“Everyone progresses differently. Besides, you also had the disadvantage of not having a support system before.”
Right, because my parents basically left me alone to my own devices due to their own shame over the Cursed Servitude nightmare.
My magic flared at the thought of that.
But only briefly, as I was able to ground myself.
Now I actually had grounding available to me.
Vax was right. The fact I could connect to a deep wound like that and still be okay, still maintain control of my magic in this way, while interacting with somebody else’s that was so different to mine, said it all. It definitely wasn’t a one-off. It was my new normal.
And also, we were gonna do the cooking thing tonight I’d suggested a little ways back during one of our breakfast hangs. The goal was to bring the fun to food for Vax and Win, and to teach Evira to make more than quiche, because she had the itch for cooking but not the confidence that she could branch out. And that whole thing was gonna be happening at my old family home. Something I’d been okay with bringing up and even setting as the location.
I guess, being with the three of them transcended all that for me.
That balance and calm I’d always been missing had been found in them.
“I’ve seen it from you in other ways, too,” Vax told me. He erected anauditory reductionspell. “Most recently, when Winter was kidnapped and you didn’t lose control, didn’t spiral. You were steadfast and rational even through warranted panic and upset. Since we’ve been back here, you’ve maintained control of your magic whenever we make love—not an easy thing to do.” He dropped the spell, smiling out at me. “I’m deeply proud of you, Zayn.”
A wave of warmth rolled through me at his words.
“Yeah?”
“Most definitely. And here I thought I needed to ensure I wore this blazer over my short-sleeve tee today to avoid distracting you when we decided last night that we’d work together during this class. I know how much the sight of my biceps arouses you.”
That was un-fucking-deniable. They absolutely did turn me on. So big, so well-sculpted. And touching them was a whole other deal.
I eyed his black blazer with the metallic spikes all over it. “Well, it’s for sure a shame to have them covered up, but that thing is also badass as hell.”
“Badass,hmm?”
Whenever he tried out a new word like that, it was somehow both sweet and hot as fuck all at once.
“No doubt.”
He flinched all of a sudden and then swung his head at Evira.
A grin spread over his face, then he shook his head and turned back to me.
“What?” I asked.
“Our dragon princess just sent me a quiet message across the classroom.”
“Ah, the kind only perceptible to supernatural animal senses?” I asked, even as I caught sight of some vampire hybrids smirking, as they’d obviously heard.
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
He rolled his eyes. “Take it off. Take it off.A chant.”
I burst out laughing and looked out at Evira, who caught my eye and winked.
Damn.She looked so sexy today in that strapless crop top paired with a gray mini-skirt that was so soft to the touch, much like her furry thigh-high boots. She even had her hair pulled uptoday, and every time she moved a little it bounced and brought vivid imagery to mind that my dick liked far too much.
And Win had his hoodie hanging off the back of his chair, so his biceps were in full view, a white tee beneath that was a little sheer because he’d spilled some water on it at breakfast earlier and hadn’t dried it with his magic, or his shadows. The fact he’d stopped me from doing it when I’d offered… he was trying to titillate me.
Okay, maybe it had something to do with me running my leg up his thigh during breakfast and getting him going. Yes, it was what had caused that spillage in the first place. And Evira had been on my other side, so I’d done it to her, too. Although, she’d set me straight by grabbing my cock in a vicious grip. I mean, I could take it and she knew I liked it a little fierce, but not at breakfast or right before classes. That was the point they’d been making to me—there was a time and a place for their little hellion to strike. Vax had escaped my sweet torment because he’d been sitting across from me texting his parents during the time I’d started all that.
