Saving Yesterday (TimeShifters Book 1) by Jessica Keller, Jess Evander Page A

gold-plated plaque reading Donovan Anderson , which sounds appropriately doom-worthy. Peeking at me next are the twins, Clarissa and Mimi Walsh. Last hangs the cat lady—smiling bright—Beatrix Vaughn. A gaudy banner suspended above them reads: Thank you for your votes .
    Wait ... people chose these monkeys? My esteem for anything Keleusma goes down the proverbial drain.        
    I drop onto the bench with my back to the photos and take a bite of my eggs. Willing my throat to swallow, I reach for the pepper. One point for Team Eugene—the man knows his food.
    Darnell drops down beside me, steam curling off his raisin-sprinkled oatmeal. Healthy junk. How doctorish of him.
    He arranges his silverware and lays a napkin on his lap. “Enjoying your training?”
    I take a long swig of orange juice. “As long as horse racing and shooting arrows aren’t in my future, I’ll be fine.”
    “That good, huh?”
    Eugene fires a warning look at Darnell. “It’ll get better. I promise. Beginnings are always bumpy. Do you know what your plans are for the rest of the day?”
    I didn’t realize Lark was standing behind me, but her voice is unmistakable. “Sword fighting and bomb making.” She claims the other seat beside me. “Maybe some history too.”
    Great. Nothing like getting maimed today. Or dying.
    Michael must have been with her, because he rounds the table and sits next to Eugene. Nudging me with his foot under the table, he smiles good morning. “Pumpkin muffin. Smart girl.”
    I peel the wrapper off the muffin. “It was Eugene’s idea.”
    Eugene’s cheeks turn red, like I just paid him the highest compliment. He pulls a spiral memo pad from his back pocket and jots something down. I try to see what he’s writing, but his other hand blocks the paper. Then again, Michael did warn me Eugene was odd. I sink my teeth into the muffin. Odd or not, the resident computer whiz is completely trustworthy. Bad eggs. Delicious muffin. I guess that’s all it takes to win me over.
    “So.” I clear my throat. “Tell me everyone’s kidding about bomb making.”
    Lark does her bug-eyed thing again. “The bomb lessons are for real.”
    Pushing my eggs around on my plate, I look down. “I mean, how often can we really run into a time where we’ll have to use that skill?” One in a million ... billion would be better. Or never.
    Lark snaps her fingers, forcing my gaze back to her. “Do you want to get stuck in a situation where you have to disable a bomb in less than two minutes and not know how to do it? I’ve been there, multiple times. Unlike you, I knew how to handle it so I was fine.”
    I push the images from the Wall Street bombing out of my mind and point my fork at Darnell. “You said Nicholas won’t send me somewhere I can’t handle. I’m pretty sure another bomb meets that requirement.”
    He steeples his hands. “True. But you can handle a lot more than you think you’re capable of.”
    Darnell’s words lodge into my mind like a snow-cone-induced brain freeze. I shiver and push my tray away. I fight the urge to kick something. “I don’t ever want to touch a bomb. This isn’t fair. Nicholas isn’t fair. How can you guys sit here and talk about him like he’s wonderful when he puts Shifters in these horrible situations again and again?” I meet each of their eyes. “None of you has a choice about where you go or what you do. Doesn’t that make you angry?”
    Michael fiddles with his cup of coffee, swirling the liquid. “We always have a choice.”
    I shake my head. “But that’s just it! You don’t. He treats you like robots. Making you do whatever he wants.” My voice is rising.
    What’s wrong with them? Being out of control is never okay. My father constantly hands over control to his drinks—what does that get him? Nothing other than something to point at and blame, which for some is enough. But not me. 
    Lark rests her hand on my shoulder. “Maybe we don’t have a choice about