26. Reverie
Chapter 26
Reverie
I felt like I was going to pass out. My breathing became erratic and sweat broke out on my forehead. Just when I felt my vision narrowing, Jet leaned down and whispered in my ear, rubbing his massive hand up and down my back, “Breathe with me, big breath in, and exhale. That’s it. Take another deep breath and now exhale.”
The soothing timber of his voice combined with the heat from his hand on my back, and I found myself calming and able to breathe. When I finally tuned back into my surroundings, no one else had noticed my reaction because the class had exploded into chaos. Panicked questions were being slung at Storm, and some students were even crying.
“Are you back with me, precious girl?” Jet asked, still rubbing my back in a soothing manner.
“Yes, thank you. I’ve never heard that information before, and it shocked me.” I gave him a small smile. Did he realize he had called me precious? Terms of endearment spoken in that growly voice should be outlawed.
“What the actual fuck is he talking about?” Chloe leaned forward, eyes widened in panic, “I’ve never heard about a shortage of D’s wine, and I grew up in a town of Aurathions. If it’s true, this will cause a full-blown panic.”
“My parents have never said anything about this. But I bet the Council is aware of it. If Storm’s family is the only ones with access to the scrolls, then I bet there’s a lot of things they’re keeping to themselves.” I leaned my head closer to Chloe. “We’ll talk to my parents about it tonight.”
“You’re going to your parents’ house tonight?” Jet questioned.
Damn it. I was so focused on Chloe that I didn’t pay attention to what I was saying. “Yes, but please don’t say anything. We aren’t exactly getting permission.”
“I won’t say a thing,” Jet assured me. Before I could sigh in relief, Jet continued. “As long as you bring me with you.”
“What?” I looked at him in disbelief.
“I said that I won’t say a word to anybody as long as you take me with you.” He repeated, not apologetic in the least.
Chloe appeared just as shocked as I was by his request.
“Why do you want to go?”
“I’m new to this world, and I want to be there when Reverie questions them about what Storm has revealed.” He looked at Storm, still fielding questions, with a death glare. What was that about?
“I can just get with you tomorrow and tell you what was said.” I tried to reason with him. There were many other things I needed to discuss with my parents that couldn’t be said in front of Jet.
“No, I want to hear it for myself.” Jet transferred his gaze to me. He could be extremely intimidating when he wanted to. Too bad for him Grumpy raised me.
“I thought you were my friend. I can’t believe you’re blackmailing me to get what you want.” This guy had some balls.
“Believe it. You wouldn’t take me otherwise, and I want to go.” Jet didn’t seem to be the least bit intimidated by me either.
“Fine. Meet us in our dorm at six o’clock. Don’t be late, or I’ll leave your ass.” I huffed out.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be late.” The bell rang, and Jet headed straight for the door without saying another word.
“What the fuck? He’s always been cold, but I didn’t think blackmail was in his wheelhouse—good looks and possibly a little villain sprinkled in. Girl, you better tie that up, literally. He seems like a freak.” Chloe fanned her face.
I threw my head back and laughed despite still being pissed at Jet. I got a lot of heated looks from students who were still in panic mode. Even Storm looked at me in confusion. I guess it did look bad when I was already Nexus and didn’t seem to care about what Storm had said.
“Chloe, you’re going to get me drawn and quartered for laughing at a time like this.”
“Nah, they’ll all be too busy kissing your ass trying to get into your Faction. Knowing you’re Nexus, if the shortage is real, then there won’t be a problem letting you perform the ritual with other Passives. It won’t feel like a possible waste of D’s wine. I wonder if that’s why we have to wait until after initiation to form Factions. No use wasting it if we may die.”
“It probably is. I’m sure I won’t be allowed any other members until I return, either.” I sighed, exhausted by everything.
Chloe and I gathered our things, but before we could leave, I heard Storm call out, “Don’t forget our meeting. I’ll be waiting in my office before workouts start.”
I nodded my head but just kept walking with Chloe at my side. Zane was waiting outside the classroom for us.
“What the hell happened in there? Everyone coming out was hysterical. Even stone-faced Jet looked upset,” he leaned down to kiss me and then grabbed my hand heading in the direction of my biology class.
Chloe hooked her arm with mine, “First off, Professor Austin was replaced today by Storm, and boy, did his lecture give us a good kick in the nuts.”
Zane smirked, “Do we need to have a talk with you about boys and girls and how they differ?”
“It’s just a figure of speech, dick.” Chloe glared at him.
God, I loved this family. No matter how upset I was, they could always make me laugh.
