Chapter 17
I’m in such a daze while walking to the tower I don’t notice Marsh until he’s next to me. “Want to talk about it?” he asks, bumping into my shoulder to get my attention.
“Not really, at least not now. I just have to process all of it.” Even to myself, my voice sounds small. He stops suddenly, pulling me to a halt.
“Mags, I know this is a lot, and it's not at all what we thought would happen. Since coming to this school it’s been one thing after another. I promise it will calm down. Six mates is way more than we ever thought would be possible, but it’ll be okay.
Fate gave them to you for a reason.” He pulls me into a hug, “Now go to class, we can relax for a little while afterwards before it’s time for dinner. ”
I squeeze him back. “Alright, and thank you Bubba. That helped. See you after class. Hey, if you run into any of them, can you tell them I’ll see them at dinner?”
“Sure thing, sis.”
Marsh
Watching my sister walk towards her last class, I wait until I see her turn the corner before I go back to the three idiots I told to stay put.
It’s still funny my sister thought I’d actually walk away when she told me to, not just hide around the corner and eavesdrop–I mean, keep an eye on her.
I’m glad I caught her mates before they ran off when she did.
Thankfully, it seems they listen well. As I approach, they seem to be lost in conversation amongst themselves.
When I get closer they turn to look at me and the full force almost stops me in my tracks.
Damn if my sister didn’t get lucky, because they are some of the hottest men I think I’ve ever seen.
“Good, you stayed. Now, listen up. She might be your mate, but she’s my twin and right now she is spiraling from so much happening in such a small amount of time.
She is understandably overwhelmed, and I’m aware due to the mate pull that telling y’all to stay back won’t help.
But my advice is to take it slow with her.
She has always suffered from anxiety, and we’ve finally gotten it to where she’s not having constant attacks.
Give us some time after the final class, and we will meet y’all at dinner. Deal?”
“You’re right in assuming we won’t stay away, but we agree to take it slow and at her pace.
However, one day you will find your own mates and have your own life, while ours will revolve around her.
She is our heart, our center. I will accept your advice at the moment as you know her better, but don’t try overstepping in our mating.
I’m not sure about these two–as we had other things to discuss– and I may have only met her today, but I can say without a shadow of a doubt I’d follow her to the ends of the Earth.
You may be her brother, but one day you’ll have other priorities.
” Ward walks off before I can respond, leaving me and the other two gaping at his retreating form.
“Well, he’s a ray of sunshine isn’t he?” Rehan deadpans. “But we get what you're saying, and we’ll take it easy with her.”
“And we will keep Mr. Serious from being too clingy. We know you are just worried about her. I promise we will take care of her, but we all need to get to our classes or we will be late. I’ll see y’all at dinner.” With that, Dallan takes off leaving just me and Rehan.
“He’s right. We need to go.” He waves, as he heads to his own class.
That went well. She’s gonna kill me for sticking my nose in her business, but I feel so helpless in all of this. Hit after hit, it just keeps coming. I just hope it doesn't end up beating her down.
Maggie
Thankfully my last class was mostly uneventful, just showing the professor a baseline of what elemental magic we each have.
I have always had a good handle on my elemental magic, and after everything this morning, a nice easy class was the best way to end the school day.
Marshall meets me on the pathway leading to the dorms afterward.
“How was class?” he asks as I make it over to him.
“It was good. I feel better after expelling some magic; it helps me feel more balanced. How has your day been?”
He lets out a sharp laugh. “Well it’s been way more uneventful than yours, that’s for sure. Thankfully I don’t have my mates all popping up at once. How are you feeling about this whole situation? No bullshit.”
I mull it over. As we walk towards our dorm, thankfully I don’t run into any of said mates.
I hate being away from them–which is insane since I don’t know them–but the pull to get to know them, and honestly jump their bones, is strong considering I just met them.
I’m not a virgin or anything, but holy shit; this attraction is like nothing else I’ve ever felt before.
Marsh lets me think and ponder my current situation until we make it back to our rooms.
Malise isn’t back yet, since everyone else has their power specific classes scheduled for right now, and the school is still trying to figure out how to teach us since we are the only ones with this type of magic.
For the first time in a while, it’s just my brother and I, so I plop down on our couch laying my head back, and the seat next to me dips when Marsh throws himself next to me.
Letting out a sigh, I finally respond. “Truthfully? I don’t know what I feel.
I’m worried, nervous, excited, scared, happy, just a mix of everything.
I know how amazing it is to find your circle, and how big of a blessing it can be.
However, the insecurities from high school keep popping up, like how can I possibly make six men happy?
How can I be enough for them? I mean, have you seen the three I’ve found so far?
They are the hottest fucking men I’ve ever met.
I can’t compete with that, and they are bound to have women falling all over them. ”
I don’t realize I’m crying until Marsh reaches over and wipes a tear off my cheek.
He puts his arm behind my back and pulls me into him.
“I know it’s a lot, and so much has changed.
This is a huge adjustment, for both of us.
But you are wrong about something. You are more than enough for them, because you are amazing, beautiful, smart.
I mean, we look alike and hello, have you seen me?
I’m gorgeous!" I smack my hand across his chest for the last comment, but his pep talk served its purpose of stopping my tears.
Sighing, I wipe my face dry. “It’s like I’m being pulled into two directions.
Part of me wants to run away–ignore the pull, fate, all of it–and tuck my tail, run back to dad, and hide.
The other half of me wants to run into their arms and embrace it all.
The mate bond, and whatever shit is waiting for us when we find more about our family.
But the ‘what ifs’ are what keep holding me back.
How can I handle six mates? How can I give my heart to so many and risk being heartbroken when they decide they don’t want to share?
Or when they realize dealing with my anxiety and diabetes is too much? ”
Speak of the devil; my dexcom chooses that moment to start beeping, alerting me to my blood sugar dropping.
I don’t wait for Marsh to respond, I just get up and go to the kitchen to get a snack, knowing he’ll follow anyway. As I’m grabbing my peanut butter, he goes to the fridge to grab an apple, years of routine telling him what snack I’m going to want. He cuts it up and slides me a plate.
“Maggie, I can’t say I envy you at all. Honestly I’m really hoping the whole mirror twin thing doesn’t mean I’ll have six mates as well, ‘cause let’s be honest, seven dicks is a bit excessive.
” He shudders, and his off the wall comment causes me to start choking on a bite of apple.
He starts patting me on the back trying to dislodge it.
Once I’m able to catch my breath, a thought hits me.
I take a sip of water before I speak. “Marsh, do you remember what our symbols looked like during the assessment? My blade had six dots on it, but yours only had three. My watch has six hands, so I think the dots represent our mates. Which means, if I’m right, you’ll only have three. ”
“Phew!” he lets out a dramatic sigh. “Thank the Fates. Honestly, I would have ran from six men.” He laughs when he sees my glare.
“Look, I think they will be good for you. I saw the way they look at you like the sun shines out your ass. Why don’t you go take a bath and relax for a while before we have to go meet up with all your man candy for dinner? ”
Rolling my eyes, I flip him off over my shoulder, taking his suggestion of a calming bath. I’m giving myself one more hour of this pathetic pity party, then it’s time to accept my fate and get to know my mates.