Chapter 21
Coach Calhoun blew her whistle, and the basketball game screeched to a halt around me. “Good effort today. That’s all. Hit the showers.”
I blew the hair out of my face. I’d never been more relieved to have gym class come to an end. My muscles already ached from all the training I’d been doing with the guys. Putting the gym in the mix was like adding insult to injury.
Following the throng of students, I headed for the locker room.
Just before I reached the door, someone slammed into me from behind.
“Watch where you’re going, trash,” Chloe snarled as she stormed ahead of me.
I sighed. There was no bestie status ahead for the two of us, but I honestly didn’t have it in me to rustle up a response.
Mimi sent me a withering glare as she followed behind her leader. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”
I just ignored her, pretending not to hear a word.
“She knows she’s ruining our entire community, so what can she say?” Grace spat in my direction.
What a bunch of bitter Betties. I grabbed my clothes from my locker and headed to one of the shower stalls. I was a lot more careful after Mimi had jerked open the curtain on me before. I kept my towel in the stall with me instead of hanging it on the hook in the changing area.
Whispers filtered around the locker room as people stared at me. Some were simply curious, others were hostile. I tried to keep my focus on the task at hand.
Gym was during last period today, so I could go home after this. I could breathe. Maybe take a nap before we hit the training rounds.
I groaned at the thought, forcing myself into the shower. I made quick work of rinsing off the sweat, not worrying about washing my hair. Shutting off the water, I grabbed my towel and quickly dried off.
Voices carried from outside.
“Someone needs to do us all a favor and end her.”
There was a feralness to Chloe’s tone that had the hair on my arms standing up.
“Chloe,” Mimi hissed. “If Trace or any of the other guys hear you say that, they’re going to end you.”
“They could try,” Chloe snapped. “But when they realize how much more powerful I am than that piece of trash, they are going to be begging me to come back.”
Mimi and Grace stayed silent.
“You don’t believe me?” she clipped.
Grace cleared her throat. “I just think they’re pretty taken in by her.”
“They’ll see the truth, don’t you worry.”
A chill skated down my spine as I quickly pulled on my uniform. Tugging back the curtain, I headed for my locker.
The three girls’ stares bored into me. I could feel the angry heat of them as I bent to grab my backpack. When I straightened, Mimi was staring directly at my chest.
Panic lit through me as I quickly glanced down. My blouse had a few buttons undone, but thankfully, the phoenix mark wasn’t showing.
Mimi jutted out her chin. “Letting them all maul you now?”
I let out a breath. She’d been staring at Colt’s brands. I grinned at her. “All day and all night.”
“Disgusting,” Grace hissed.
I just smiled wider. “Jealous much?”
I hauled my backpack over my shoulder and headed out of the locker room.
Trace and Colt were waiting just outside. Trace was on me in a flash, taking my face in his hands and kissing me deeply. “I fucking missed you,” he growled.
My mouth curved against his. “I like being missed.”
He palmed my ass, squeezing. “You can show me how much later.”
I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped me.
“Let’s get out of here before he takes you in the hallway,” Colt muttered.
“Best use of school hours I can think of,” Trace shot back, dropping an arm around my shoulders and guiding me down the hall.
“How was gym?” Colt asked as we walked.
I knew what he wanted to know. How the terrible trio had treated me.
I worried the corner of my lip. “It was fine.”
Trace let out a rumbling growl. “Bitches.”
“It really wasn’t that bad,” I argued. “It’s kind of fun to make their heads explode.”
Colt didn’t laugh like I’d expected. “I want you to be careful around Chloe until we know what’s going on with her.”
I shrugged. “Okay. But she just seems like the same bitter mean girl as always. Maybe a little more pissed off.”
Colt was silent for a moment and then nodded.
We made our way to the SUV, where the rest of the guys were waiting.
Declan pushed off the vehicle and tugged me out of Trace’s hold.
“Hey,” Trace protested.
“My turn,” Declan said. “I haven’t seen her since English.”
He slipped his hand into my hair, tugging my head back. His mouth met mine in a needy kiss that showed me just how much he’d missed me.
“You taste like heaven,” he whispered against my lips.
“You’re almost as good as ice cream,” I mumbled.
Declan chuckled. “I’m suddenly in the mood for sundaes.”
My eyes lit as my stomach rumbled.
Dash laughed, kissing my temple. “We’ll make some when we get home.”
“Not going to argue with that,” I said.
We piled into the SUV, but the moment we were in our seats, Ronan hauled me into his lap.
I squeaked in surprise as he shoved his face into my neck and breathed deep. I pressed a hand to his chest. “Hey. You okay?”
He nodded against my throat. “My dragon doesn’t like when you’re out of our sight.”
A flicker of unease trickled through me. “Does it hurt?”
“It’s not sunshine and roses.”
I unbuttoned the top few buttons on his shirt and slid my hand inside. His heart thumped against my palm in a steady rhythm. “I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Ronan grumbled.
“I still don’t like you in pain.”
“It’ll get easier once the mate bond has had a chance to settle,” Colt said as he pulled out of the parking lot.
Dash leaned forward from the back seat. “And even more once we’ve anchor bonded.”
But if The Assembly had their way, we might never anchor bond.
“It’s all of our supernatural sides,” Trace explained. “They’re extra territorial right now. They need contact with you as much as possible.”
I could understand that. I felt the pull to all of the guys so strongly. If I went too long without seeing any one of them, my chest would start to ache.
“How long does that usually last?” I asked.
Colt shrugged as he made the turn toward home. “A couple of months, usually.”
“Wow,” I mumbled.
Ronan nuzzled my neck. “I don’t mind being close to you.”
I grinned. “I don’t either.”
“What the fuck?” Trace snarled.
My head flew up as I took in the figure standing at the gates.
Declan let out a low growl. “What the hell is my father doing here?”