Chapter Fifteen
Erin
“You ok?” I ask Cole as I pull open the door to mine and the boys apartment to let him in. we have a few minutes to kill before class and he looks like he needs to talk.
The others have already gone to their various lessons or are studying and its rare that me and Cole have some time just for ourselves.
I close the door behind him and watch as he wanders around the room looking at things but not really seeing them.
considering he’s been in here more times than I can count by this point his attention to the room is definitely a sign that somethings wrong.
“Alright out with it.” I say losing patience and crossing my arms over my chest as I lean back against the door in case he thinks he can make a run for it.
“What?” He asks wide eyed and pretending to be innocent.
Yeah fucking right.
“I know there’s something wrong. Come on Dude, out with it!” I say firmly, raising my eyebrow.
He flops down onto the couch heavily, leaning back against the cushions and throwing his arm over his face. I sit down next to him and just wait.
“I really, really like them.” He admits finally.
“Well no shit Sherlock anyone can see that.” I reply not understanding the issue.
“That’s the problem though. I feel like I have a really strong connection with each of them and when we’re together there’s no jealousy or anything like that if I kiss one of them in front of the others.” He flushes as he grins falling into a pleasant memory.
“And back in the room,” I grin as his blush darkens. “So what’s the problem?”
“I feel the sparks that I’ve heard the other Centres talk about and feel what I’ve been told I should feel from instructors and read in books.” He pauses.
“But. . .”
“But I’ve got no Soulmate Mark. So they can’t be mine.”
“Oh.” I say finally understanding.
“Yeah.” He replies sighing heavily as he moves forward, puts his elbows on his knees and buries his head in his hands.
I watch him, my heart squeezing for him and I decide to take a gamble. Sage said that it wasn’t time to tell him but that was a while ago and a lot has happened since then. I know that if she was here she’d feel the same and want to tell him. He almost looks heartbroken.
“You know what makes this worse?” He asks but doesn’t pause long enough for me to answer. “I don’t want to find my Bonded. I can’t imagine lov . . . Liking anyone like I like Asher, Ty and Harry. It’s killings me, Erin.”
I chose not to point out what he so obviously was about to say. His words have cemented my decision for me. I don’t want to give him false hope but I honestly don’t believe that it is.
“Sage had a vision that you’d meet your Bonded Mates at an academy.
” I start and his eyes snap up to mine. “Before you get pissy, we couldn’t tell you because Sage had one of her feelings and said it wasn’t the right time.
I’m telling you now because I can’t stand to see you so upset.
I don’t know what they looked like she didn’t tell us but she told us enough that it would surprise me if Asher, Ty and Harry weren’t your Bonded Mates.
Kysen too. They’re like brothers I highly doubt that it would be them and not him. ”
“I’m not saying that they are definitely the guys from Sage’s vision we won’t know that without asking her, when they get here with Kysen.
All I’m saying is it’s a pretty damn big coincidence if its not them.
especially if it feels so right, that suggests to me that it feels that way because it is right. ” I finish.
“I don’t know what to say.” He mutters, as a smile plays around the edge of his lips, “But why haven’t I gotten the Soulmate Mark if they’re my Bonded? And why haven’t they got theirs?”
“I don’t know Dude.” I say, before continuing excitedly as something occurs to me, “Maybe it’s because your Bonded are separated since Kysen is still making his way here with Sage and the others?
Does it work like that?” I ask since I have no idea.
We, as part of the human side of the Earth realm academy were taught only what they deemed we needed to know and where Centre’s were concerned we knew that they existed and had Bonded Mates that’s it.
“I’m not really sure. All of the books that we had access to at the Earth realm academy didn’t say anything about it.
They just spoke about when a Centre meets their Bonded.
I don’t remember reading anything about if the Bonded were split.
It’s common for the Bonded to have a connection before meeting their Centre.
Like they’re all friends or a military unit something along those lines.
It’s supposed to reduce the jealousy and fighting because they all trust each other before a Centre comes into it. although magic helps with that too.”
“Well it’s something me and you can research here then. We already know that they have better and more in depth books here. Since the Director of the Earth realm academy clearly didn’t want anyone to have any useful information.” I say sounding slightly bitter I know.
“Good idea.” He says, “I can’t help but hope that Sage saw them. I wish she was here so we could ask her.”
“I know but I’ve got a feeling.” I say for what it’s worth, I don’t get visions in the same way that Sage does and I haven’t had one of my visions from touching any objects recently but I’m not lying.
“Thanks Erin.” He smiles at me, he seems lighter than he was when we first started this conversation but there’s still a hint of worry in his eyes that I imagine won’t go until he knows for certain that they are his Bonded and they’re going to be together forever.
“Come on lets go and kick some ass.” I grin hopping up and walking out of the door.
It automatically locks behind us and won’t let anyone in apart from those on our approved list. Magic is pretty fucking cool and the door is run on something which is a mix between magic and technology.
There’s lots of stuff like that here and it’s so awesome.
According to Ty though only the cities have similar since the idea of mixing technology and magic is a fairly new and experimental business.
The smaller towns and villages are still fairly tech free and everyone still travels on horses.
The technology and magic cross over hasn’t advanced enough to work out cars.
“I think I need that, after that rollercoaster of emotions.” Cole chuckles.
“I bet. I’m actually starting to enjoy combat class now that I don’t get winded and feel like I’m dying in the first five minutes.” I say as we walk through the wide and ornate hallways.
There’s paintings, tapestries and even suits of amour lining the halls.
It’s a far cry from the barren halls of the Earth realm academy.
There’s a warmth here despite the stone walls that was absent at the other academy, there’s also laughter and excited chatter as the students move about the halls.
