CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE #2
My eyes narrow slightly as I plaster on the most innocent smile I can manage. “Nope. Maybe he went back to the suite for a while after you all bullied him about wanting kids?”
Cole chuckles, and Sirena raises a lazy finger from where she’s collapsed. “Kaden’s not that sensitive… and that shit was funny.”
I roll my eyes, but Cole’s not letting it go. “Come on, you know I can always tell when you’re lying.”
“Not just that…” Odette chimes in, her voice muffled by her arm, “but you’ve been broodier than usual since last night.”
“Agreed,” Brynn mumbles from somewhere beneath a curtain of hair.
I groan, talking about it means admitting it happened, something I’ve been trying to shove into the deepest, darkest corner of my brain all morning.
“Fine.” I sigh, throwing my hands up. “I ran into Kaden, okay? Under the wisteria tree.”
Cole’s grin turns wolfish. “You fucked him! Didn’t you?”
Every single head lifts at once, like a bunch of cats spotting danger, each face painted with a mixture of shock and smug delight.
My cheeks ignite. “Cole! No, I did not sleep with him!”
Gods, did I want to, though.
The memory flashes hot through my mind. His mouth on mine, his hand between my thighs, the sound of my name breaking from his lips.
The heat rushes back instantly, flushing my skin pink.
“We kissed.” I manage, trying to sound casual. “That’s all that happened.”
Brynn tilts her head, eyes glinting. “Hmm… I don’t know. You’re blushing an awful lot for just a kiss.”
“Agreed,” Odette says, grinning into her hand. “Either it was one hell of a kiss, or something else happened.”
“Oh, she’s definitely lying.” Cole laughs, that low, boyish sound that makes me want to throw my tome at his head.
I drop my face into my arms with a groan. “Gods, you’re all insufferable.”
Odette leans forward, chin in her hands. “So… what was it like?”
“I’m curious too,” Brynn adds, stretching lazily. “He doesn’t exactly scream ‘gentle’ to me.”
Sirena props her head onto her palm. “He’s not a golden retriever type; I can tell you that much.”
Odette snorts. “He’s definitely bossy, I can almost hear it now. Get on your knees, Elysia Darling. That’s what he calls you, right?”
Her grin widens, and laughter breaks out across the table.
I can’t help it, I laugh too, shaking my head as I twist my plait between my fingers. “I hate every single one of you.”
Cole leans in, eager for me to spill my secrets. “No, you don’t, you love us… and that doesn’t really answer our questions.”
I sigh, giving up. “Fine. It was… frighteningly perfect, alright? It felt like my very veins were on fire.” I look around, all their eyes burning into me, waiting for me to tell them more.
“But we were both drunk, so it was probably the wine making it feel better than it did. It was a huge mistake anyway, one we won’t be making again. ”
Cole scoffs and rolls his eyes “Yeah, right. You’re not only lying to us, but you’re lying to yourself.”
I pin Cole with a glare just as Odette pipes up, voice full of mock outrage.
“So you two had hot hate sex so amazing that your veins pumped pure fire, and you’re just not going to do it again?”
“We didn’t have sex.” I snap, then sigh. “We just… fooled around.”
“Wait! Holy shit. The lights!” Sirena straightens suddenly, eyes wide as she looks around the room. “When your power surges, it affects the lights! And they flickered last night, some of them actually burned out. That was you, wasn’t it?”
She starts laughing, and Brynn’s grin stretches slow and wicked as she slots the pieces together.
Cole claps a hand over his mouth to smother his grin, but it’s useless. “You’re right! They both disappeared right before that happened.”
Odette whistles low. “Gods, if a man gave me an orgasm so strong it knocked out the power grid, I’d be signing up for round two immediately.”
I scoff. “Be my guest, Odette. You can have him.”
The words taste bitter, and the spike of regret that shoots through the bond makes my chest tighten. I don’t even know if it’s mine or his.
Odette arches a brow, leaning back lazily in her chair. “Hmm. Kaden Reinheart. Not my usual type, but I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to get some action.” Her smirk turns sly. “You sure you’re okay with that? You know, soulbond and all?”
I shrug, keeping my tone cool even as jealousy pumps through my veins like poison. “Go for it.”
Her brow lifts higher, like she’s testing me. Then she coughs theatrically, “Denial.”
Laughter ripples through them. If it wasn’t at my expense, I might’ve joined in. Assholes.
Brynn cuts through the noise. “So, safe to say you and Ronan aren’t continuing… whatever it was you were doing?”
My stomach sinks. “Shit. I hadn’t even thought about how this affects Ronan.”
I rest my head in my hands; elbows braced on the table as guilt creeps up on me.
Brynn shrugs, flipping a page of her tome. “He’ll be gutted for a bit, maybe cry into his tea for a few days. But he knows you two weren’t exclusive. He’ll survive.”
I groan softly. “Ugh, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Ronan’s kind, gentle, charming. Everything I should want, right?”
I glance between them, searching for someone to tell me I’m not entirely insane.
Sirena speaks first, eyes gentler than I expect. “Sometimes desire outweighs logic, Elysia. The safe choice doesn’t always mean it’s the right one.”
Her words hang for a moment, the table unusually quiet.
Odette breaks it, leaning forward with a grin. “You sound awfully wise for someone who once told me she thought Thane was a moody vampire.”
Sirena rolls her eyes but smiles, the corners of her lips lifting. “In my defence, he was moody and still is.”
