“He doesn’t use it.” Cian stood up from the bed, leaning over to drag her up beside him. “Also not my story to tell. Kilian went to Dorm O to grab you some clothes. He should be back any minute. Want some more toast?”
It was Sunday, so she didn’t have any classes, but that didn’t mean she had a clear day ahead of her. She shook her head. “I’ll grab breakfast after practice. I’m already late.”
“All right then.” He stood over her, glancing at the way Theodore’s shirt threatened to fall off her shoulder. “Just a heads-up … you aren’t going back to Dorm O. Not today, not next week, not ever. Kilian is bringing back the essentials. You can keep them in his room until the end of term.”
“I can’t just—”
He ducked down, kissing an inch from the side of her mouth, shocking her into stillness and silence.
“This isn’t a negotiation.” He lowered his voice to a purr that rumbled through her, making her sway closer to him.
“It should be,” she managed.
“You’re right.” He smiled. “It should be. But it isn’t. Eve—and every single one of her pathetic, spineless little cronies—are dead idiots walking, but that doesn’t mean we can take them out on live television. So until we can think of a way to get her permanently expelled, you can’t be alone.”
“You guys don’t even want the bond,” she snapped, completely aware that she was angry at Eve, not Cian … but she couldn’t stop the temper from flaring in her voice. “What does it matter—”
The asshole kissed her again. His lips pressed to the other side of her mouth, not actually touching her lips, drifting down until his teeth nipped at her jaw. “Aren’t we friends?” he rumbled, his nose to her cheek, his sapphire eyes hidden from her view. “Do you enjoy seeing your friends almost murdered?”
“I wouldn’t try to control their lives,” she squeaked, her voice thin and wobbly. Why did he keep doing that?
Cian was always flirting, always teasing her, but he was acting … almost sweet and sensual. Not like himself.
“If you die, we’ll be hit with everything you’re holding back,” he said lowly. “Theo and Moses will feel the full force of being ripped from their mate and they’ll probably lose their shit. Then we’re all fucked. And whoever happens to be around them when it happens will be dead. And I don’t even want to think about who Oscar will kill if someone breaks his to—” He cut himself off, inching back to stare at her as he tried to cover up what he had been about to say.
“Toy?” she deadpanned.
“I meant mate.” He gave her a stern look. “And I …” He chewed his perfect, sinuously curved lip, looking her steadily in the eyes. “You’re a sweet girl, Illy. You’re soft and kind, but stubborn and loyal, and I like having you around. I can’t stand the thought of someone like you being hurt. Again. It doesn’t have anything to do with the bond.”
“Thank you?” She swallowed, wondering how to react. Should she compliment him? The first thing that flashed into her mind was how amazing his new ink looked against his beautiful, golden skin. Maybe that wasn’t appropriate.
His eyes dipped to her mouth again, and he groaned. “You’re welcome. Why the fuck do you smell so good this morning?”
“It’s Sato and Kilian.”
He laughed huskily. “No, it’s not. I should go. I’m late for group session.”
“You guys have group session on the weekend too?” she asked, surprised.
“Yeah. It’s three times as long.”
He collected the plate he had dropped on the way in and yanked open the door, leaving her to ponder his words as she touched her newest gemstone.
There was room for more.
There was room for eight more.
Eventually, she could get Theodore and Moses’ ability. She needed to make sure she was ready for that. She needed to make sure she wasn’t on camera for that.
Gabriel fell into step beside her as she was leaving Dorm A half an hour later. She was showered and dressed for the day in a pair of spandex shorts and one of Kilian’s T-shirts that she was pretending she had picked up by accident after he unloaded most of her clothes into his closet.
“Puppy.” Gabriel yawned, looking down over Alpha Hill as the sun climbed higher, turning the colourful desert flowers into vivid, beautiful hues of yellow, orange, and red. “Can I persuade you to reschedule your practise time and come to group session instead?”
Her shoulders hunched in a little, feeling the constrictions of her situation tightening around her, but she fought to keep her tone free from any of the strain. “Sure. Thanks for, you know—” She waved her hand awkwardly. “—the help.”
He just stared back at her, his russet eyes murky, his features so perfect and symmetrical that they almost distracted her away from the fact that there was no emotion on his face whatsoever. “No problem. We’ve got the situation handled.”
She pulled out her phone to reschedule her practice sessions, knowing that whoever was keeping an eye on her calendar would inform her father. He usually returned to the academy on Sunday evenings but didn’t expect her to see him until Monday. He liked to question her on every single minute change to her routine, her classes, and her social media feed.
Reed caught up to them as they reached the bottom of the stairs, falling in on her other side without a word.
Halfway there, she stumbled, and both of them stopped, a hand on each of her biceps, staring down at her with narrowed eyes and sharp attention, watchful and alarmed.
They seemed even more worked up about Eve returning than she was.
“What is it?” Reed’s attention swept down to her chest.
“Cian said this session is going to take a few hours.” She swallowed as they released her. “Sorry, I was just wondering how you endure a few hours of … that.”
Reed rolled his eyes, and they both started walking again, Gabriel’s hand low on her spine urging her to keep pace.
“It’s a singing lesson,” Reed—Elijah said. She might as well use his name, since he was now her sort-of roommate and she was his sort-of captive.
She might as well use all their names.
“It’s hardly taxing,” Reed added on. Elijah, dammit.
It was harder with him. He was so cold, so unfeeling, so analytical. She didn’t feel like they were friends at all.
“Right.” She focussed on the path ahead of her, the urge to ask Elijah about his illegal power and why he refused to use it popping back up into her throat no matter how many times she pushed it down.
When the urge grew unbearable, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick group message.
Isobel: I should know exactly what all your abilities are if they’re going to suddenly appear inside me without warning.
Both Alphas pulled out their phones as Elijah pushed open the door to the fitness centre, leading them toward Easton’s usual room. He groaned quietly. “Moses is going to jump on that.”
They entered the room, finding it empty. It was the first time she had ever arrived before everyone else.
Elijah and Gabriel moved to dump their bags on the floor beside the door and Isobel dropped her own belongings, tying up her hair just in case Easton made her exercise with the others.