covered or dissolved,” James replied with a huff.
“That sounds like it would take a long time. Maybe they changed it,” Tristen suggested.
Lily sighed as she looked around. “That’s what I’m afraid of,” she admitted then looked to James. “Think you can break through it.”
“Maybe but it’s getting late and she should get back,” James said looking at Tristen.
Lily could see some irritation cross the girl’s face. She seemed to be enjoying their little hunt or at least being out. “You search, I’ll take her back okay.”
James nodded, turning his back to them and his attention to the task.
“Alright, let’s go Tris,” Lily said.
Tristen sighed with her own nod and followed Lily back. “I know it’s tough,” Lily said as they walked. “Being reminded how weak you are compared to everyone else around you.”
“Yeah it does,” Tristen said. “Zander’s the worst though. It seems like his mission is to make me feel like some bottom feeder.”
“He’s been bothering you?” Lily asked, feeling her anger start to warm up.
“Yes and no. It’s not like he’s searching me out to push me into the locker type of thing but every time he sees me, it’s like has to prove how pathetic I am. It’s just annoying.”
“Well then we’ll just have to show that little punk how wrong he is,” Lily offered, grinning down at her.
“Oh that sounds like fun,” Tristen said, looking eager.
“Oh it will be. Trust me, if there is one thing I know, it’s how to get payback,” Lily said then laughed maniacally.
When James finished searching for scents he had a raging headache and not much to show for his effort. He’d managed to pick up traces but they just lead him to a small side road. It looked like they got in a car and there’d be no way he could track them. When he returned to the hotel room, Donovan came up to him.
“Find anything?” The fairy asked, his typical half smirk on his face.
It was one that made James want to smack right off of his face. “Not really,” he admitted, despite the urge to be a pain in Donovan’s ass. “It looks like they got in a car, but I’m hoping Nick or his brother can maybe pinpoint possible places they can be holed up in.”
“Sounds good,” Donovan said then his smirk grew and James knew what the fairy was going to say next he wasn’t going to like. “Now about Lily,” he started.
“What about her,” James asked, glaring at him suspiciously.
“You need to step it up, man. She is getting downright bitchy,” Donovan said. “You definitely aren’t banging her good enough if she’s that grumpy.” His smirk was now full of cocky arrogance as he added, “If you need help. I don’t mind taking her for a ride.”
“The hell you will! Get that damn idea out of your head right now,” James snarled at him.