Page 68

Delores

If I thought the fall semester was exhausting, it did not prepare me for spring at all. If we thought our teachers were in a frenzy during the winter exams, the new semester is a flurry of time-consuming assignments. Finishing everything requires so much energy, I’m barely able to keep my eyes open.

I swear, they’re trying to keep students studying behind closed doors twenty-four-seven.

I don’t have a frame of reference, but Cori and Rufus are equally worn out. I spend most weeknights with them, buried in books, while munching on takeout and guzzling caffeine like addicts to stay awake.The theme of our dinner break tonight is all about venting our frustrations about being chained to our rooms like house-elves.

“What’s the point of having five fucking boyfriends if I’m not able to, you know, do shit with them regularly?” I grumble, as I dip a crab Rangoon in sauce.

Rufus snorts, smacking his thigh. “Oh, Coco, our girl is growing up! She’s complaining about not getting laid enough! ”

The polar bear chortles in response, grabbing the container of vegetable lo mein. “Never mind that we’re not getting any, either. I barely had time to chat with a hot chica in the library before having to bail with the book I was looking for.”

“Oh, shit, Cori. Don’t get caught making out with someone there or I’ll never hear the end,” I groan. “The big guy hates people defiling his library.”

“Except you, right, Dollypop?” Rufus gives me a smirk as he picks a meat skewer clean suggestively.

I shake my head, eyes wide. “Even me. No hanky-panky in the library proper is a rule.”

“Uh-huh. And what kind of hanky-panky is going on outside the library proper?” Cori snatches the crab from me with a knowing look.

My face flushes. “Not much. I mean, I’ve had sex with Fitz, Chess, and Rennie. The other two are still more hands-off than I’d like. I guess it takes time, but sometimes I wonder...”

My sex life is taking a massive hit from this academy lockdown.

“Girl, I applaud your demand for more dick. Too much is never enough.” I shoot Rufus a look and he shrugs.

“Maybe it’s the boredom talking. We’re all locked up like handmaidens, and you have at least three guys on active duty, so I have to live vicariously.”

“Rufus, you’ve run through five guys since Valentine’s Day. You are not hurting,” Cori chides. “I, however, am amid an epic dry spell.”

I give her a sympathetic smile. Cori is always sassy sunshine, but she’s obviously struggling to find someone to connect with this year. My spunky friend doesn’t go into detail about her disappointment, but I wish I could find her someone to share the enormous amount of love she has to give. Unfortunately, I’m a walking disaster, and until I get all of my issues sorted, I feel like I’d be more of a hindrance than a help.

“Coco, we need to get out of this stuffy burg. We’re far too fabulous for these plebs. Maybe we can see about the Apex exchange program?” Rufus says, yawning broadly. “That is, if we survive these fucking exams.”

“Agreed. We need to get through this shit so we can graduate, and then the world is our oyster.” I rise, walking over to the coffeemaker to make another giant tumbler. I won’t be able to stay awake if I don’t consume more caffeine.

“Make me one, too, Dolly,” Cori sighs, as she opens a thick textbook and settles against her bean bag.

We’re in for a long night.

The morning of my first exam, I stretch my limbs and rub my hand over my face and shift uncomfortably.

When the nurses helped with my birth control, they also gave me the lowdown on how to take care of my various ‘sex marks’. Bettina gave me some lotion called arnica to use, which made all of them titter like young girls. I might have to put some on my muscles today despite my pointed lack of hanky panky lately.

Paired with the grit in my eyes and the ache in my bones from days of hunching over laptops and books, my entire body is killing me.

That’s not counting the hours of dance and vocal rehearsals…

“Okay, Dolly. You have four more days of this and then it’s Spring Break. All you have to do is make it through four more days. ”

It sounds easy when I say it out loud, but I have no idea how I’m going to survive it.

Stumbling to my closet, I decide I don’t give a fuck about the Apex dress code today. If some asswipe wants to give me demerits, more power to them—I’m wearing the PJ pants I stole from Rennie, Chess’s worn tee shirt, and Fitz’s hoodie.

And my goddamn bunny slippers. Fuck ‘em if they can’t take a joke.

I grin to myself as I toss my hair into two messy pigtails, grabbing my bag to head for Shifter Basics. Felix won’t give a shit if I look like a trash panda, and Zhenga has been less acidic since the guys dropped by class that one time.

It almost feels like she’s on my side. How weird is that?

My phone buzzes, and I realize my ‘escort’ has arrived. I jog down the steps to the front of the Tower, sliding my sunglasses on as I walk up to the impatient looking dragon.

“Here,” Aubrey grunts, as he hands me a travel mug that smells like caffeinated heaven. His eyes slide over my attire and he quirks a brow. “That’s not your uniform.”

I snort, taking the tumbler and sipping it greedily. “I have no fucks left to give. I’m so tired.”

His hands clench at his sides as I groan at the delicious drink. “Rennie’s rebelliousness is rubbing off on you—I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or not.”

“Don’t be a grumpy old man! Being rebellious is fun.” I tilt my head for a moment, studying his expression before I get a brilliant idea. “Give me one of your shirts and I’ll wear it tomorrow. Is that better?”

