Chapter 20
Complicated
Fade
The second year Combat class was gruelling.
Trevone ran us into the ground with fifty laps around the combat courtyard before he sent us over the activity course, then had us crawl through the mud pit guarded by sharp, electrocuting power.
A human would never survive such a workout day in and day out.
It was only the warm-up.
He then separated us into pairs and had us spar – first with fists and then with magic.
My opponent was becoming frustrated with his inability to best me.
To be fair to him, he was a strong Earth elemental Fae, and would likely do well against any other foe.
However, my ability to nullify his attacks made his efforts pointless.
Forming a complicated series of sigils with my hands, I mutter a word in the Fae Tongue and thrust my hands towards the male.
The vines he had been conjuring suddenly seized, the dark purple aura of my power sinking into the limbs, corrupting his magic.
The vines snapped around him like an anaconda, dragging him to the ground and winding around his form until he was confined within a cocoon.
He yelled angrily, cursing me, but I cared little.
“Good, Mr Mortique.” Trevone calls. “You may begin your cool down.”
Releasing my magic with a cool snap of my fingers, I dip my head toward the Professor and walk to join my brothers by a bench.
Mr Trevone – usually unbearably pompous and domineering – knew better than to attempt his bullshit with us.
Tomashi and Bastien had made a fool of him last year, just because they could, but also to prove a point.
Many people had thought we were easily manipulated or attempted to embroil themselves in our group – everything from extravagant gestures to feigned concern.
Mr Trevone had tried to integrate himself as a mentor to us, had attempted to exclude Elijah and I from the group because we were not of Royal blood.
But of course my bond brothers had taught him just how great of an error that was.
Stopping beside Rapid where he stood before a seated Tomashi and Elijah, I watched Rapid lazily roll his eyes over Tomashi’s bare midsection until he realised I was watching.
Smiling, he raises a brow and gestures to the mud caked on my legs. “Getting lazy, are we?”
“Indifferent, I prefer.” I chuckle and form the sigil for water with my thumb and forefinger.
With a roll of my hand a stream of water cleans away the mess.
“Have you heard more from your sister?” Tomashi asks me.
Right.
I had received a rather cryptic message from my sister, who currently resided in Paris with the head of House Onyx and Bone – Summum Tyrin Constes.
She was his personal bodyguard and mistress, had been since she was eighteen – about nine years ago.
After leaving a voicemail stating she had important news she wished to share with the family, and asking me to come home to France to hear it, I had sent her a message explaining that school was starting and I was not able.
I had a complicated relationship with her, but it wasn’t entirely her fault.
I believed in the sanctity of marriage and mate bonds, but my siblings did not.
Summum Constes had been married to his wife for almost forty years, with a revolving door of mistresses.
My sister was infamous for being the only mistress to last longer than a month, and I was disgusted that both she and him would spit in the face of marital vows with their relationship.
So receiving another message this morning, whilst I was in my Ancient Sigils class, had been nothing but a kick to the gut.
“She’s pregnant. Constes is throwing a celebration to announce the coming birth of his first child.” I sigh. “Mama isn’t sure how she feels on the matter, but our siblings are overjoyed for her.”
“That she’s having a married man’s child?” Elijah asks with a frown. “Why would that make them happy? She’s officially the ‘other woman’ now.”
“They wouldn’t be if he wasn’t the head of a House.” Tomashi grunts.
I hum an agreement, but I make no further comment. It wasn’t really something I wanted to talk about, not before I’d had the chance to digest by myself.
“I’ve wished her well with the pregnancy, but I’ve chosen not to have an opinion just yet.” I murmur.
Gargoyles have notoriously difficult pregnancies. My mother died from complications resulting from mine, and the mate bond took father with her. My Mama Mina – grandmother – had taken my two siblings and I in after the loss.
My brothers and close friends offer nods, knowing me well and understanding I would talk when I was ready.
“I miss Bastien.” Elijah sighs.
Tomashi shakes his head. “It’s only been a week.” He says, but I know he misses him as well.
“How important could this female possibly be?” Rapid grumbles, kicking at loose dirt. “I mean, he’s never even had a serious girlfriend. Do you think she’s spelled him or something?”
“I talked to him a day ago. He didn’t seem out of it or like he might be drugged… just distracted.” Elijah muses. “Maybe he’s finally found a worthwhile female. Hell, for all we know, she could be his mate. It would explain his persistence in finding her.”
