Page 7

Morning light streams through the open windows around my circular room, and I grumble my displeasure, burying my face further into Axel’s cool neck to block the cheerfulness of the day.

A chuckle greets my ears from behind, but the only reply I can give is flipping him the bird. Luka’s way too fucking happy for how early it feels.

Chilled fingers trace a path up and down my spine, relaxing the hard set of my shoulders that I didn’t even realize I had. It makes me wonder if I was at ease at any point during the night, or if I carried the tension from the gala throughout my entire slumber.

“Not ready to start the day, cor meum ?” Axel murmurs, pressing kisses to the top of my head.

My head barely moves as I shake it, giving him all the answer he needs.

The bed shifts behind me, but I still refuse to get up, even as the door to the bathroom closes. Axel makes no move to leave, content with holding me in his arms while I try to get myself together to face whatever fresh hell is waiting for me.

And fresh hell I know it’ll be. My babysitters arrive today, two unknowns in a world that hates me. Will they feel the same? Are they going to throw nothing but animosity my way while my back is turned? Will they allow those who wish to harm me to hurt me?

So many questions roll around in my head, but no answers. Because even if I ask, I highly doubt I’ll even get the truth from them.

There’s also my crumbling friendship with Marion to worry about. Thaddeus’ new relationship status because of what I am. And let’s not forget, the fucking lying ass rock bird.

My magic flares at the thought of Headmaster Stonewell, but I tamp it down. All I have to do is avoid him and he’ll be one less of the worries hanging over my head.

The bathroom door opens, and soft footfalls greet my ears before the bed shifts once again. Lips press against my shoulder, and I let out a contented hum. I could get used to waking up between these two, without all the drama being the reason it happens.

“Come on, goddess. There’s a conversation that needs to be had, but before that, we need breakfast and coffee.”

“Coffee?” I mumble, perking up a bit at the thought of Mr. Tall, Dark, and Steamy. It feels like it’s been ages since I had a cup of frothy deliciousness, even though I just had some yesterday.

My mates chuckle, knowing they have me pegged. I’ll always get up for coffee.

I attempt to scramble off the bed, but my foot snags the damn sheet, halting my escape. My elbow plows into Axel’s stomach, his oomph one of pain as the breath wheezes out of his lungs. Luka stifles his laughter as he helps untangle me from the fabric shackle, and the moment I’m free, I dart toward the bathroom, slamming the door closed behind me.

A squeak of dismay expels from my lips when my eyes find my reflection in the mirror. I’m a gods-damned mess. And that’s really saying something since I’m practically a mess every morning I get up.

My hair resembles that of a rat’s nest, and dark circles linger under my pink eyes, drawing attention to the lack of rest I obtained during the night. Dryness coats my lips, and I’m pretty damn sure I’m rocking dragon breath this morning too.

Gross.

Before tackling my hot mess self, I do my business and wash my hands, immediately moving on to brushing my teeth and gargling some minty mouthwash. A quick huff in my hand and a sniff tells me I’ve at least avoided one disaster this morning.

Tangles snag in my brush as I wrench it through my hair, but the slight sting of pain seems to center my focus on the task at hand instead of all the bullshit that could be clogging my thoughts. When it’s relatively tangle-free, I quickly plait my hair in twin braids, one on each side of my head. Today just seems to scream a pigtail braid kind of day.

Okay. Not really. But anything to prolong the hard truths coming my way.

I briefly debate throwing on some concealer under my eyes to cover my lack of rest, but what’s the point? These are my mates. We’re bound together forever, and it won’t be the last time they see me like this.

I can guaran-fucking-tee that.

The bedroom is devoid of my men as I leave the bathroom and head straight for the closet. The familiar blacks and grays greet my eyes as I debate what to wear today. Comfortable. That’s a given. It’ll be a cold day in Hell before I dress up again like I did last night.

I grit my teeth as I try to shift my thoughts away from the gala for the time being. We’ll be discussing that more than enough today. I don’t need these few precious moments to be clouded with horrid memories of the fact that I almost died last night.

The hangers clack together as my fingers dance over the few options I have to wear for the day. But oh… what’s this?

Tucked away in the back, a black as night hoodie hangs, one that seems far larger than the ones I normally wear. It slides off the hanger with ease, and pulling it to my nose, the heavenly scent of fresh rain invades my senses. Luka. This must be his. But when the heck did he slip it into my belongings? Not that I’m going to complain.

A laugh bursts from my lips when I catch sight of what’s written on the front. Look, I didn’t want to be a halfblood is written across the chest in big white block letters. If his smell didn’t give it away, the phrase definitely would have. It just screams demi-god.

I’m still chuckling as I grab a pair of black joggers, a gray sports bra, and matching gray boyshort panties. It all goes right back to being comfortable or at least giving the illusion of comfort when I’m anything but.

Once my underthings and joggers are on, I slip the hoodie over my head, releasing a dreamy sigh at being surrounded by my demi-god mate. Being wrapped in his clothes is a million times better than any random large hoodie I’ve bought in the past.

