Chapter 5
Adelaide
About an hour later, we finished lunch. I parted ways with the guys and went to my next class, which was fitness and initiation preparedness—one of my favorites. Though they all tried to walk with me, I insisted I would meet them there.
Today had been a lot, and I needed a moment alone to get my head around everything that had happened.
Each one of the beautiful men I was lucky enough to have as Potentials were more than I could have dreamed of.
I looked forward to getting to know them better, but my Nexus status was throwing me for a loop.
We were planning to visit the Cimarron Forest next week to see if we were worthy of a Fellat bonding. This would help identify any Passives who were meant to be Nexus, and upon bonding, you’d receive your triquetra. The sacred mark that every Nexus was honored to obtain.
Even if a Passive was not bonded, it didn’t automatically mean they weren’t Nexus. Still, it indicated that the Fellats didn’t deem you worthy, so you would never receive your mark. The stigma that came with that scenario could be harsh.
This was a fate nobody desired.
I’d prepared myself for what could happen there, but I hadn’t expected to meet three Potentials this soon, proving I was Nexus. I think what was freaking me out the most was that they didn’t just feel like Potentials; they already felt like mine.
“Hey, Adelaide, wait up!”
I turned and saw Jasmin running towards me with a harassed look on her face, “Hey, Jas. What’s going on?”
Jasmin had been my best friend since grade school. She approached me on the playground and started an argument over who liked the color pink more. I wore a pink jumper with glittery pink sneakers, and my hair was pulled back in a ponytail with a bright pink bow.
Jasmin had a pink dress with braids and pink ribbons woven through each. When we both noticed we had the same pink sneakers, she declared that we would be sisters in pink forever, and that was that.
“Damien cornered me again!” She panted, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
“Why in the hell were you running? I know how you feel about him.” I asked, confused, but grateful for the distraction from my thoughts.
Jasmin rolled her eyes, “Because a man likes a good chase! How many times do I have to tell you? When a man is as fine as my Damien, I can’t just fall at his feet. He needs to work for it.”
My best friend was quite the character. She and Damien were clearly meant for each other.
He’d gone to high school with us, and they had clicked immediately.
The first time they locked eyes in the cafeteria, neither of them could look away.
I think it lasted for at least five whole minutes, though Jasmin will deny it to this day.
Jasmin and Damien complemented each other in every way; both loved sports and were brilliant. He was tall and slim, built like a runner; she was only a few inches shorter and carried herself like a queen.
His mocha skin, pale brown eyes, and white hair were such a unique combination that he drew women like bees to honey.
Jasmine wore her long, dark hair in braids that hung just above her waist and had hazel eyes that stood out against her beautiful caramel skin color.
She drew the eye of every male in her vicinity.
Separate, they were beautiful, but together they were almost too gorgeous to be real. I couldn’t imagine what their children would look like.
“What if he decides on a girl that doesn’t make him work quite so hard?” I waited for the explosion. I knew my question would piss her off.
Jasmine didn’t disappoint.
She threw her hands on her hips, “Then the son of a bitch isn’t worth my time! I’d throw his ass back and find another more worthy of me.”
I tried to hide my smile. She had decided from the beginning that Damien needed to earn her love. She was afraid that if she gave in too soon, he would lose interest.
Jasmine knew that’s not how Aurathions worked. Damien was clearly a Potential, but Jasmine was nothing if not dramatic. And I was beginning to believe Damien had a bit of a drama queen inside him, too.
“The hell you say woman!” Jasmine jumped a foot in the air when Damien threw his arms around her from behind. “You know there isn’t a man more worthy than me.”
I threw my head back and laughed, “Looks like you’ve been caught.”
Jasmine scowled, “You’re supposed to be my friend. I can’t wait until the shoe is on the other foot. I’m going to make sure to pay you back twice as bad.”
I felt my face get hot, and I knew that I was blushing, so I turned and started walking. We’d known each other so long that she’d be able to tell by my expression that something was up. I needed to get away from her now.
“Oh no, you don’t! I saw that look on your face. You'd better spill, right now.” Jasmine ran to catch up, grabbed my shoulder, and spun me around.
“There’s nothing to spill.” I shrugged, trying my best to look innocent.
Damien laughed mischievously, “From what I saw, there’s plenty to spill. Three tall glasses at least.”
“You’re an asshole.” I scowled at the traitor.
“Hey, that’s my man you’re talking to,” Jasmine frowned, pointing her finger at me.
“Now he’s your man? I thought you were still running from him until he proved himself." I looked at her in disbelief.
“Not at the moment, but tomorrow is another day," she smirked. “Quit trying to distract me and spill.”
Resistance was futile; she would keep it up until I told her everything. The most I could hope for would be to delay the inevitable.
“I’ll tell you after class.” I pleaded with my eyes for her to understand.
She stared at me for a few moments, then nodded. “Okay, but you’re going to meet me for dinner and tell me every last detail of what happened.”
“Absolutely.” I sighed in relief.
“Why aren’t you in class yet?” I heard a deep voice behind us ask, and I turned to see Frosty frowning at me.
“And just how is that any of your business?” Jasmine tossed her braids over her shoulder and scowled at him.
He looked at her in confusion, like he hadn’t noticed the two people walking with me. “She’s mine,” Frosty stated in his no muss, no fuss tone of voice.
“Oh, this is going to be good.” Damien rubbed his hands together in glee.
Jasmine narrowed her eyes at Frosty, then asked me, “Is this one of the tall glasses?”
I shrugged, “Maybe?” It definitely was, but damn, I just needed a moment.
“Girl, you definitely have some explaining to do.” Jasmine turned to Frosty, “Just so we’re clear, if she accepts you as Faction, you are hers, not the other way around.” She raised her brow, “Don’t make me have to tell you twice.”
She motioned with two fingers, pointing from her eyes to his, “I’m watching you.” Jasmine turned and pulled me into her arms, giving me a tight squeeze. “We’ll talk later.” She whispered in my ear, then left with Damien to exit through the back doors.
I blew out a breath, “Frosty, why are you here? I told you I needed a minute.”
“I gave you eight, isn’t that a sufficient amount of time to catch your breath?” I wanted to be mad, but he looked bewildered by my anger.
“I guess it’ll have to be,” I sighed. There was no point in being angry with him. “Let’s get to the maze.” I put my arm through his as we pushed through the doors.
I stopped abruptly when I saw John and Jesse waiting at the bottom of the steps.
“You too?” I rolled my eyes. These men were utterly ridiculous.
Jesse laughed in amusement, “At least we waited out here. It looks like Frosty didn’t even have the patience for that.”
“I calculated the maximum amount of time someone would need to gather their thoughts. I then gave her an additional two minutes just in case my calculations were off.” He smirked, “But I’m never wrong, so that was just an extra kindness. I’m known for that kind of thing.”
All three of us just stood there with open mouths. Was he for real?
“It would be difficult to use mathematical equations to calculate how much time a person needs to regroup,” John explained quietly.
“Maybe for you.” Frosty snarked back.
“Maybe for anyone sane,” Jesse mumbled under his breath.
“Come, Adelaide. Let’s get to class. There are several areas that I think could use improvement in your preparations for initiation.” Frosty grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
I turned and gave the twins a pleading look, and they fell in behind us. Maybe Rue’s nickname should have been Bossy pants instead of Frosty, because that’s what he was.