41. Are we ready yet #2
With a huff and eyeroll to Alex, who stands on his left, my right, the tension eases in an instant.
With parted lips and wide eyes, he too lingers on my braid before meeting my gaze and smirks, receiving one from me in return.
Okay, handsome. All black with a braid draped over your left as well.
The Prince of Hotness. We’re twinning, because fuck Ethan. A chuckle escapes.
Moving closer towards me, standing in front of Mr. Asshole, is Caspian.
Dressed in dark greens with his red hair crinkled, waterfalling over both shoulders.
He better stop staring with those prominent lavender and sky-blue eyes.
You look adorable. The way your hair crinkles around your jawline.
New look? I like it. Giving him a smile, I meet a fierce stare.
You must be focused. Okay, we can talk more after the mission.
I keep our conversation private. It’s a plus, now thinking about it.
Next to him is Marcel, also wearing dark greens, but his hair is pulled into a man-bun.
Attractive and damn he is fit. I mean, yeah, I’ve seen him before, but Marcel’s body appears to have gained more muscle.
Not too much, yet enough to need to step around him in small hallways.
Hello, to you too. Cuteness doesn’t mean you can be an ass.
Noting his arched brow, I should tell him that later.
Beside Marcel is Ashlyn and Niro. Both are draped in fiery red, but Niro’s hair gives a ‘phoenix’ vibe that I can’t help but gawk at.
Blue tattoos scale his neck and disappear into small curls of persian blue hair.
Is he eating…I want one! I see another lollipop stem hanging from his lips.
He catches my gaze and smiles. Pulling it from his mouth, he gestures it towards me.
Nodding, I watch Niro pat his pocket, showcasing imprints of more, and I bow, knowing one of those is mine.
Ashlyn waves, granting a smirk, and I wave back. She too is just as hot as the color encompassing her frame. Slim fit with toned–everything. Damn girl, what is your workout routine?
Blaise shifts to my other side, pulling attention back to the right side of this room where Angie maneuvers, smiling and elbowing her way past Russ. I giggle and shake my head as she steps into a tight space beside me.
“Hey, girl.” I nudge her with my shoulder. “I love the look.” She is in all white leather, pristine, and ready for combat. Looking around, I see that everyone’s attire appears similar. Even Russ, who hasn’t frowned once.
Waving my fingers at him, I see his dimples set in deeper, and my cheeks warm.
“Kitten, you can’t possibly look this ferocious and not have your claws.” He smirks, but behind it holds much more than what his face entails.
“You want to find out? I’ll give you more than a scratch behind your ear.” I frown, but this contrasting smile of mine has Russ’s gaze sparkling in a more devious manner. The more he stares, the wider his grin becomes, placing us in a battle of chicken.
Damn . He bites his lip, and I avert to his chest, noticing my pulse picking up. White leather mixed with a shadow black hue houses his body. Admittedly, I look down and up a few times. Yep, he’s still dangerous.
“I’m glad you made it,” Angie whispers, catching me with a thigh slap. “We’re waiting for one more to show.”
“Who?” On cue, the nonexistent door behind me opens and in walks Yasmine.
My jaw drops taking her in. Thick hair is tied in a single ponytail, fanning behind her shoulders as she enters.
She is draped in combat gear, an all-white bodysuit with accents of sparkling blue.
I mean damn, hips out of this world, sitting on top of long legs… yep, Yasmine’s a baddie.
“Angie,” Alex calls from the back. “Why is she here?”
“She…has a name, Death Leader,” Yasmine bites. “Hey, girl, you look good,” she comments, bringing me into a hug. Okay, noted. More fays are into hugs than I expected.
“I’m aware of your name–”
“Use it next time,” she responds, and I snort, masking it with a glance towards my feet.
“Yasmine, is it? May I–” Niro starts.
“Let me stop you right there, lover-boy.” She faces him fully. “I’m not interested. And stare at my ass one more time, you’ll be holding your eyes while Elizabeth finds a way to put them back in.”
“Damn!” Russ shouts, clearly not caring, as he and Yas pass a smile to one another.
“Well, consider me intrigued,” Niro mumbles before popping his sucker out. “Here I am, being polite, and you’ve gone and ruined it. Pity. Staring at your ass, no, but I’ll keep the information of a blue handprint on your left cheek to myself, next time. I’m proud of you, daring and all.”
I’m choking on something more than air at this point, dying to laugh. But she is my girl, so we have to be unified…or at least try.
She turns, contorting her body in a way only she can produce, then glares at Niro who has taken up twiddling his fingers at her. Fuck, I’m sorry, Yas. Humor wins, and I adjust my face away from her, laughing into Angie’s shoulder.
