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The students from Shadowgrim Institute.
They’re back. Which I can only assume means one thing: Erikel’s back, too.
Great.
My fork clatters to my almost-empty plate, my appetite gone. Everyone watches their every move, and it’s clear when the group continues to grow that there are more here than before. I can count at least fifteen of them and my gut clenches.
The swagger oozes from them as they saunter between the tables, fully aware they hold everyone’s attention. Their egos could definitely do with a good ass kicking and I wouldloveto be the one to do it.
“Where do you guys usually throw a party?” the guy at the front asks, flanked by his friends on either side. The question is aimed at a girl at a table two rows from us and I can see her gulp nervously from here.
“Uhh, down by the mausoleums,” she mumbles before slamming her lips closed.
“Nice,” he replies with a smirk. “I’m Ruben. My friends and I have just been enrolled at the academy, and what better way to celebrate than with a party tonight, yeah?” His smile widens as he glances around the room. His eyes hover on our table for a brief second before he continues to scan the other students. “Everyone is invited, of course,” he adds, patting the girl on the shoulder a few times before continuing to prowl across the room.
They make a scene of rearranging two of the tables in the far corner, pushing them together so they can sit as one. The crowd is quickly forgotten as they get comfortable and eat, laughing and boasting louder than necessary.
Turning my attention back to our table, the first thing I notice is the frown on Brax’s face, the corner of Creed’s mouthtipped up in a sneer, the ticking of Zane’s jaw, and the white of Eldon’s knuckles.
“The party is definitely to get intel on us,” Leila murmurs, her nose wrinkling with a mixture of worry and certainty, and I nod.
“Possibly. I guess creating a buzz is a far easier way to get us to let our guard down, and what better way to get the hive buzzing than by placing students here? Probably way more effective than relying on those they put in charge of us. I imagine they think we’ll see them as our equals,” I reply, twisting my lips in thought.
“If that’s the case, then maybe we play them at their own game.” Leila seems concerned with her own idea, but as I stare at her, it makes more and more sense.
“Maybe we do,” I state, turning to the Bishops. “I hate to say it, but we’re going to that party.”
Black silk clingsto my body, dainty straps holding it in place as I twist from side to side in front of the mirror. What I want to do is curl up into a ball under a thick duvet and snuggle the night away, but me and my bright ideas have us getting ready for the damn party.
My hair is twisted into a bun on top of my head, revealing the swirls of black that now intertwine with the pink. We’re embracing them tonight. Besides, it fits with my dress and smokey eye make up.
Grabbing my clutch, I step out of the bathroom and falter in the doorway when I find all four of my men dressed and ready, lying side by side on the giant bed while they wait for me.
Brax is the closest, in jet-black jeans with a matching fitted tee, making his muscles look even bigger somehow. Eldon isbeside him, in dark blue jeans and a white shirt, while Zane lies in a pair of cream chino shorts and a navy button-up on his other side. Creed is the farthest away from me, wearing an emerald-green t-shirt and black shorts. The green makes his dark eyes glisten as he looks my way.
“I don’t think we should go,” he rasps, eyes raking over me from head to toe, and the others quickly glance my way too.
“I agree,” Zane says with a nod, and I roll my eyes at them.
“Please, we’re not going to be having any fun. No drinking, no dancing, just listening. I may as well look cute while we do it,” I state, and Eldon shakes his head at me.
“You’re sinfully delicious, Little Bird. I want to unwrap you now,” he says, his blue eyes darkening as he moves to stand at the bottom of the bed.
“Everyone else is going to see how hot she is,” Zane grumbles, following suit and folding his arms over his chest as he stands beside Eldon.
“For sure, but that’s why we have Brax. If anyone tries to do anything more than look, he can smash them in the face with that right hook of his,” Eldon retorts with a chuckle, making me grin.
Nodding, I take a step toward the door. “Good. If that’s settled, are we ready to go?” I ask, and I almost make it to the open doorway before I’m swept off my feet.
The thickness of the arms banding around my waist tells me it’s Brax, which is confirmed when he growls in my ear. “You’re going to have me punching every fucker tonight. Behave, Shadow.”
Damn.
My thighs clench and I really consider my options. Staying home with the four of them seems way more fun right now, but the thought of a future where we get to just be ourselves, free to be like this all of the time, makes me stick to my plan.
Brax carries me outside before placing me back on my feet. I’m half expecting to see Leila, but I quickly remember the last lesson of the day. Fitch was waiting outside of the classroom doors when she stepped out, and when she mentioned the plan for the party to him, he completely forbade it.
That’s not an argument we need to get ourselves involved in, so I promised to keep her informed about anything we learn. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have a parent care so deeply and react so protectively. I’m sure for her it’s constricting and annoying as fuck, but from the outside looking in, it almost seems… nice.