My thoughts briefly flit to wondering if Axel has any he can supplement my wardrobe with, but I flick the idea away. For now. Can’t be too demanding, right? Plus, I love how this one being in my closet was a surprise. It definitely raised my mood for the day.

Fresh roasted coffee assaults my nose, making me practically float out of my bedroom toward the cup I know is waiting for me. My pink painted toes—thanks Marion—are soundless on the floor as I drift into the living area.

Three steaming coffee cups rest upon the coffee table in front of my couch, surrounded by overflowing plates of breakfast food. Bacon. Eggs. Sausage. Hash browns. All the good shit. And oh… I grimace as I spy Faeberry muffins also in the mix. It wasn’t that long ago that Thaddeus introduced me to those. Now they just remind me of how badly I fucked up his relationship with Miss Izzicle.

I shake my head. That’s also something to deal with at a later date. Plus, I need to have a conversation with the headmaster, no matter how badly I’d love to punch him in his stone face instead.

My guys are already sitting on the couch waiting for me, looking just as comfortable as me in almost identical clothes to what I picked out for the day. Luka’s blue orbs light up and lust flashes in his eyes while he takes me in from head to toe, lingering on the hoodie I’m wearing. He bites his bottom lip, but the clearing of a throat knocks him from his perusal.

His cheeks pinken, but he smirks unapologetically in Axel’s direction.

My vampire, though? I think it’s the first time I’ve seen him truly in relaxation mode. Normally suits encase his lithe body, but the gray sweatpants he’s sporting at the moment really do something for me.

A matching gray hoodie hides the rest of his glorious body from me, but my thoughts are purely on the hoodie. Poor vampire has no clue that he’ll be leaving without it when he goes home.

That stops me in my tracks. Home. The guys are going to leave at some point, getting back to their day-to-day lives while I go to classes. I hate the idea of being apart from them, more so now than before. I’m now an enemy and I’ll only have strangers at my back to protect me.

Fuck. I tug at my braids, shifting from foot to foot, while the okayish emotions I had earlier take a freaking nosedive.

I can’t even ask the guys if we can all get a place together since it’s now mandated that I stay here while I learn and wait for my fate at the end of my schooling. And I doubt Headmaster Stonewell will be very accommodating in allowing the guys to stay here full time. If they want to, that is.

“Put those thoughts away for now, goddess.” My eyes find Luka’s understanding ones, and I blow out a breath, knowing he’s right. There’s no use dwelling on something that hasn’t happened yet. But it’s going to take a bit to work my way back into my okayish mindset. Something that breakfast and coffee can totally help with.

Axel shoots a sympathetic smile in my direction while patting the empty spot between him and Luka. The second my butt hits the cushion, my sweet vampire places a steaming mug of coffee in my hands, made just the way I like it.

Swoon.

A little hum of satisfaction slips free as I sip the concocted brew, relishing in the little zip of happiness the drink alone can infuse in my veins.

Without a word needed, the guys start to pile a plate for me with a little bit of everything laid out before us. Luka makes a grab for a Faeberry muffin, but the noise of distress that breaks out unbidden halts him before his fingers can brush the delicious pastry. He raises a brow, but I shake my head, averting my eyes from that one Faerie delicacy Thaddeus introduced me to.

Once the guys are content that there’s enough food on my plate—more like enough to feed an army—Luka sets it on my lap, and they proceed to fill up their own. Then no words are spoken as the three of us dig in.

* * *

The dishes have long since been cleared, and now, tension so thick you could cut it with a knife, rests in the air. Axel, Luka, and I are still in the same places as when we ate, but instead of a plate on my lap, my hands wring in nervousness.

Many questions rest on the tip of my tongue, but there’s one that needs to be answered before I ask anything else.

“What happened twenty years ago?”

Axel sucks in a sharp breath as I basically go for the jugular of the biggest issue. The comments made by the head councilman allude to something happening between curiomancers and his son, but not once did anyone elaborate.

“Do you want the short version or the entire story?” Axel asks, leaning forward and bracing his elbows on his knees. His hands scrub across his face and up into his hair, leaving his blond strands in disarray.

While the entire story would be nice, the short version will have to do for now since there are many other points we need to hit before our uninvited guests show up. Whenever that may be.

“Short.”

Luka grimaces, but it’s Axel that answers. “While there was never any concrete proof, it’s said that the head councilman came home one night and a female curiomancer covered in blood was running out of the house right as he opened the door. When he went inside, he called for his son, but he never answered. He found him upstairs, naked in his bed, with blood pouring from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. He was already dead by the time he entered his son’s room.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” I wave my hands. “So, because she ran out, our entire kind got blamed? Why not just her? Hell, what if she was there when it happened, but she was innocent?” I jump to my feet and start pacing back and forth in front of the couch. Something Dirk yelled last night tickles my brain, and I snap my fingers, pointing at Axel. “That’s why he said we could kill with a single thought. Because that’s what he thinks happened?”

