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“Yep,” she said, sitting up.
Riley didn’t elaborate on her assessment of Noah, and he shook his head. If he planned to be a part of the academy, he would need to get used to her eccentric behavior.
The headmistress gave her an exasperated look.
“What?”
“Read the room.”
“Okay,” she said, groaning. “I promise I’ll stop teasing.”
“She’s not going to stop,” Seth said.
“Oh, ye of little faith.”
Headmistress Velastra cracked a small smile, and Lukas snorted.
Charlotte found it amazing how Riley could completely transform the atmosphere, defusing the tension without even realizing it. She studied Riley’s face as she stuck her tongue out at Seth. Maybe she did know what she was doing.
The headmistress clapped her hands, diverting attention back to her again. “Have a seat, Mr. Black.” Her gaze moved across the table, her tone sharpening to a reprimand. “Aiden.”
Aiden slumped into his chair, but not before grabbing Charlotte by the arm and pulling her with him. She yelped in surprise until he pulled her into his lap, placing one hand on her thigh and the other on her stomach. She looked at Blaire with wide eyes.
“Get used to it.”
Noticing Charlotte’s uncertainty, the headmistress softened her voice and said, “A threatened or insecure Korrena will do things to soothe their negative feelings and assert his or her position to anyone they feel is a threat.”
Aiden sucked his teeth.
“Lukas still does it,” Blaire said, offering a smile.
Lukas shrugged. “Whatever.”
Riley giggled. “You’re not so calm yourself.” She looked at Charlotte, hooking her thumb at Blaire. “You should have seen the way she pushed past this girl at Haven trying to talk to Lukas. Blaire planted herself right in his lap and stuck her tongue down his throat.”
“Talk about asserting her position,” Dominic mumbled, trying not to laugh.
Aiden chuckled behind Charlotte, and his body relaxed.
Blaire’s face turned as red as a tomato, and Lukas smirked.
Noah slid into the seat Charlotte vacated and looked at Aiden. All eyes moved to Noah, questioning his choice to take the seat next to Aiden. Did he have a death wish?
“It’s fair you don’t trust me.” He ignored the rumble in Aiden’s chest. “We’ve not had the most pleasant interactions, and now you’ve found out all this about the rogues, but I didn’t know half the shit going on, I swear it. I would never want to hurt her.”
“Why?” Seth asked.
“Truth be told, I liked her. Not as a friend, but more.”
Aiden tightened his fingers on her belly. She squirmed and leaned into him, hoping her weight would ease him.
“I don’t feel that way anymore. I mean, she’s cute and all, but I’m not about to lose my head over her. The most that happened was a kiss, and—”
“The fuck you say?”
She gasped at Lukas’s outburst and looked up when he moved to stand between where Noah sat and where Aiden held her in a vise-like grip. He’d moved to intercept Aiden before he could even stand.
The overwhelming emotion of rage passing through their bond made her want to vomit. Aiden trembled beneath her. Lukas didn’t have a direct line to Aiden’s emotions like she did, but they were best friends. They looked out for one another, knew each other well enough to know when the other would react badly.
