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Simon bursts out laughing. “Shit, I’m sorry! I’ll stop teasing you. You should see your face right now.”

I cover my face with my hands, groaning, which only makes Simon laugh even harder. I wait until his laughter dies down to ask. “What was that doctor talking about, by the way? Something about a bonfire?”

“Oh, yeah!” Simon says excitedly. “I heard some of the other freshmen talking about it. Apparently, there’s like a welcome party by the river with a huge bonfire and drinks.” He holds up his little paper bag. “Not that I’ll be indulging.”

“Oh,” I say, tucking my hands into my pockets. “That sounds fun.”

“We should go together! I’m sure your sister will want to come too.”

“Don’t you think we’re too old for that?” I ask with a wince.

Simon tilts his head to the side like an over-excited puppy. “What do you mean, Thane?”

I give a helpless shrug. “You know,” I say, pulling a hand out of my pocket to wave at myself. “I’m thirty. School events seem more like people who’re coming to college right out of high school. Seems more age appropriate or whatever.”

“Oh, fuck off,” Simon says. When I look over at him, I find him grinning. “So you’re starting college later than some of your classmates. So what? I still think you should come. We’ll meet new people, hit on some hotties, and you’ll drink the beer I’m not allowed to drink! It’ll be perfect.”

When I don’t look convinced, Simon continues talking. I’m realizing he does this a lot. If I don’t stop him, he’ll just keep talking to fill the silence.

“I lived in this tiny ass town in northern Wisconsin before coming here. When the weather was nice, we’d all pile into each other’s trucks and make our way to an abandoned field where we'd drink beer and sit around a giant ass fire until the sheriff would drive out and tell us to get our asses back home. I remember one time I got drunk, tried to pee behind someone’s car, and sat on the ground without pulling up my pants. I’m pretty sure one of my buddies still has that video on their phone,” he says softly before focusing on me again. “This is more than just a bonfire to welcome us to school, Thane! It’s going to help me not feel homesick. You wouldn’t want me feeling homesick, would you?”

I let out a long sigh. He talks way too much, gets himself into trouble, and apparently isn’t above giving me giant puppy eyes to get his way. I think Simon is just the type of roommate I needed.

“Fine,” I finally say. “I’ll go to the bonfire with you.”

“Hell yeah,” he says, pumping his arm in the air and jostling his wing. “Fuck. Shit. Balls.”

Apparently the anesthetic the doctor used on his wing joint is finally wearing off. “Come on, Simon. Let’s get you back to our room so you can rest.”

Simon gives me a soft smile and follows me up the stairs to our dorm.

Chapter Three

Maverick

I have no idea what I’m actually doing here. Spending time around campus means I overhear what’s going on. I know there’s a big bonfire happening down by the river. I know there will be fire and booze, a bad combination if you ask me.

This isn’t really a school-approved event but that doesn’t stop me from showing up. I’m not here to break anything up. Rather, I just want to be here just in case. Nothing wrong with being prepared. Nothing wrong with keeping an eye on the kids.

Gods, I sound fucking old.

My hand tightens around the strap of my bag which sits against my hip. I’ve double checked my burn supplies. Just in case.

It’s always better to be prepared and not need something than to need something and not have it. My bag is full of everything I might need if there’s a disaster tonight. Not that I think anything will happen, it’s just that I know young adults who’re getting their hands on alcohol and freedom for the first time aren’t always the best at one, pacing themselves, and two, making wise decisions.

I don’t fault them, but fuck, sometimes it would be nice if these college kids would use their brains. No, don’t put your hands in the fire. No, don’t drink until you throw up. No, don’t mix drugs with your alcohol. No, don’t get wasted and then try to wade in the river when you’re a creature who can’t breathe underwater.

I zip up my coat and stay near the treeline, watching as people arrive. Most of them head over to the table set to the side filled with drinks before they start to mingle with each other. There’s already a group in the water, splashing and horsing around.

Leaning my back against a tree, I survey the party, keeping an eye out for anything I might need to step in and take care of. To my right, some kid wanders into the woods. I swear there are moths trailing behind him. He has a look on his face that would rival my own grumpy demeanor. I’m old, I wonder what his excuse is.

There’s a ping pong table set up, a group of guys playing together. As I watch them, there seems to be some wild amounts of tension between the one with bright teal hair and the beefy human with him. I wonder what their story is.

I watch as a fire elemental takes another shot before wandering towards the fire.

Right. I think that’s probably my signal to intervene.

“Hey, buddy,” I say softly, stepping in front of the guy before he can plunge his hand into the bonfire. It’s hot against my back. “Let’s take a step back, yeah?”