2. H O L Y W A R : Peacekeepers

CHAPTER IX

The next day, MacKenzie seemed to be going out of her way to avoid both D'kala and Kia, despite their best efforts to speak with her. At lunchtime, they conferred with Addison, Sahara, Damian, Autumn, and the Big 5 about what had happened the night before.

"So she just clammed up?" Sahara asked, confused. "Like, she won't say anything?"

"Uh-uh." Kia shook her head. "And she's got every right to keep it to herself. 's far as we know—according to the cops, anyway—she escaped with her virginity and a few minor injuries. And Tom's in jail, so that should give her a little peace of mind."

"But she didn't even say 'thank you'?" Addison shook his head. "Talk about ungrateful."

"She's hurting, Addison," D'kala replied, inclining his head in MacKenzie's direction. "Hurting inside and out. Taking that into account, I'm willing to give her grace."

"That's very sweet of you, D'kala," Kayla stated with a smile. "I, for one, know I would be royally ticked off."

"You? No way, Kayla," Zill told her, grinning. "You're a peach."

Kayla patted Zill's arm. "On my bettah days, luv."

"How long d'you think Tom'll be away for?" Damian asked, his mouth filled with chicken. "5? 10? Hopefully 20?"

"Probably only a couple weeks before his mom bails him out," Addison grumbled. "That's our justice system for you."

"Don't despise it for its flaws, Addison," D'kala advised. "Instead, be grateful for the good it does."

"Everything's a lesson with you, isn't it?" Addison asked, squinting at D'kala.

D'kala shrugged in response.

"By the way," Autumn put in, holding up his fork, "I heard that a lot of you guys are going to Ruben's party tonight. Is that actually true?"

"Yup," everyone else at the table confirmed.

"It's a party, dude," Damian added. "Whaddya expect?"

"I expected you guys to be a little more mature than that," Autumn replied, frowning. "In case you haven't noticed, Ruben's not exactly the greatest guy. Going to his party is bad publicity."

"Oh, don't be a baby, Autumn."

Autumn stiffened as Camilla—who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere—threw her arm around his shoulders and leaned over next to him, almost choking him to death with her perfume. "It's gonna be a blast, cuz," she said with a smirk. "You should drop by."

"I'll pass, thanks," Autumn responded, gingerly removing Camilla's arm from his shoulders.

Camilla tossed her hair. "Whatever." She smiled alluringly at the others at the table and added, "Nice to hear that you're all coming, tho'. In case you didn't know, I'll be the main attraction, with a performance guaranteed to make you lose your virginity just by watching." She winked at D'kala, who met her gaze dead-eyed.

"I doubt that's ever happened before," D'kala said wryly.

"You've never seen me dance before," Camilla countered, her smile growing coy.

"You can dance with my fist if you like, sweetheart," Kia warned, narrowing her eyes. "DK's off-limits—or did you miss that last time?"

Camilla scoffed. "Please. No one's 'off-limits' for me. Not even this adorable little fuzzball." She mussed Addison's hair, startling the fox-boy.

Which was unfortunate for all parties present.