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“Don’t get ahead of yourself, you don’t even know if I’m going to be a major, and I didn’t say I’d help,” Maximus grumbles, shaking his head. “We should get going before the ceremony starts.”
Maximus doesn’t wait for anyone else to respond before tugging me away from Kyros. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and practically carries me as he stomps towards the field.
“Max,” I hiss, wiggling in his grip as I try to get my footing, but he just hoists me over his shoulder, apparently not wanting to slow his pace enough for my shorter legs to keep up—not because I’m actually short, but he’s so damn tall. I choose not to fight him though, letting him wrap his arm just under the ass of my black dress pants as I prop myself up on his back to keep my face from smacking against his hard muscles. “You’re so lucky I’m not wearing a dress.”
And not a super low-cut blouse, I add silently, glancing down to make sure my cleavage isn’t spilling out of the maroon blouse.
I reach down and slap his ass, ignoring the string that radiates through my palm from his buns of steel.
“Two can play at that game, princess,” he growls, the deep tone of his voice rumbling through his chest and sending vibrations straight to my center.
This is definitely not the time for that.
Before I can get another word out, he swats his massive palm over my ass cheek and lightly squeezes it, sending a burst of pain and pleasure up my spine.
Fuck me. Not. The. Time.
He eases me down slowly and I take a moment to adjust my clothes as the blood rushes from my head. He’s carried me just inside the arena, and thankfully not too many people witnessed the ass slap, because even though this is supposed to partly be a celebration, I don’t need all of these people thinking we don’t care.
I clear my throat as the others catch up to us and they cast incredulous and jealous looks towards Maximus, clearly wishing they’d thought of scooping me up first.
“No more of that,” I whisper in warning, giving each of them a stern glare. Realization seems to loom on them then as we look at the crowds of people here to honor the fallen and witness the final assurance that Romulus is gone forever.
A somber silence washes over us as we stride towards the box where Titus and a few of the other gods are already waiting for us, but my eyes catch on a group of students sitting in the row just beneath them.
My eyes flick between the two places, but I already know what I need to do.
“I’m going to go sit with my friends,” I murmur, pausing to turn to them at the foot of the stairs.
“Of course, angel.” Adrian gives me a soft smile as he steals my lips for a kiss. He pulls away far too soon, and a blush spreads over my cheeks as I remember just where we are once again.
There will be plenty of time for that now, Liv. You have forever with them.
Adrian gives me a wink before he climbs the stairs, and each of the guys stop to say goodbye before they follow after him. Kyros’ kiss is soft and teasing, while Maximus’ is hard and all-consuming, and Mateo makes me feel like I’ll never need to breathe another gulp of air again as long as his mouth is on mine. I drag in a staggered breath as I compose myself and climb the stairs after them.
“Liv,” Nelle calls as her eyes lock on mine, relief creasing her expression. She stands as soon as I reach her, wrapping me in a tight embrace which I immediately return.
“Hey girl.” I’m grateful beyond belief to have her here. Pain slices through my chest as memories from the cave flash through my mind, reminding me that she still doesn’t know what exactly happened that day. I attempted to tell her everything when I got back to the manor, but she avoided the subject anytime I brought it up.
I can’t help but look at Titus before I let her go, already knowing his watchful gaze would be on us. That’s another conversation I have to have, sooner rather than later because I can’t keep this information from my best friend for much longer.
Nelle moves a seat over, letting me sit between her and Kali. I hug Kali, Stacia, Zina, Lucas, and even Katrina in succession before taking my seat, not even caring about what happened in the past between my new friend and me. Even if she hadn’t opened up to me before the battle, seeing how fiercely she fought by my friends’ sides would have chased away any resignation I had about her.
Each of them are wearing one of the battle uniforms, hell most of the school is in solidarity, the clothing the perfect mix of unity and recognition for the fallen and what they fought for.
“Please tell me they made the bitch pay,” Zina says, anger searing her words as she leans over to speak with me.
“They did,” I say, feeling the collective breath of relief they sigh at the news.
I fill them in on everything that happened at the summit, from Daphne’s speech, to Victor’s guilt being discovered, and finishing with Helene’s sentence. My friends frown just as I had, obviously not thinking the punishment is harsh enough, just as I hadn’t.
“By the terror that struck her when my father told her her fate, and the way she pleaded, it’s a worse punishment to her than we can even imagine,” I assure them, knowing that we will never understand.
“That day is still such a blur,” Kali says, tears already welling in her eyes as she grips my hand. I squeeze hers back, completely understanding what she means.
“The moment I saw what happened to Domenic, it was like my brain blocked out his face from my mind, and I was only focused on saving him,” I explain, closing my eyes to dispel the image of the water wrapping around his throat.
Kali nods in understanding, a sob wracking her chest that she quickly tries to cover up.
