I took only ten seconds to become aware of three other distinct presences in the back of my head.
“They felt everything, didn’t they?” I asked, not quite able to summon embarrassment yet.
Draco rolled to his side and brushed his lips against my forehead. “Yeah. The bond is still forming. It’s hard to block things this intense.”
I should have been mortified. Instead, I found myself laughing softly. “Well, that’s one way to break the ice.”
He propped himself up on one elbow, looking down at me with a mixture of amusement and concern. “You’re not upset?”
I considered this, tracing lazy patterns on his chest. “No. This was going to happen eventually, wasn’t it? With one of you, or all of you. That’s how axis bonds work.”
His expression grew serious. “Is that what this was? Just the bond?”
I caught his face between my hands, making him look at me. “No. This was me wanting you, Draco. Just you. Tonight.”
The relief in his eyes was staggering. He leaned down to kiss me softly. “Good. Because I’ve wanted you since the second I saw you. And I do mean the very first second.”
I smiled against his lips. “Careful, you’ll inflate my ego.”
He pulled me closer, arranging us so that my head rested on his chest, his arms secure around me. As I drifted toward sleep, I gripped Draco’s arm tighter. “Stay,” I murmured, already half-asleep.
“As long as you want me,” he promised, his lips brushing my hair.
For the first time in weeks, I slept without nightmares.
FIFTEEN
Jupiter
I wokeup to the sound of my alarm blaring, Noodle’s irritated hiss, and the unmistakable feeling of being watched. When I cracked one eye open, I found all four men of the Nightfall Shield standing at the foot of my bed, already dressed in full combat gear.
“Rise and shine, princess,” Aiden said with a smirk. “We’ve got orders.”
I groaned and pulled the pillow over my head. “It’s Saturday. Whatever it is can wait until a civilized hour.”
Percy yanked the pillow away. “Assembly directive. All shields and axis candidates are being deployed to Philadelphia. Major bane activity.”
That got my attention. I sat up, suddenly wide awake. “How major?”
“Major enough that they’re calling in students,” Draco said, his eyes meeting mine briefly before darting away. We hadn’t really talked about what happened between us three nights ago. Neither had anyone else, though I could feel their awareness ofit humming through our bond whenever Draco and I were in the same room.
Eris tossed a gear bag onto the bed. “Suit up. Transport leaves in twenty.”
I scrambled out of bed, grateful I’d worn a tank top and shorts to sleep. “Details?” I asked, already digging through the bag.
“Multiple incursion points across the city,” Percy explained, all business. “Each shield team is being paired with a graduated team for field experience. We’re shadowing the Sunbreak Shield.”
“Sunbreak?” I paused, boot in hand. “Aren’t they?—“
“The most decorated field team on the East Coast,” Aiden finished. “Yeah. Apparently the Assembly wants their best eyes on us.”
“Fifteen minutes,” Percy said as they filed out, giving me privacy to change.
The moment the door closed, I threw on my combat suit, reinforced black material that moved like a second skin but could withstand a bane’s claws. I braided my hair tightly against my scalp, secured my collapsible staff to my back, and strapped my silver dagger to my thigh.
Noodle watched from the bed, his tongue flicking anxiously.‘Danger.’
“I know, Nood. Hold down the fort for me, okay?”
