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Sai and Theo shared a look that conveyed their disapproval with that, but I agreed with Niall.
Everyone turned to face me when I spoke. “He’s right. Whether or not we like it, or we were ready, we’re bonded. We’re a unit. We’re adults in the eyes of your––our––society. We need to act like it.”
I stopped and sucked in a breath. They watched me like they expected me to say more, but what? We officially became a family today, but we were still strangers. Should I try to force that change to happen quickly or just let things progress naturally? Should I go back to my routine of school and studying, and let them do the same? What had to happen now, and what could wait?
I decided to be honest.
“I don’t know what comes next.”
Sai and Theo shared a look. Niall was glaring at the floor, so I waited on Kaden. He was the newest to our group of misfits, but he had a sense of maturity the rest of us didn’t. I was also drawn to him. I needed to figure him out. He knew almost everything about me. I’d been confessing my deepest secrets and random thoughts for years, and he never said a word.
Stupid hawk.
Part of me was still betrayed, but was it worth hanging onto those feelings? What would they change? He was here now, and we were linked forever. There was no running away.
“Do you guys want to get your stuff from your rooms?” he asked without receiving a response. “Or we could hang out and watch a movie or something?”
“We should study,” Niall said, and I rolled my eyes.
“Don’t we get a day off to celebrate our bond or something?” I slid onto one of the barstools.
He raised a brow. “You want to celebrate?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought that’s what people did. After weddings, there’s usually a reception or dinner. Something . . .”
I trailed off at their stares.
“Wedding?” Sai’s lips curled at the corners.
“She’s wearing down,” Theo beamed. “I think there’s. . .” He trailed off when he opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle. “Perfect.”
“Is that wine?” I tried to read the label, but it wasn’t in English.
“Yes, a gift from Ms. Chronis.” He read the small card attached to the neck before digging in the drawers. “Do we have a corkscrew?”
Sai and Kaden started looking, and a moment later, Sai held one up with a victory cry.
Theo pulled out five flutes from an upper cabinet and filled each for us, then passed them around.
“To us?” Theo held up his glass.
“To us!” We repeated and clinked before taking a sip. It was light and bubbly, but made my eyes burn when I swallowed.
“So are we your husbands? Are we husband brothers?” Kaden asked, as if it was the first time the idea occurred to him.
“I hate that,” Niall deadpanned.
“Well, what are we?” Sai glanced around. “We’re technically bonded to each other too. It’s not only Saige. So technically, we’re each other’s husbands.”
“Aw, I’ll be your husband.” Theo threw his arm around Sai’s neck and dramatically kissed his cheek.
Niall shook his head, “I think we’re more of husbands-in-law.”
“Is there a word you guys use? Besides bonded or mate?” I was already getting sick of saying bond, and they knew my feelings about mate.
“Paired, but that’s not the most accurate term for our group,” Kaden explained.
“A group of five is a quintet.” Niall glanced around at us like he was truly regretting being included in this.
