Chapter 27 Tacita
Tacita
Earlier that day.
Entering my room, I’m met with two empty beds and no hint of Milo anywhere.
I’m guessing he stayed with Wyatt again tonight and even though I have an urge to go and make sure they are both safe I’m also wanting to put off the conversation I know I need to have with them both.
So instead, I take a shower and sleep for a few hours.
In the morning, I knock on Wyatt’s door before heading down to breakfast but am met with silence. Today is our day without any classes so I was hoping they’d sleep in a little longer but I’m outa luck.
Calling in on Seffy instead, she does answer the door. I have to wait a few minutes for her to finish getting ready but I don’t mind–I’d rather not walk into the canteen alone today.
I’m taken by surprise as I step into Seffy’s room. Somehow she’s managed to procure some paints as her walls are decorated in various shades of pink, purple and yellow. It's not a solid colour either. She’s painted flowers, tons and tons of them.
“Wow, when did you do all of this?” I ask, taking a closer look at the walls.
“I started it after we’d been here for a few days, and just keep adding to it whenever I get time, especially since my roommate has shacked up with her team. She’s moved to the other dormitory building,” she informs me as she rustles around in her bathroom.
“It’s really creative, I love it.” The loudness reminds me of my apartment. It’s decorated with bold colour and statement pieces. I feel a sudden longing for the space I’ve not been to in months. Hopefully, when this job is done I can return to it for several months without needing to travel.
“Urgh, they’ve not restocked the tampons. I don’t suppose you have any left I could steal?” Seffy appears in the doorway.
“Er… yes. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some in my room,” I tell her.
“Haven’t you needed to use any?” she asks, her ponytail swinging as her head cocks. “We’ve been here well over a month.”
“Oh.” I quickly dig through my brain for knowledge on the human reproductive system. “I got the shot thingy just before I got arrested, I should be good for another month.”
In truth, I won’t get my next cycle for a couple months yet, demons only get two periods a year. And mine are lighter because I am indeed on our contraceptive, a ritual I have to do each time my cycle shows up.
“Uh, that was lucky timing, I literally got mine the day we got here and I’m regular as clockwork.”
“Come on, let's pop back to my room and then we can go get breakfast.” I point my thumb over my shoulder and offer her a smile. Whilst I might not have to deal with the bleeding every month I still know how much it sucks.
Seffy finishes in the bathroom, shoves her shoes on and then tucks her arm into mine as she drags me out the door. “You know, Tacita, I was a bit intimidated by you when we met but you’re a good person. I’m glad we’re friends.”
“Me too,” I reply. “Except the intimidating part.”
Seffy chuckles. “I can be fierce when I want.”
Unlocking my room, I dive into the bathroom to retrieve the box of feminine products. “I’m sure you can. You wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
We continue chatting about this and that as we drop the tampons off at her room on our way back down the corridor and then head for the stairwell.
By the time we reach the canteen, we’re both giggling so hard we stumble through the doors. I can’t even remember what she just said but it has us both in stitches. This is exactly what I needed this morning, it’s lightened my mood enough that I can think better.
Before I get distracted by Wyatt or Milo, who are sitting at our usual table with Rio, I spot Officer Phenex, or Teddy depending on which mask I’m wearing.
He’s a cute, clean shaven, boy next door type. Square jaw, brown tousled hair, and eager to please. He’s also a true demon, and I bet he draws a lot of attention whenever he gets his wings out.
Composing myself, I walk confidently up to him as he stands sentry near the wall, clearly on breakfast duty.
“Hey, how’s it going?” I ask in my sweetest voice. I can’t help but mess with him a little.
“Good morning Ninety-Eight, do you need something?” Yeah, he’s the most polite demon I’ve met in a long time. I hope this world doesn’t beat that out of him.
“The women in here need more tampons.”
I almost burst into another fit of giggles as his face drops and his eyes dart around, no doubt looking for a female officer. He won’t find any though, it’s only males on duty this morning.
“Okay, I can see to that.” His voice breaks a little.
Seffy steps up behind me. “Tacita, what are you doing?”
“Simply asking for more tampons. And Officer Phenex is going to see that we have some delivered.”
Seffy’s blue eyes widen as she freezes.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Seffy, it’s a natural thing and any real man can deal with talking about our needs.”
“I’ll take care of it as soon as breakfast is over,” Teddy reassures us. He has regained his composure and gained my respect. Even if his cheeks remain a little flushed.
Nodding and thanking him, I pull Seffy away and head towards the food hatch.
