Chapter 20
The dining hall is busy and loud when we walk in. Marshall, Dallan, and Ward are all waiting for us inside the door. None of them even look surprised by the new addition, and they introduce themselves as we walk to the buffet line.
Dang sis, you’re four for four with these men. I hope mine are as hot
I shoot a grin over my shoulder. I know! They are breathtaking.
“Here you go, Dove. You can have a seat and I’ll fix you something to drink. What would you like?” Ward asks as he hands me my tray he insists on pushing down the line.
“Hmm… Coke Zero, please.” The others follow me to a table near the back.
I can’t help but notice how many stares we are getting.
Even though it’s only been a day and a half, we haven’t exactly kept the fact we are mates secret, so I’m sure it's catching on that I’ve already found some of mine.
Not to mention, the whole Nexus witch thing is still making the rounds.
Thankfully, after mine and Marsh’s magic going crazy on Tyler and the creep in the elevator, no one else has said anything to our faces. Most people just avoid us altogether.
“So… four down, two to go. You’re just catching them like Pokemon, aren’t ya, sis?” Marsh teases.
“Ha ha, yeah. It seems they are all going to find me quickly.” I glance around the table; Dallan is to my left with Leif next to him, Ward on my right with Rehan, then Marsh.
Malise went to eat with some of her friends.
It hits me how lucky I truly am. Not everyone finds their anchors, or not all of them.
Not only have I found mine, but they are attractive, kind, and attentive.
Plus, they get along great with my brother.
“Honestly, I can’t believe how lucky I am.
I have four, soon to be six, mates, you’re an okay brother, and Malise is quickly becoming my best friend. Things are pretty amazing right now.”
My men are giving me soft smiles, Marsh grins too. “You know, you do have to tell Dad about your mates at some point. You can’t avoid it forever.” He catches the grape I throw at his head.
“I’m not avoiding it. He knows about the watch and the number of mates, but I wanted to wait till I meet and get to know them all before subjecting them to our dad who is absolutely going to grill them.”
All four of my men laugh at that, but it’s Dallan who speaks up, “Firecracker, if your dad needs to grill us to feel secure in this mating, then that’s understandable; you’re his only daughter.
I’m sure if and when we have children, me and the others will feel the same.
Whenever you are ready to introduce us, we will take the interrogation with a smile. ” He kisses the side of my head.
I know I was hesitant at first–it was overwhelming dealing with the fact that I was going from never having a serious relationship to having six mates to share my life with–but the more time I spend around them, the more excited I get about our future.
“You have Zoology of Familiars next don’t you, Siren?” Rehan asks.
“I do! I’m excited. Even though I know not everyone gets picked by a familiar, I would love to have one.”
Ward scrunches up his nose. “Hopefully you get one then, but let’s just hope it’s something fluffy, and not a reptile.” He shudders at the last word.
I let out a surprised laugh, “Don’t tell me the big strong man is afraid of snakes and lizards.”
This time he lobs a fry at me. “Yes, Dove, it’s true. I am not a fan of reptiles, or spiders, and I am man enough to admit it.”
Rehan tosses one of his fries at Ward, “I want to laugh at the fact that your big beefy ass is scared, however, chickens scare me.”
I let out a very unlady-like snort. “Chickens? You are scared of chickens?” Everyone bursts out laughing, causing Rehan to release a cry of outrage.
“Hey! They are basically mini dinosaurs!” That only makes everyone start laughing harder.
“I’m sorry, honey, I shouldn’t laugh.”
He shrugs, “No it is funny. I don’t know why they freak me out so bad, but they do.”
I shoot a grin at my brother. “Well, since we are sharing phobias…”
He crosses his arms and glares at me, “Don’t you fucking dare!”
“Marshall is scared of clowns, mimes, and he has achondroplasiaphobia!” I rush out, grinning.
“Do you want to tell them why? We used to watch a lot of scary movies, and once she realized certain ones freaked me out more, she made sure to use that to her advantage. Somewhere there are clowns? Get it to chase me. Mimes? Get it to fuck with me. She told me we were going to a WWE house show. It was little people wrestling. They came into the audience! One was dressed as a leprechaun, like that scary movie! Plus, she’s scared of puppets! ”
Letting out a gasp, I shoot a stream of water at his face.
“Marshall! That is entirely your fault! You bought one that looked just like the one from Dead Silence and put it in my bed, and let's not forget, you did that before I started retaliating.” All four of my mates are laughing to the point of tears now. “Leif, Dallan? Anything to add?” I ask.
“Nope, I’m not really scared of anything, Poppet,” Leif grins.
“I’m not sure I want to answer that, seeing as you like to prank your brother with the knowledge, but I can be a good sport.
Dolls freak me out,” Dallan replies with a shudder.
That sets us all off laughing again. Seeing my mates so easily laugh and joke with not only each other but with my brother fills me with a sense of peace.
After lunch, all four insist on walking me to class in the Sherewood Forest, where stables for all the animals are scattered throughout.
I wave bye to them at the pathway near Valor Tower, as they head to their own classes.
The forest is beautiful, what I’d imagine one in a fairytale would look like.
The trees are massively tall, like redwoods, but like a mix of those and weeping willows.
There is moss along the forest floor, with wild flowers, clovers, and mushrooms sprinkled everywhere.
I startle when a will-o’-the-wisp pops up in front of me. More slowly fade into view, lighting a path towards what I’m hoping is class. Humans believe will-o'-the-wisp will lead you to your death, but for supes they are a good omen; we believe they lead you to safety or your destiny.
I feel a low humming coming from my watch, so I pull it out to check.
One of the hands is spinning wildly, so I know another mate must be close by.
I pick up my pace, the will-o’-the-wisp chirps and flames leading the way.
Breaking into a clearing the size of a football field, I feel the tingling of an unfamiliar ward gliding over me, causing goosebumps to pebble over my skin.
As soon as I’m through the perimeter of the ward, the pulling in my chest hits me so hard it takes my breath away.
Right in the middle of the clearing, in the direction the watch hand is pointing and tugging is leading me, in a group of students, stands Rune, his red hair like molten lava in the sun.
He turns to face me, hand on his chest, blue eyes widening in shock as they meet mine.
We are moving towards each other like a magnet is pulling us together.
Within seconds he’s standing before me, reaching his hand out to caress my face.
“Do you feel that?” He asks, voice hoarse.
Nodding slowly, to not disturb the palm cupping my cheek, I reply just as huskily. “I do; it means we are mates.”
A huge smile takes over his face. “I thought that first day it was possible. It felt strange being so close to you but I didn’t understand why.
I tried to find you again after, but I always seemed to miss you.
Then when you showed up in the dining hall you were with the others. I’m assuming they are also your mates?”
“Yeah, they are. It seems I’ll have six mates. Is that.. I mean are you okay with that?” I ask nervously.
“Of course; my parents are part of a circle, so I always knew it was possible. I’m thrilled, actually. Honestly, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I met you.” He pulls me in for a hug, my body melting into him.
Professor Grellet chooses that moment to glide into the clearing, causing us to jump apart. She could be the body double for Brienne of Tarth from a show I watched called Game of Thrones. She has to be taller than all of my mates, easily over a foot taller than me for sure.
She claps her hands to get everyone's attention, “Alrighty kids, lets go see who will be blessed with a familiar!”