Well, it looked like the giant in our midst was civilized. Hopefully, the rest of them were house-trained as well. I had serious doubts about Jesse.
We cleaned our plates, then helped John finish cleaning the kitchen. Adelaide slipped into bed, and we took turns showering before joining her.
We played rock, paper, scissors to decide who slept where. I hated to admit it, but I actually enjoyed the rather ridiculous game. That was probably because I was one of the lucky ones who got to sleep beside Adelaide.
I was just as superior in this game as I was with most things.
“Are you okay with us sleeping here?” John asked, standing beside the bed.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Adelaide scooted over, and he slipped in.
My bed was huge, but it wasn’t quite large enough. It was a tight fit; we were all big men, especially with Sly’s massive ass in the mix.
I heard a low, adorable snore (As previously mentioned, everything Adelaide did was adorable) and felt a level of contentment I’d never known.
This was everything.
As I’d mentioned before, all of my friends and family would assume that I would be disappointed at finding out I wasn’t Nexus. The truth was, I’d never wanted that.
I got lost in my studies and experiments too often to want that title. I couldn’t be happier with how things have turned out. I didn’t want to be a Nexus with all the responsibility it brought. I knew I didn’t have the emotional capacity for it. But I also knew it would take a remarkable woman to handle my long hours and how easily distracted I could become when working in my lab.
Not to mention the emotional distance I preferred to keep with the rest of the planet… except for my Adelaide, she was the exception to every one of my usual preferences.
The reason I was like this was simple.
I was exactly like my father.
His business and interest in council politics took up all his attention, unlike my love of science. My mothers had suffered from a lack of attention from him since their Faction was formed. It’s truly a miracle that he paused in his work long enough to conceive me.
My father wasn’t a bad man; he was just a terrible Nexus. He loved me and my mothers, that was never in doubt. But he was too self-absorbed to tend to his family.
Luckily, I hit the jackpot. Adelaide was beyond perfect, and even though my Faction brothers weren’t, they were perfect for her.
As I lay here listening to each of my brothers join Adelaide in sleep, my mind drifted to my work in the lab. I was occupied with something that would improve the lives of all Aurathions. We’ve gone too long dependent on finding a Nexus to unlock our abilities, and I hoped to change that for future generations.
Finally, as I started to drift off, my last thought was that I hoped my Faction would be proud of my work. I was glad I’d found my Nexus, but many others wouldn’t. If my work was successful, the world we lived in would become just a little brighter.
Chapter 11
Adelaide
Iwoke up to the smell of bacon and an empty bed. I loved the first but wasn’t crazy about the second.
I stretched, excited for everything this day was going to bring.
I’d considered what I wanted to do to exact my revenge against Selene and Beatrice. The choice I made wasn’t as harsh as I’d prefer, but it would likely cause more pain than any physical harm.
Selene’s pride meant more to her than anything else.
I rose and pulled on my leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. My pink bag was propped against the dresser, and I smiled at the sight. Frosty knew me so well, and in some ways, I appreciated his stalker tendencies.
I’d never admit that out loud.
I entered the kitchen, admiring this amazing dorm room. I hoped Frosty wasn’t going to be disappointed, leaving all of this for our Faction housing.
I still couldn’t believe that the dean was allowing us to move into Faction housing. None of us had been taken to initiation yet; to say this was unusual was putting it mildly.
Still, I was barely containing my elation.