“You and I will get real acquainted,” she snips, walking past me and slapping my arm. “It’s not that funny.” I take long deep breaths. It is, but again, united.
“Angie?” Alex calls, bringing us back on topic.
“Yasmine and Russ are here because they’re tied for second. You said, ‘Angie, bring your number two’–” A horrible Alex impression. “Well, here they are. Besides, Kyra’s here, so what’s your point? No offense, bestie.”
“None taken.” I shrug. She has a point.
Ethan chimes, “Can we hurry this along? Time is key.”
“Nap time approaches?” Niro murmurs, and my snort catches his gaze. Mouthing, “Stop,” he does this lip-lock gesture whilst a tickling giggle vibrates my chest.
“Fine,” Alex counters, “first order of business, the Book of Bonds , which is why Brock is here”
Whelp, Caspian called it. Peering over to him, I can see he has yet to remove his focus but dons a half smirk. Wait, who the hell is Brock?
“Good evening, everyone. Brock here, how may I assist?”
My head couldn’t snap towards Blaise any faster. No, he is not telling them his name is Brock .
“What is wrong with you?” Stepping a little closer, I keep my voice small. He peers down with his well-known, mischievous smile.
“Shhh, Brock has some questions to answer.” My insides are on fire, yet again, trying to contain this cackle. He is being an idiot, and they are eating it up.
“What is this about it?” Marcel speaks.
“Brock was seated beside Kyra during her signing and may have more information on the matter.”
“Indeed, I do. She was going on about our dance, proclaiming to never have met anyone who moves with the grace only a God could–”
“Blaise!” I strike his arm to cease the lies he is spewing. Okay, not a lie, but now’s not the time.
“Brock Blaisakin, but those who know me better use my surname.” He winks, and what I’d like to say falls short.
I’m speechless, wearing hot red cheeks. “But alas, we’re not here to discuss how she and I know one another and in which regard.
The Book of Bonds has reached out to every student at Rebirth. ”
In disbelief, determination morphs his features as he annotates. Everyone in this room is falling for the bullshit rolling off his tongue whilst Angie and I arch a brow at one another. My expression, is he serious? Hers telling, what is wrong with him?
“Has anyone noticed, or had their eternal magic awakened? Anything different from your own?” Alex adds, too consumed with this topic to remember his original question to Blaise. I mean, Blake–Brock Blaisakin. I’m done.
Heads shift and eyes narrow around the room. Everyone checks the other out, waiting for a hand to rise or someone to speak. When neither happens, because I’m not saying shit nor is Ethan, Alex continues. “We all saw what transpired inside Haven’s Hole–”
“No. We didn’t see anything. I was not in attendance. There was other…more interesting things which consumed my night,” Yasmine rebuts, and Angie leans over, speaking softly .
“Did you get your bag?”
“I did, and thank you for suggesting it. We used all of them and more.” They giggle, and I bite down on my lips. No, she is not talking about a ‘pleasure me’ bag. Angie’s corrupting everyone, but I’m here for it. I wonder if this explains her handprint, and if ‘we,’ includes…
“Understood, but minus you, each of us saw it. Brock?” Alex says, jumping back onto the topic. Seconds trickle as Blaise continues writing. It’s obvious the alias he gave himself isn’t one to remember. “Brock Blaisakin?”
“Oh, right.” Wow, just…wow. “I can’t say for sure if anything stood out, but what I remember is her scribing her name…” He pauses, peering down into the heat of my stare. “What was it, eight times?”
Everyone inhales in tandem, and I swear the air level drops. “What are you doing?” I ask, stepping closer whilst craning to view him. But he ignores me, jotting more in his brown book.
“Eight? Are you sure?” Marcel asks, and Blaise nods with conviction. Yep, I’m going to kill him because it was seven, not eight.
Alex nods, then declares. “If what Brock says is true, keep a lookout for other students’ abilities, including your own.
Though Kyra is new to our realm and unfamiliar with eternal bonds, signing her name more than once isn’t an ordinary occurrence.
No one has more than one bond. And we don’t pick and choose who our eternal is. ”
“Wait, let’s take a pause. Despite not wanting to have this discussion now, it appears I don’t have a say. You think I’m required to choose based on the amount of times my name was written?”
“It’s a high possibility, yes. And though it may not be every or any of us in this room, those attending have signed contracts.
They can be trusted.” Of course Alex would somehow vet everyone.
“Furthermore, no signs will manifest while inside this room. Magic in all forms is cut off. So once outside, insure you pay more attention to–”