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Chapter 1
Ieyed the line of guys following behind me and shot them a final warning look.
“No fighting. No talking over each other. Sit and listen. If you have questions, wait until she’s done.” I stared down each of them until they nodded. First Sai, then Theo, Kaden, and finally––after glaring back at me––Niall agreed.
“This is my time. My tutoring. I’m inviting you to be involved as a courtesy. At the first hint of bickering, I’ll kick you out.”
With that, I knocked on the door and waited for Mrs. Hedgings to respond.
“Come in,” she called in a cheery voice.
I opened the door and led the procession into her office. Five sets of teacups were arranged around the table with a small platter of treats.
I eyed the teapot and wondered if it, too, was spelled to be bottomless, never emptying and thus never ending the conversation.
“Hello.” She greeted each of the guys by name until Kaden approached. “Oh, I don’t know you.”
He held out his hand with a warm smile. “Kaden Pratt, professor. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I narrowed my eyes as she seemed to swoon under his attention.
Sure, Kaden was handsome, and he could use his honey gold eyes as weapons to lure you into a sense of calm and comfort, but I no longer fell into their trap.
Instead, I remembered the hawk I learned to love and trust over the past decade of dreams was nothing but a deceitful, tricky shifter.
“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Pratt. It’s quite unusual for a student to join us so late in the term, but given the circumstances, I’m pleased the exception was made,” my advisor said.
“Exception?” The word slipped out before I could stop it.
“Why don’t we all take a seat, and we can chat.” She gestured to the couches and chairs around the table.
I moved to the furthest single seat, forcing the guys to spread out on the two couches while Mrs. Hedgings took the other free chair across from me. Watching them squirm and sit so stiffly to keep from touching one another was almost worth the awkwardness of this entire meeting.
I leaned forward and picked up my cup, taking a tentative sip to show our host I was at least trying to down her dreadful concoction.
“You were doing quite well at Dunsmore Academy, Mr. Pratt. It’s unusual for a student to transfer so late in their studies. Headmaster Goldstein rarely makes exceptions. So tell me, what did you have to tell him to get here?”
Kaden’s eyes flickered to mine before he answered her. “It was simply a matter of my parents reaching out to Headmaster Connolly and explaining that it would be in my best interest, as well as that of Drexel, for me to be here. I also committed to staying here for at least one more full year.”
He hadn’t mentioned that.
Did that mean we all had to stay?
I wasn’t sure that’s what I wanted, but the other guys were split. Could Theo and Niall go to traditional universities if they wanted, even though we were bonded?
Could we wait to do the ceremony until after we were done with school entirely?
No.
The guys wouldn’t go for that. I already lost that argument.
Plus, they drilled into me the importance of formally establishing the bond. It would offer additional protection, and that was something we all needed, especially with what Masie told me about someone targeting interspecies couples and families again.
Sai got straight to the point. “We aren’t really here to discuss the how of Kaden being here. The why is much more important.”
Mrs. Hedgings smiled across the table to me while lifting her dainty teacup. “You heard the rumors of the council’s latest injustices?”
“Yes,” I confirmed. “We all agreed it’s best that we go through with the bonding ceremony as soon as possible before that option is taken away too.” She started to dip her head, but I continued. “We aren’t sure we’re ready to move in together though.”