The dragon shrugs, walking with me across campus toward the training ring. When we pass the library, he finally responds. “Fine. If you really want to. ”

Covering my mouth with my free hand, I try to stifle my giggle. “I’ll come up after my sex ed exam. Maybe we can have everyone over and order take out? I have to go to bed early because of my dance midterm tomorrow, but I could hang out upstairs for a while. I… miss you guys—all of you.”

Aubrey pauses, turning to look at me seriously. “It’s very quiet without you. There’s entirely too much brooding going on, and it’s not only from our poetry-loving emo boy.”

I frown, feeling my chest ache a little. I don’t enjoy thinking my guys are having issues when I haven’t been around to help. But then… no one has mentioned a problem until now, so…

Is it about me? Have they changed their mind about sharing and someone’s mad?

“Don’t get upset, bite size. We’re okay, just lonely without you,” he says hurriedly.

He stops walking and pulls me into a tight hug. I let out a sigh of relief. This physical affection is more Rennie’s style, but I’ve been deprived lately, so if my cranky librarian wants to give me a cuddle, I’m here for it.

“Thank you. I really needed that.” I lift my head, looking up at him. “I don’t enjoy hearing you guys are upset, and I hate that I’ve been away so often. I promise I’ll stay close during break.”

Aubrey finally lets go of me, looking a little embarrassed by our public display. “I think everyone would enjoy having you back. Jinx misses you when you’re locked up with the polar bear with the allergy.”

“Rennie sends me pictures. I know that she’s glued to you the most when I’m not available—you can’t fool me.”

He huffs, turning to continue stomping toward the training grounds, and I laugh. For someone with a fetish for cute things, he sure is touchy about it.

“You’re going to be late, snacklet. I doubt the Raj will appreciate that..”

I mean, that’s sort of the point, isn’t it?

“I’ll take my licks if it means I get to spend an extra few minutes with you.” I pause for a moment, realizing something I hadn’t had time to even consider. “Is the brooding why the chat has gone silent? I didn’t think about it before, ‘cause I’ve been buried in work, but everyone talks to me privately.”

“We’re trying to give you space to work, of course. But also, we’ve been assembling our pieces and trying to figure out how they connect while you’re busy.” Stopping again, he rubs the back of his head as he sighs. “Felix is worried more kids will go missing during the break. He and Fitz are trying to identify ones a bad guy would find appealing.”

This time, I shrug and kick a rock across the grass. His statement worries me because I know Rufus and Cori have plans for me to hit the big city with them over the break. The guys are going to fucking lose it if they think I could disappear when I go out. “Truth for a truth? My friends want me to go to some events over break.”

“Fuck,” he mutters. “Felix is going to go ballistic. What kind of ‘events’ are we talking about?”

Sighing, I give him a crooked grin. “A festival concert for a couple of days.”

“Dionysis’ flask, nibblet! Could you have picked a worse idea?” He shakes his head, holding his hand out.“Do you have any idea how hard it will be to manage Fitz at a fucking festival, much less keep you safe?”

Taking it, I ponder for a second. “I figured that would be part of the fun.”

My second exam went late, my phone is dead, and I feel ready to drop. Consistent lack of sleep for the past two weeks is catching up with me, and I still have three more days of this shit. But I promised Aubrey I’d take a study break, and what kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t stick to my word?

I trudge up the stairs of the Tower, furrowing my brow when I find no one home. Grabbing a soda from the fridge, I go down a couple of levels to Rennie’s room.

At least I know where to find Jinx.

When I open the door, the kitten comes bounding out, and I smile and nuzzle her soft fur. Her little mews make my heart feel squishy, but I’m too damn exhausted to give her a proper petting. I look at her with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, baby. I need to lie down. Hopefully, you’ll be okay with that.”

I walk into the gargoyle’s bedroom, dropping my bag on the floor. Keeping Jinx curled in the crook of my arm, I walk over to his nest and flop into the huge recessed pile of blankets and pillows with a grateful moan. Every time I get to curl up in this giant pile, it feels like I’m lounging on a cloud and I love it.

I think I’ll just lie here until the guys get home...

Loud shouting wakes me, and Jinx scrambles off the bed as I struggle to sit up. My heart pounds and I tilt my head, trying to make out what’s going on upstairs through the thick ceiling.

Oh, shit. I totally left my last exam without my escort.

Quickly rolling to my feet, I scurry out the door to the stairs, feeling terrible that I let my phone run out of battery without sending a message to the group chat. My last exam was sex ed, but I think it was supposed to be Rufus or Cori meeting me after class… although, it could have been Felix… Shit, I don’t know anymore. An apology is ready on my lips, but half-way up, I pause, realizing the problem is something else entirely.

“I don’t know how they got it up here without anyone seeing them, but a dead body on the balcony is unacceptable!”

At the word ‘dead body’, I leap up the remaining stairs and charge into the room. “There’s a dead body up here? How did I miss that? I’ve been alone here for a while...”

Five sets of eyes turn to look at me, and this time, their gazes are full of fear.