Chapter 14
Fury pulsed through me as Chloe looked up at me in shock. That knotted ball of energy swirled and spread, pushing at me to use every gift I had to end her.
Strong arms came around my waist, pulling me off Chloe. I fought against the hold, kicking back and twisting.
“Easy, Firecracker,” Ronan crooned in my ear.
Chloe hurried to right herself. “S-she has magic. I felt it.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. The anger fled from my system, replaced with panic. But the guys didn’t seem alarmed.
Trace sent Chloe a sharkish grin. “Leighton’s anchor abilities manifested.”
Chloe’s jaw went completely slack. “That’s not possible.”
Ronan nuzzled the side of my neck. “Impossible for you maybe. But our girl’s something special.”
Chloe’s face flamed, but it was Mimi who spoke. “You’re lying, trying to trick The Assembly.”
Ronan turned me in his arms, and Trace tugged my blouse free from my skirt, revealing the anchor mark on my back.
The three girls gasped.
“I-it’s fake,” Chloe stammered. “They tattooed her or something.”
Colt’s eyes narrowed on Chloe. “You know this mark can’t be faked. You know what this means. Your little charade is done. Our gifts are already seeping into her. That only happens when a true mate bond is combined with an anchor connection.”
The redness in Chloe’s face spread down her neck to her chest. “They’ll never let it happen. They promised me. You’re all mine.”
Dash grunted. “We’ve never been yours, and you don’t give a damn about us.”
“She gives a damn about the power that comes from being ours, though,” Declan said, far too casually.
Rage flared in Chloe’s eyes, and I knew he’d hit the nail on the head.
She glared at all of us, so much hatred there. “You’re going to regret this.”
Chloe turned on her heel and stormed down the hallway, ignoring our homeroom altogether. Grace and Mimi simply gaped at us.
Colt took my hand, tugging me toward the classroom. “Come on. We don’t want to be late.”
I slid my backpack onto my shoulders and followed him, my heart still hammering against my ribs.
He ducked his head, whispering in my ear. “It’s okay.”
“My magic wanted to hurt her,” I whispered.
“But you held it back.”
“Barely,” I muttered.
“It was enough,” Colt assured me.
“But she knows about my mark.” It wasn’t the phoenix mark, but it was enough that people were going to ask questions.
Colt squeezed my hand. “It’s better she knows. Maybe it’ll be enough for her to leave us alone. And everyone else was going to find out soon enough anyway. All that matters is that the bond marks and phoenix mark are hidden.”
I nodded, but I wasn’t as sure as Colt.
He led me into the classroom and toward our usual seats.
Connor looked up from his phone at our approach. “Hey. You okay? I heard about…”
His words trailed off, and I did my best to force a smile. “I’m fine.”
“I’m not sure if I should say sorry about your mom. She sounded like a real piece of work.” Connor winced as he said the words.
I slid into my seat. “I’m honestly not sure how to feel about it either.”
Connor sent me a sympathetic smile. “Well, I’m sorry you had a shitty mom, that I can say for sure.”
“Me, too. How are things with you? Did I miss anything big?”
He chuckled. “Nothing much with me. There’s a party next weekend.”
Colt groaned. “Please, for the love of God, stay away from the parties for a while.”
I laughed and was grateful for another release of the pressure that had found its way back into my chest. “I think I’m partied out for a while.”
“Thank God,” Colt muttered.
“Aw, come on. It’ll be fun,” Connor said with a boyish grin.
“How about you come over for a movie night instead?” I offered. “We’ll have Sam and the guys, too.”
His grin widened. “I can get behind that.”
Connor’s phone dinged, and he glanced down. His eyes widened and then shot to me. “You got your anchor mark?”
I grimaced. “News travels fast, I guess.”
Colt squeezed my shoulders. “It’s not a secret. We’re not hiding the fact that you were always destined to be ours.”
“Shit, Leighton. That’s incredible,” Connor murmured.
I squirmed in my seat. What did you say to that? I didn’t have the first clue.
“How did it happen?”
My stomach flip-flopped. “I’m honestly not really sure.”
That much was true. Maryanne’s attack had set the series of events into motion, but I had no idea what had actually unlocked it all.
“People are going to freak,” Connor whispered.
I was beginning to understand that.
A ding came from Colt’s direction, and he cursed.
I twisted in my seat so I could see him.
His expression had lost all traces of humor as he stared down at his phone. Finally, his gaze lifted, locking with mine. “We’ve been called in front of The Assembly.”