Tilda has scaled the side of the dorm room and hangs from the rafter with one hand while looking at a blade in the other.
“Put that back.” Jeren crosses his arms over his chest.
Kyte laughs and follows Jeren. “Find the rest, Tilda. I can never tell where he pulls them from.”
“You okay?” I pull Lana into my arms, and she hugs me tight. “Strong human,” I grunt.
“Oh, sorry.” She loosens her grip.
“You can’t hurt me, my love.” I kiss her forehead.
She sighs. “Your love?”
“Forever.” I will happily make this same vow to her every hour of every day if it pleases her. This connection between us is everything, what my life has been building to. Now that it’s here, I will never let it go.
“Tilda isn’t going to give up until I go with her,” she mumbles against my chest.
“Look! I found these, too. Stuck to the wall and masked to be invisible,” Tilda crows.
“Stop.” Jeren’s protest is only half-hearted, as if he’s amused, too.
I kiss her crown, her sweet scent still honeying the air. “Go ahead. We’ll be around.”
“Lurking?”
“Definitely.” I release her but take one of her hands and kiss each of her fingertips. I can’t seem to stop touching her. “And after, we’ll start a new sparring routine.”
“A new one?” She wrinkles her nose.
“You have real power now. Knowing how to control it is the only way you can wield it effectively.”
“You sound like Master Rav.”
“I take that as a compliment.” I finally let her hand go and scoot her from the bathroom with a well-placed hand on her bottom.
Tilda is reaching behind one of the dressers. “Pretty sure there are three, maybe four in here.”
“Stop.” Jeren shakes his head.
Lana pulls Tilda away from the furniture. “Come on, before Jeren blows up.”
“I don’t blow up,” he counters.
Lana leans against him. “Maybe later,” she whispers, then follows Tilda out the door.
Jeren scrubs a hand down his face. “Can you die from not mating with your Omega?”
I sink onto the bed and take stock of the situation in my pants. “If so, we’re doomed.”
10
Lana
“Yeah, I felt it. Goosebumps.” Tilda rubs her arms as if she feels a chill. “I didn’t know what it was. Never would’ve guessed a circle. And with you in it.” She rolls her eyes. “You should’ve told me.”
Uaxin nods. She hasn’t spoken the entire time the three of us have been lounging by the fountain, but I remember what she said the night of the ball. She was there for me when I needed her.
“I know. But the guys said I needed to keep it quiet or the Fleet might have done something to us. Something bad.” I stare up at the familiar faces of the last circle, though my eyes are constantly drawn to the Bellatian, his familiarity beginning to bug me.
