Page 27 of Traveler (Soulbound #1)
Aly
The sun had just dippe d below the horizon, casting a soft glow through the dorm windows, signaling the start of what I was pretty sure was going to be the best night ever. I stretched and grabbed the last of the snacks, mentally preparing for the chaos that was about to unfold.
Xander had somehow managed to sneak the entire stash of Chinese takeout—okay, maybe I encouraged him to get extra egg rolls, but still
I tossed a couple of pillows on the floor, making sure to clear space for all the food, and flopped down, practically sinking into the fluffy cushions. "Alright, team," I called out, grinning as I stretched my arms above my head. "It's officially friends’ night. You both ready?"
Xander popped his head through the door, his hands full of takeout boxes. “ Ready? I’ ve been born ready for this,” he said with a shy grin, clearly just as excited as I was. He dumped the containers on the floor next to me with a dramatic flourish. “ Tonight, we feast like true heroes.”
Vivianne sauntered in behind him, twirling a knife in her hand like it was some kind of weaponized art form. I raised an eyebrow. “ Is that really necessary?”
She gave me a deadpan look. “ You never know when a knife might come in handy. Especially when Xander tries to steal my spring rolls.”
Xander scoffed dramatically. “ I would never. I am a man of integrity .”
Vivianne rolled her eyes. “ A man of integrity does n’ t steal the last dumpling, Xander.”
I laughed, she plopped down next to me, immediately grabbing an egg roll and biting into it with the grace of a savage —which, honestly, was part of her charm.
I grabbed a fortune cookie, cracking it open with one hand. “ So, wha t’ s the plan tonight, guys? Wha t’ s the vibe?”
“ Definitely not studying,” Xander said, settling down beside me and giving a half-nervous, half-enthusiastic look at the mountain of food we had between us. “Debauchery only. If I have to think about another class assignment, I might actually steal Vivianne’s knives and stab something.”
“You would lose a hand before You got ahold of one of my knives.” Vivianne sings. Psycho
“ Hey, no threatening to remove appendages off of my bonded friends.” grabbing a dumpling and practically inhaling it. “ W e’ re living the dream right now.” I groan
Vivianne, who was now on her second egg roll, gave me a side-eye. “ Okay, but someone better let me win at something tonight. I do n’ t care if i t’ s cards or dice or even rock-paper-scissors —I just want one win.”
I raised an eyebrow. “ You do realize that You're the one who always gets carried away in competitive games, right?”
“ Psh, as if tha t’ s a bad thing.” She gave me a mock, innocent smile and spun a knife in her hand again. “ Besides, i t’ s all in the fun of it. If I do n’ t win, I get a little stabby. I t’ s not my fault.”
Xander immediately backed up, holding his hands in front of him. “ No need for stabbings, please.”
“ Oh, I would n’ t stab You, Xander,” Vivianne said with a smile that was a little too sweet for comfort. “ Maybe...”
I snorted, trying to hide my laughter by taking another bite of food. Vivianne could be a little intense, but it keeps things interesting, so I wasn't going to complain.
“ So, what are we playing?” I asked, trying to steer us back on track before Vivianne started contemplating more knife-related activities .
Vivianne grinned like sh e’ d been waiting for this moment. “ W e’ re definitely playing Truth or Dare. I’ m picking first.”
Xander groaned, falling back onto the pile of pillows behind us. “ I hate Truth or Dare...”
“ Too bad You're playing,” Vivianne said, grabbing her bowl of noodles and slurping them dramatically. “ Truth or Dare is on. And You two are going down.”
“ How does one win at truth or dare?” Vivianne's eyes Narrow on me, and I threw my hands up in mock surrender. “ I’m not letting You win. So, if You want it, earn it.”
“ Bring it on,” she said, eyes twinkling with mischief.
Xander groaned dramatically. “I’ m going to regret this, I just know it.”
We spent the next hour making fun of each other, daring Xander to do ridiculous things, like Giving us his best pole dancing routine. He totally missed his calling. Vivianne was dared to give her best impression of Barrett the day we met. Let's hope he never finds out about that.
“ Okay, last one for the night,” Vivianne said, looking at both of us with a wicked grin. “ Aly, Truth or dare?”
“ You're fucked.” Xander says, leaning back against a pillow and popping a fortune cookie in his mouth.
“ I'll be Fair,” Vivianne said with a wink. “ Truth or dare.”
I snorted. “ Dare.”
“ I dare You.... To text the guys and tell them someone hit on You, and You are adding them to Your harem. Then shut Your tablet off.”
“ Aren't You the one who said no, guys? I'm 90% sure if she does that, we'll have six men banging down our door.”
“Eh, nights almost over. We might as well have some entertainment.” Vivianne shrugs, tossing her knife into the air
“This is going to end badly and probably with my ass getting turned red, but sure.” I pull out my phone and pull up the group-chat with the guys.
Al y’ s Fan Club
Before I can even turn my tablet off, it lights up like crazy. Vivianne's eyes go wide before she reaches for it, clicks the off button, and chucks it across the room
“Holy shit, why did you do that?” she whisper yells.
“You dared me!”
“Guys, we have a problem. My brother is next door. What are the chances-” Before Xander can finish the sentence someone is banging on the door.
We all freeze, casting glances at each other before I can tell someone else to get the door, I hear a lock click, and the front door slides open. To reveal all of my mates. Including Carion. Fuck.
“What are You doing, Pretty girl,” Jared says a smirk on his face.
“Well, we- I -” Before I can say anything else, Carion Stalks through the door, picks me up, and throws me over his shoulder.
“Hey! Put me down, you asshole,” I shout he walks into the bathroom and kicks the door shut before throwing up air magic to keep everyone from hearing.
“Who are You replacing me with, firefly.” his low voice sending shivers through me
“That is none of Your business, “ I sniff. “You said this bond would never happen.”
“I did. But I think I deserve to know who my replacement is.”
“No, you actually don't. You lost that privilege when You decided to not even give me a try.”
“I don't expect You to understand, firefly, but it's not that simple. I don't deserve you, and I refuse to bring my shit into Your life, I have to protect you. Even if it’s from me.” he whispers, brushing my bangs out of my face.
“ Yo u’ re so beautiful, I wish I could have You. But I can't.” he captures my lips in a searing kiss. Before I can deepen the kiss, he pulls away. Bastard.
“ That's not Your choice to make. I’m the one who decides who deserves what from me. Why won't You even talk to me about it?”
He gives me a small smile before removing the sound barrier and stepping away from me he opens the door to the bathroom and steps out, turning briefly “Think of me when you fuck yourself, will You, Princess?”
“Fuck me yourself, You Coward! “ I shout without thinking it through. The room erupts in laughter.
Carion smiles before leaving the dorm completely. “Only in my dreams.”
I huff out a sigh and slide down to the ground. Not my best comeback. But I meant it. Unfortunately.