I hadn’t realised that it had been missing from the Earth Realm halls.
The syllabus here is hard and gruelling but the effects are worth it.
They’re preparing us as best they can so we don’t die when we’re turfed out into the Realms as Enforcers.
Besides it’s not only serious, they mix in enough fun that it makes everything worth while and stops us from getting despondent and not wanting to try as hard.
They also do not send us out on jobs until our third year here.
Not even for surveillance. I quite often wonder what would have happened to me, Jett, Dash and Damon if it wasn’t Sage who was brought into the warehouse basement that day.
I have a feeling that the outcome would’ve been a lot worse.
“Yeah right!” Cole agrees bringing me out of my thoughts, “C is a ballbuster to the extreme but he knows what he’s doing and we’re already seeing the results of our hard work.”
“True he immediately commands respect out of all of us though so that has to help.” I say as we enter the large gym.
Its massive so that it can accommodate a giant obstacle course that changes on a whim and never looks the same.
Its sort of like the one at the Earth realm academy but even more complex and its not controlled by anyone.
It runs on pure magic and computer programming, its epic and makes Dash giddy every time he gets to use it the nerd.
The rest of the gym is split into workout equipment at the other end and in the middle a wide expanse of sparring mats.
In this lesson we will use all of the equipment in here.
It’s a three hour lesson and by the end of it you’re almost convinced it’s been twice as long.
Me and Cole make our way over to the sparring mats and immediately start stretching and warming up.
I smile at my guys as I spot them around the room.
We don’t dare to do anything more though.
C has a zero tolerance for pretty much everything.
C is a complex kind of person and I’m still unsure what to make of him.
He’s still fairly young as far as supernatural’s are concerned but he’s considered a specialist teacher and pulls rank over many of the other instructor’s here.
Which is another thing that doesn’t quite sit right, many of the other teacher’s and instructors are almost scared of him and always give him a wide birth.
There’s a story there and I’m curious enough that I’m practically dying to know it.
Because he has the status of a specialist teacher it means that he teaches an optional specialised course.
The course is only available to upper years and they are the only ones that know what he specialises in.
Even then only a few students are accepted on the course and the upper years tend to watch him a bit more warily after that.
“Drills!” C barks out, his face in his perpetual frown.
No one dares to disobey him and we all set about doing our unique drills.
On the first day we were given a list of drills to memorise.
It had all the things you’d expect, running, press ups, burpees.
That sort of thing but each student had them in a different order so that the equipment needed is always free.
It puts a bit of pressure on you knowing that someone is practically on your heels and needs to use the area that you’re using or the equipment.
Although we don’t socialise my guys all make sure to stay close.
They’re far too protective but I find it cute and when it comes down to it they know I can take care of myself, especially now.
After drills it’s a round on the obstacle course trying to beat your previous time score. It seems a bit ridiculous to me since so far I have never done the same course twice so its bound to take different lengths of time.
Finally it’s time for my favourite part of the lesson, sparing.
“Line up!” C orders and we immediately line up in front of him, feet shoulder width apart and arms behind our back our hands clasped.
It’s already become second nature to do it.
“This lesson we have a slight shake up. Robbie has come to me and would like to issue a challenge to Erin.” He says seriously.
I can feel my guys tense around me, even Cole scowls.
“Like hell!” Nate says through the Bond lines.
“We thought this might happen.” I remind them all. “I’ve got this.”
“I don’t like this.” Damon says tightly.
“I know but Harry is always reminding us not to show weakness. She has to.” Dash says logical as ever but his voice is tight with worry and anger at Robbie for calling me out.
“Fine.” Jett growls, his anger more than prevalent.
Robbie has been practically chewing at the damn bit to get at me since we first fucking arrived here. He was the only person who had a shield gift before I arrived. I wouldn’t exactly say that my gift is stronger it just works in a different way. He’s pissed I’ve stolen his thunder or some shit.
“Do you accept?” C asks, raising his eyebrow.
“Yes.” I reply stepping towards the mat that Robbie is already on. He seems momentarily surprised that I agreed.
“Very well. The fight is until one of you is knocked out. Begin.” He orders with no preamble.
Robbie charges at me and I immediately throw up a shield making him bounce off of it, before he hits the floor he manages to right himself and flips landing on his feet.
I’m already coming for him though and I manage to get two good hits in before he catches me in the side with a powerful hit of his own that makes me stagger.
One of my men growls menacingly. I can’t let it distract me though and I hope that either Cole or C is doing something to make sure that they stay put and don’t interfere.
The fight goes on for a while longer both of us fairly evenly matched, I’m starting to tire and I look for any advantage to take him down.
Finally he gives it to me as he drops his guard on his right side and I take the opportunity I use my magic to add extra force to my punch I duck as he aims one for my head and strike his temple.
The extra oompf from my magic has him out cold on the mat.
C calls it and has the class dispersing to start their own sparring sessions.
“Good job Erin.” He says as he turns a blind eye to my guys as they all surround me I know we wont get the reprieve for very long.
“I hated that even though you kicked ass.” Jett says as he pulls me close and dips his head biting my bottom lip when I gasp he takes full advantage and his tongue strokes mine as he pulls me closer, when I pull back I barely have time to catch my breath before Dash’s lips are on mine in a kiss that ignites my very soul.
His hand gently grips the front of my throat and I also detonate.
Its been far to fucking long.
“Sparring now.” C barks, although Id like to think he sounds mildly amused. “Unless of course you plan to unleash your gifts on the whole of the gym?”
“Whoops.” I say.
“No regrets.” Dash grins strutting off to his mat and sparring partner.
“So unfair.” Damon groans, “Later I want my kiss Red.”
He says making me chuckle.
C gives us the stink eye and we all disperse.