AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I gulp at the memory of being lost out there and the thoughts of what could have happened if they hadn’t found me try to consume me, but I push them down.
Before Sebastian can respond, Brax steps up to his other side. “How’s your face?” He lifts his drink to his mouth, revealing his busted knuckles, and my core clenches.
I should not be getting turned on right now, especially not by some mostly-healed knuckles that were busted from hitting my brother. Apparently in the face too. Extra saucy.
“Sebastian, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I got you a drink.” Everyone’s attention slips to Genie, who joins the mix, and I’m already past my limit of assholes for the evening. She links her arm through Sebastian’s, preening up at him with her eyelashes fluttering, and I think I’m going to be sick.
She moved on from Eldon quickly. I glance in his direction, not sure what I’m expecting to find, but he’s completely placid. I’m just pleased she’s not still clinging to Eldon, really, but of all the people in this place, it had to be him?
“I was just coming to find you anyways, baby,” he purrs back, licking her cheek, and the bile burning the back of my throat threatens to rise.
They saunter off without a backward glance, the whole interaction weirding me the fuck out, but I’m just relieved that they’re out of my space.
“Did that just actually happen?” Leila asks, her face scrunched up in disgust, reflecting how I feel on the inside, and I chuckle.
“I wish my eyes were deceiving me, but it seems I’m going to need to wash them with acid,” Zane muses with a sigh.
“You know, if that actually becomes a thing, they’re going to think they’re a power couple for sure,” Leila adds, and I fake shiver.
“They can be whoever the fuck they want. Those two deserve each other.” I raise my bottle in salute to the group and take an extra large swig. Leila was right, wedefinitelydeserve this.
Attempting to enjoy the presence of the people I like, I finally start to relax, my hips slowly starting to sway with the music as Zane grabs a few more bottles of pearl shine from the bar. The carefree vibe of letting go that I’ve been chasing suddenly feels possible.
Brax smirks at me from across the table, heating me from the inside, when Creed’s frown catches my attention. He’s looking off into the distance and I follow his line of sight to see a group of ten or more people entering the party. They look older and I don’t recall seeing them before. It’s startling how none of them are smiling, laughing, or joking around. They’re all wearing solemn looks as they head toward the bar, and the other students seem to give them a wide berth.
“Who are they?” I ask, turning back to the table to find everyone else also watching them.
“Fourth years,” Eldon explains, and my eyebrows shoot up.
I turn to watch them again, this time looking a little deeper. There are bags under their eyes, exhaustion written on their faces, and a tension rippling through them that I’ve never physically seen on another person before.
“Do you think they’re the ones from the attack?” I ask, still watching as they each down a shot before reaching for another.
“The way they’re downing those shots, I would guess so,” Zane answers, my stomach twisting into knots. I can’t even imagine how they’re feeling. They’re only three years older than me and they’ve already experienced battle and loss like I can’t even imagine.
I turn away, feeling guilty for staring, and my gaze locks on Creed’s for a moment as he offers me a soft smile.
“Nope, you’re not allowed to lose your good groove,” Leila states, reaching for my arm. “We’re dancing and having fun whether you like it or not.”
I quickly down the last of my drink before I relent.
Smiling at the guys, they seem amused by the fact that I’m being bossed around. Exhaling, I try to shrug off the funk trying to weigh me down as we slink into the middle of the dance floor. The music seems much louder here and I let my inhibitions go.
Fuck the drama with my parents, fuck the worry of what my magic may be, fuck the added pressure of suddenly having a familiar, and fuck Sebastian and Genie.
Fuck all of it.
33
CREED
With every sway of her hips, another ripple of tension eases from her limbs. It’s intoxicating to watch. I can’t look away, I can’t even blink, I can’t stand to miss a single second of her.
I have no idea how she has managed to land in our laps like this, but thank fuck she did. I sense that she’s still holding us at arms length, which is understandable, while Eldon, Zane, Brax, and I are already in too deep to deny it.
Mere weeks ago, Eldon was slipping his dick into anything that could hold his attention for more than five minutes, Brax grunted and growled at anyone that wasn’t one of us, and Zane wouldn’t have been seen dead hanging off a woman’s every word. And now, here we are. Brax still pulls off a killer caveman impersonation, but there’s another person in our tribe now. Raven.
“She’s too fucking pretty, man,” Zane murmurs, scrubbing a hand over his mouth as he takes her in, and I hum in agreement.