“Anyway, he just casually put out there that D’s wine was running short because the main ingredient is Dionysus’s blood, and since he’s been dead for several hundred years, there won’t be anymore.” Chloe took a deep breath and then blew it out.
“What the fuck? How can that be the first any of us heard of this?” Zane looked stunned.
“He also told us that in the scrolls his family possesses, before D’s wine, there hadn’t been any Faction formed for several hundred years. Leading them to conclude that Dionysus formed his Faction with only a blood exchange. The only hope for Passives seems to be finding someone with that same ability.” I gave Zane a wide-eyed stare.
“Well, good luck with that. I didn’t even know that was possible until today. The chances of that are about as slim as me meeting Liam Hemsworth in a bar, falling on his dick, finding out he’s Aurathion, and his ability is to give orgasms by pointing his finger at me.” Chloe laughed, realizing no one was laughing with her; she made a face at me. “What, like you’ve never had that same exact fantasy.”
“I can’t give you orgasms by just pointing my finger, but I can give them in sixty seconds or less using my finger.” Zane winked at me. Pulling me close, he whispered, “No need to fantasize about anybody not in your Faction. At least two stone-cold studs surround you.”
Once again, I was laughing when I should have been panicking; how in the fuck was it possible to be turned on and amused all at the same time. Hearing Chloe gagging just made me laugh harder.
Zane walked us to our classroom door, “I’m going to talk to Zeke and let him know what’s going on.”
“There’s one more tiny detail I forgot to tell you.” I ducked my head and then looked up at Zane through my lashes.
“I’ll see you inside, sister,” Chloe smirked.
What an ass. She could have hung around until I broke the news that Jet was tagging along.
“What’s up, and why am I getting flirty eyes?” Zane asked suspiciously.
“Well Jet’s-”
“I’m going with you to Reverie’s parents.” Jet walked by and entered the classroom like he didn’t just drop a bomb.
“Why in the fuck is he going with us, and how did he know we were going in the first place?” Zane asked between gritted teeth.
“I may have accidentally mentioned it in front of him. You can’t blame me because I was a little distracted by the crap that ShitStorm had just told us!” I whisper yelled.
“Calm down, I’m not blaming you.” He ran his fingers through his scarlet curls, “There are things we need to discuss that he doesn’t need to hear.” He paused and then pulled me into his arms, “Is there a possibility he does need to hear it?”
I pulled back to see his face, “Why would he need to hear it?”
“I know we haven’t known each other long, but I pay much closer attention than you think I do. You look at Jet the same way you look at me, Zeke, and Nathan.” He smiled and leaned down to steal a kiss, letting me know he was fine with it. I didn’t know what to say. I guess when in doubt the truth was best.
“I’m not sure. I get the same feeling when I’m with him as when I met all of you, but I’ve been trying to ignore it. Plus, he’s so aloof most of the time I’m not sure he feels what I do.”
“Believe me, he feels it. He’s always watching you and even sitting in the middle of his fan club, his eyes follow you everywhere you go. You have to remember that he’s new to all of this and may not realize what his feelings mean.” Zane kissed the tip of my nose.
“Well, it’ll have to go on the back burner. We need to figure out what the hell is going on and how we’re going to deal with it all. Maybe I need to let the Council know what happened with Nathan because if my blood can help my people, then I have to do it.” I looked up at Zane and tried to smile.
“Let’s talk to your parents before we make any decisions. They know the Council a lot better than we do.” He smiled at me reassuringly. “Now get to class, and don’t worry about it. That’s what we’re for.” Zane leaned down and gave me one more soft kiss.
I entered the classroom and took my seat beside Chloe. I saw Jet was surrounded by the usual suspects trying to get his attention. Right now, I was glad for it because I didn’t have anything to say to the giant asshole. I missed Nathan so much it was painful. I needed my Psycho to come home to me. People who didn’t know him thought he never took things seriously, but his advice was invaluable to me. He never failed to make me feel better and I trusted he always wanted the best for me. I just prayed he was ok. I didn’t want to do this life without him.
“It’s going to be OK, bestie. We’ll figure everything out, and that crazy man of yours will be back before you know it.” Chloe put her hand on my arm.
I laid my hand on Chloe’s, “What would I do without you, Moon?”
“Since I’m going to be your sister-in-law soon, you’ll never have to find out.” Chloe smiled reassuringly. “I have one question since we’re going to your childhood home tonight.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Does your bedroom have enough room for activities?” Chloe smirked.
This girl and her obsession with the movie Stepbrothers never failed to make me smile. Once again, this incredible redhead brought me laughter when I was close to tears. What more could you want in a friend?