“Bastien’s a Hound Dog with a capital fucking D.” Rapid scoffs. “He physically can’t stick with one chick.”
Elijah only shrugs.
“Can we talk about Sinta?” Rapid demands, lips tilting wickedly.
“Are you finally going to let me kick her out?” Tomashi growls.
“Fuck no.” Rapid spits.
“Then no.”
Rapid dons a goading smirk, eyes flashing with a devilish look we all know means trouble.
“What about Sinta?” I interrupt before he can stir Tomashi up.
“I want to know if we’re setting a ‘no canoodling’ rule with her. You know, boundaries. Are we allowed to pursue her or are others going to have a bitch fit over it?”
I blink at him, lips pursing.
“Canoodling?” Elijah mutters quietly, his nose wrinkling.
I, of course, had noticed Rapid showing interest in Sinta.
Particularly her ass and tits. He was a very sexual being – he rarely went two days without jumping into someone’s bed.
And yet since she’d arrived, I hadn’t seen him with a single other female – nor heard a whisper of it.
It had rankled me at first, because I myself had considered getting involved with her – though to what extent I wasn’t yet sure.
She came across as a private, strong, caring female. Oblivious to some things, as well, since she hadn’t seemed to notice either I or Rapid’s instant interest.
I hadn’t seen her attempt to flirt with any of us, now that I thought about it.
Was she a lesbian?
“Do you mean casual sex, or a relationship?” Elijah demands, his features hardening.
I study his suddenly tense frame and the clenching of his jaw.
Rapid and I weren’t the only ones interested.
Tomashi simply looked angry and indifferent.
He’d made it quite clear he didn’t like her, but I doubted he cared if we fucked her either.
“I haven’t gotten that far yet.” Rapid sniffs.
“She’s our roommate.” Elijah bites out.
“So? It’s not like she is our sister. Maybe she wants some casual fun sex, hhmmm?” Rapid croons. “It would save her from having to sign up to a dating app – and I wouldn’t mind camping out in her room.” He grins and wags his brows.
Elijah releases a feral roaring growl that was most definitely his lion, his teeth lengthening to sharp points.
“Woah, okay, enough.” I referee, throwing an arm out between them when Elijah stands. “Sinta is an adult, we are adults. If she wants to get involved with one of us, then we simply exercise communication and make sure everyone is aware of what is happening.” I order sternly, pushing Elijah back down into his seat.
“Yeah, calm down Simba.” Rapid goads.
Elijah snarls and snaps his teeth.
“We promised each other a female would never come between us.” I quietly remind them.
Rapid instantly sobers, the antagonistic energy leaving him.
Elijah calms, ducking his head, and Tomashi shakes his with a derisive scoff.
“Like I said, honesty and communication.”
“And what if she decides she wants some but not all of you?” Tomashi mutters. “Are one of you going to throw a tantrum and beg for her attention?” He sneers.
“Woah, mate, no one said anything about feelings.” Rapid laughs. “I just wanna get me some.”
Elijah throws him a scathing look but says nothing, and I choose to stay silent.
Tomashi studies us all, the muscles in his neck contracting as he grinds his jaw.
“What the fuck do I care. You want to get involved with her, fine, fuck it. But you don’t come crying to me when she turns out to be a crazy bitch.” Tomashi growls.
“Been there, done that.” Rapid sings.
“Fucking hell. I can’t wait till Bastien is back and knocks some sense into you fucking idiots.” Tomashi snarls.
“So, do we need a gentlemen’s agreement or something?” Rapid drawls. “Thou shalt not stick his wick in thous pussy till thou lady had showered-ith?”
I couldn’t have stopped my startled laugh if I wanted to, and Elijah snorts a chuckle.
Standing, he playfully shoves Rapid. “You’re a fucking idiot.” He chuckles as he strolls away.
Rapid grins unrepentantly, following him to a duelling pit.
“Are you running the fight clubs tonight, or am I?” I question Tomashi.
He pulls his glare from Rapid’s back, lip curling. “I will. I need to smash a fucking face in.”
“Will you be dealing?”
“Not tonight. There’s some trouble with the shipments.” Shaking his head, his hair beginning to smoulder, he gives me a serious look. “We may need to crack some skulls. I think one of the men has sticky fingers.”
Sighing, I shake my head.
You’d think after making violent painful examples, others would heed the silent warning.
I’d have better luck gambling on the weather.