Luka stretches an arm across the back of the couch, crossing his ankle over his knee. “That’s why he said that. He condemned an entire race for something he had no hard evidence of. But when the head councilman announced that his son was murdered by the hands of a curiomancer, no one thought twice to ask for evidence as Christian’s death sent ripples through the supernatural community. Mainly because he was being groomed as the next head councilman.”

Popping my hands on my hips, I tip my head back in exasperation. “Well, that’s a whole lot of what the fuck to unpack. And it is definitely not in my wheelhouse to try and tear it apart right now. But we’re coming back to that at some point, because there’s so many things wrong in that scenario.”

So many freaking things wrong. There’s a very good chance she could’ve been innocent, but not once did anyone do their due diligence to find out the truth. Or maybe that’s my twenty-one years as a human talking. Because you didn’t condemn anyone to death unless it was proven they were guilty.

My eyes widen and I shoot a panicked look at the guys as knuckles rap way too damn early on the door to my dorm. I hurry back to the couch, pulling my knees to my chest, not making a move to open it. I’m not ready for them to be here yet.

Luka huffs a laugh and moves to open the door, while Axel shifts closer to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me as close as humanly possible to him without outright sitting me on his lap.

My demi-god mate adopts a stoic expression, puffing his chest up, before latching onto the knob and throwing it open. Thunder rumbles through my room, ready to cause havoc on the unsuspecting babysitters, but it quickly dies out instead of powering up further.

Luka glances at me over his shoulder and steps back from the door, giving me an unencumbered view of the winter fae standing in the hall with a look of wariness etched on his blue features. Instinctively, I recoil seeing the man whose relationship I ruined. I wasn’t ready for my guards, but that doubly goes for Thaddeus. I still haven’t figured out what I want to say to him, nor have I gotten the chance to talk to Headmaster Stonewell about getting Miss Izzicle back here.

A smile that doesn’t reach his eyes tilts on Thaddeus’ lips, and he enters my room with slow steps, almost seemingly unsure if he’s welcome to be here. “Hey, sunshine.”

“Hey, Thaddy—us.” I trip over using the rest of his name, my nerves on full display for the three men sucking all the oxygen out of the room.

The blue fae grimaces, catching my blunder, but he carries on into the room, not calling attention to my use of his full name.

“Am I interrupting?”

“No.” Axel holds me a little tighter. “We just went over what caused the extinction of the curiomancers, but there’s still more to discuss if you want to join us.”

Thaddeus looks to me at his words for whatever reason, but I avoid his stare like the plague. There’s no doubt that my emotions are written all over my face, and he doesn’t need to know what my feelings are. Not right now anyways.

“So next question, cor meum .”

That’s easy. “What happened to you last night, Axel? Before the fight with Titus.” His ruby red orbs drill into the side of my head, something like resignation streaking across his face.

“Do you remember Albany?” I shake my head and grit my teeth at the unfamiliar female’s name coming from his lips. “My secretary. Or should I say, my ex-secretary.” My nostrils flare in recognition, and I could swear I hear my back teeth crack for how hard I’m clenching them. “That’s who caused the entire disaster last night.”

I suck in a sharp breath, and lightning bolts across the ceiling. A slow crawling frost emanates from beneath Thaddeus’ feet where he’s rooted to the spot. Anger is a collective emotion the three of us are feeling right now.

As much as it hurts my heart, I shift over on the couch, putting a little bit of distance between us. It’s not his fault. Not at all. But my nerves and my magic are starting to fray again, and I’d hate to unintentionally hurt him.

Hurt tightens my vampire’s eyes, but he continues regardless.

“Somehow she found what you are and what significance the snowflake necklace around your neck held.” I reach up to caress said snowflake, but my fingers grab nothing but air, only reminding me further that my necklace is gone. Axel watches the movement with a pinched expression before swearing. “Fuck. She had it in her hand and I didn’t even think of grabbing it before getting back to you. I’m so sorry, cor meum .” Axel’s eyes scream his sorrow as he reaches out to me, but then he drops his hand, thinking better of touching me right now.

Luka’s knuckles audibly pop as he cracks them. “And where is this bitch now? I’ll get the necklace back.”

“Dead.” That single word goes off like a gunshot, every single one of us flinching at the intensity of which he speaks of her demise.

Thaddeus works his jaw and then opens his mouth, but instead of words, a heavy pounding on my door makes me jump almost out of my damn skin.

Saved by the bell… or well knock. As it stands, I don’t know if I’m ready to hear what Thaddeus has to say yet. And I’m sure as hell not ready to hear him say it wasn’t my fault. That’s the selfless kind of fae he is, letting people get away with almost murder. Bad choice of words after him banishing Miss Izzicle last night for well… almost murder. My murder. So, I’ll choose the lesser of two evils right now, because there’s only one asshole I know of that would have the stone balls to beat on my door like that.