“Tacita, I can’t believe you just did that.”
I shrug. “Why not? If he couldn’t deal with it then that’s his problem.”
Seffy takes a second to think that through. “You know what, you’re right.”
We load up our trays and take them to join the rest of our little group. Milo waves and offers me his usual soft smile and I return the greeting. Wyatt gives me a subdued hello, his hand never moving off Milo’s thigh. I’ve not even taken my first bite, however, when he speaks.
“What was that about, with the guard?”
“Seffy needed tampons, I was requesting some for her,” I tell him honestly. Seffy and Rio are already deep in a conversation so I’m left to navigate whatever is about to come with the two men I’ve come to care so deeply about.
“Oh.” Wyatt sits back. “Are they sorting it out?”
“Yes, we should be getting a delivery this morning.” I should’ve known Wyatt would go into protective mode, just like he did with Milo when he needed something to write with.
“Good. Let me know if they let you down.”
Glancing down at my food, suddenly my appetite is nowhere to be found.
“Do you two want to get out of here and talk?” I ask.
I hate that I’m nervous about revealing my true identity but if I want to pursue this thing, I need to be honest. There’s just a tiny niggling twist in my gut telling me that they won’t take it well.
There’s no evidence to support it but it’s there anyway.
Milo nods but then looks at Wyatt. His eyes flicking between the two of us. His hand also sneaks to cover the one on his thigh. Their blossoming connection is beautiful to witness, I just hope I’m in on it and not left to watch it from afar.
“I’ve been waiting for you to say that, Mo Stór.” Wyatt breaks into a smile and pushes his own breakfast into the middle of the table.
“We’ll see you later,” I interrupt Seffy and Rio as we go to leave. Seffy gives me an encouraging smile and a not so subtle thumbs up in encouragement. Rolling my eyes, I just purse my lips back.
We walk out of the canteen and out into the back courtyard.
It's stifling already, the humidity trapped by thick clouds.
I stroll over to the grass area and sit, crossing my legs and scooping my hair up into a messy bun.
I enjoy the heat but five seconds out here and my long locks are already making my neck sweat.
“Fucking balls, it’s hotter than Hell out here today.” Wyatt’s words break the tension I’m feeling, making me laugh.
“Technically we are in Hell, so it’s as hot as Hell,” I reply.
“True.” He sits, pulling Milo down with him by their linked hands. “Still getting used to that.”
“Are you okay?” Milo signs, pulling his hand from Wyatt’s. “Sorry I didn’t come back to our room last night.”
“I expected you to be with Wyatt. It got kinda late and I didn’t want to disturb either of you, otherwise I would’ve knocked.”
“What were you up to?” Wyatt asks. It gives me the perfect opening. Taking a breath, I make a decision on which truth to spill first.
“I had to talk to Garrick.”
Silence meets my answer, and I see both of them grow confused as they run through the names of the contestants and come up blank.
“Who is that?” Milo signs.
“You know him as Officer Zephyr.”
“The Head Guard?” Wyatt asks, his brows still knitted.
“Yes.” I pause to give them a second to process the information. “He’s the one I slept with the other night.”
“The Head Guard?” Wyatt repeats. Milo stays quiet.
“Yes,” I say with more conviction.
“Are you with him?”
“Yes.” It’s easier to say than I thought it would be.
I wait for a reply for either one of them but neither does. And after the amount of times Garrick and I have practically torn into each other, I can understand why it would be a shock.
Milo’s face, however, speaks volumes as a sadness etches its way onto his features, making me feel like the biggest bitch to have ever walked the realms.
“So that’s it then. Game over for us.” Wyatt’s face is a stoic blank slate. I might hate that more.
“What? No.” I reach out to them with both of my hands. “Fuck. Sorry. Let me explain.”
“It doesn’t sound like anything needs explaining,” he snaps.
“Wyatt, I want to be with you too. Both of you.”
Milo’s eyes lift from the grass to meet mine. His shiny pupils still hold the confusion but he takes the tiny shred of hope I’ve thrown between us.
“But you’ve been sleeping with him behind our backs.”
“No,” I say firmly. “You only brought up the exclusivity thing a few days ago, and whilst I could've, should’ve, said more that night, I didn’t know what Garrick wanted. But he wants to be with me as well.”
“Does he know about us?” Wyatt asks.
“Yes, and he’s good with it.”
“He doesn’t mind?”
“Do you?” I press. “Because you seemed okay about Milo and me exploring.”