Brynn laughs. “Oh, please. He’s only moody when you’re not around. The man turns into a golden retriever the moment you walk in the room.”
“That’s true.” Odette adds. “He looks at you like you hung the moon.”
Sirena groans, but the blush that creeps onto her cheeks gives her away. “We’ve been together since we were thirteen. I think he’s just used to me bossing him around by now.”
Cole grins. “Used to it? No, no. I think he lives for it.”
Sirena shakes her head, smiling into her hands. “You’re all insufferable.”
“Maybe, but admit it… you love that man more than cinnamon buns.”
Sirena’s smile softens, her eyes glowing with something fond and steady. “Yes, I love him more than cinnamon buns, and that’s saying something.”
The table erupts into mock gasps and laughter, and for the first time all morning, the heaviness in my chest eases.
“Do you think you’ll still be here when I get another break in four weeks?” Cole asks, shaking out his wet hair as he grabs his uniform from the chair.
“Hmm… I’m not sure.” I twirl my dagger between my fingers, pretending to study the gleam of the blade instead of thinking about the truth. “I can’t be too far from Kaden until the bond strengthens, so I guess I’ll have to be wherever he is.”
Cole gives me that confused, half-concerned look. He doesn’t really understand much about the bond beyond what everyone’s told him. Honestly, I didn’t either until I got forced into one.
While it’s tempering, Kaden and I can’t be more than ten miles apart without the magic pulling taut and causing us both immense pain. Over time, it strengthens… but until then, I’m stuck orbiting him like some cursed moon.
“I guess you wouldn’t have much of a problem with that now, huh?” His lips tilt into a teasing smirk as he buttons his shirt.
In a familiar and childish gesture, I stick my tongue out at him, launching a pillow across the room. It hits him square in the head. “Fuck off, Cole.”
He laughs, a deep and boyish sound that always makes it impossible to stay mad at him. Once he’s dressed and packed, he flops down to lie on the bed beside me, sighing dramatically before pulling me into him.
“I’ve been thinking…” he says after a moment, turning to look at me. “That illusion your dad created to conceal the tome, do you think he could’ve used the same enchantment around the cottage?”
The question pulls me from my light-hearted haze. I’ve searched that cottage more times than I can count since he died, finding nothing. But then again… maybe I was always looking in the wrong places.
“It’s possible,” I admit slowly. “I’m still not sure how he managed it, but I could take another look around. Now I know what to look for.”
Excitement stirs and skitters across my skin. The idea of going home, of maybe uncovering something my father left behind, sets my blood humming.
“Alright,” Cole says, tone softening. “If you go, just… be careful, okay? The Council might not suspect anything right now, but you never know. I’d hate to come back and hear you got yourself and Kaden executed.”
I elbow him in the ribs. “I’m stealthier than you, Clutz. Besides, they’ve got no reason to follow me home.”
“Maybe take Kaden with you?”
I scoff. “I don’t need him to escort me to my own home, Cole. You worry too much.”
“Fine.” He says, an exasperated sigh leaving him in a whisper. “Just keep me updated, okay? I expect a letter every week.”
I smile softly, tucking myself closer to his side and resting my head against his chest. “Fine, if I must.” Then, tilting my head up, I add. “I’ll let you know if I’m still here before your next break.”
He squeezes me and presses a quick kiss to my hair. “That’s all I ask. That, and don’t get yourself killed.”
“I could say the same for you,” I murmur, smiling against him.
He chuckles, pushing us up and standing, slinging his bag over his shoulder with lazy ease. “Well, I’d better get going.”
“I’ll walk you out.” I offer, linking my arm through his.
“How chivalrous of you.” He teases, flicking my nose. I roll my eyes, fighting a grin.
We step out of my quarters and head towards the suite’s front door. Kaden’s in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, forearms flexing as he leans against the counter, drinking a mug of steaming coffee. The sight alone makes something low in my stomach tighten.
“Nice meeting you, man. See you next time, I’m sure.” Cole calls, giving him a friendly nod.
Kaden glances over, his voice deep and threaded with sarcasm. “Can’t wait.”
The sound of his voice sends a jolt straight through me. Desire hums through the bond, sharp and unbidden as memories from last night flash through my mind. My pulse skips, and I know he feels it too when his knuckles whiten against the counter.
His presence brushes against my mind, all heat and warning. “Stop. Put your shield up.”
His voice cuts clean through my haze, rough and controlled. I drag in a breath and obey, the familiar hum of magic dancing across my skin as the shield manifests.
I turn back to Cole, trying like hell to ignore Kaden’s gaze following my every move.
“I’ll see you soon?” I ask, nudging him toward the door, desperate to get him out before I melt under Kaden’s stare.
“You can count on it,” He says with that infuriatingly charming grin. Then, glancing back at Kaden, he adds. “Oh, and whatever you did to her last night… maybe do it again. She really needs to loosen up.”
A deep, dangerous chuckle rumbles from Kaden’s chest from the kitchen.
“Cole!” I hiss, shoving him out the door so fast he barely has time to laugh. My scowl could probably curdle milk.
He just grins wider, “Don’t burn down the kingdom while I’m gone.” He walks backwards, saluting me lazily, then turns.
“No promises!” I call back, before he disappears down the hall.
When I finally turn back, Kaden’s still watching me, eyes dark and unreadable. All I can think of doing is retreating back into my private quarters for the remainder of the day.