“And yet Daddy Carter still thinks she needs another one. Or maybe you guys just aren’t very effective?” Bellamy shrugged. “Not my business, really.”
A dark laugh reached their group, several of Bellamy’s friends scattering away as another body stepped up behind her, oleander slowly descending over their group like a vaporous cloud.
“You have a death wish, Beta?” Oscar growled.
“He your boyfriend or something?” Bellamy asked Isobel. He couldn’t quite seem to bring himself to look at Oscar. He shifted his weight, casually leaning in the other direction.
“No.” Isobel crossed her arms over her chest. “I have a mate, remember?”
“Noo,” he drawled sarcastically, his English accent thickening. “I totally forgot that Isobel Bloody Carter has a goddamn mate.”
She found herself smiling because he … well, he had a point. It was almost a guarantee that Ironside would use her half-bonded status as a source of drama at least once a week.
“If you refuse to be my surrogate, my father won’t be able to do anything to force you,” she said. “So just pull out. Please. Don’t let them use us to negotiate with each other.”
Bellamy closed his eyes, pinching his nose before dropping his hand and levelling her with a tired expression. “I’ll try. But you haven’t met my dad.”
“I can relate.”
“All right.” Theodore tugged her back. “Enough bonding. Mission accomplished. Bye bye, Bellamy.”
“Did you want me to tell Wallis to meet you at Dorm A or something?” Bellamy asked blandly. “I’m pretty sure she ran back to get an umbrella.”
“Actually, we’re having a dorm-only celebration tonight. Tell her I’m sorry and I’ll call her later!” Theodore dragged Isobel off, and they stopped to collect all the camera equipment from Cian before they headed back to Dorm A as a group.
Kilian texted her to let her know that she could use his shower, so she went straight to his room and stood under the warm flow of water for several minutes, replaying the dance over and over in her head as though she could somehow tattoo it into her memory before she dressed in one of Kilian’s shirts and a pair of shorts.
She made her way to the rooftop, following the noise and the smell of food, and paused at the top of the stairs, biting back a smile at the sight of all ten of them crowded into the kitchen, digging into the food Niko, Kilian, and Cian had picked up. They still had one period left for the day and all their usual scheduled practice and training time, but for the first time since arriving at Ironside, Isobel felt okay with just letting it all go and enjoying herself. It wasn’t just her, either. The others were relaxed and happy—even excited, though it was hard to tell since their positive emotions didn’t have the same effect on her.
Kilian dragged her to a stool at the counter before disappearing to take a shower, and Theodore filled up a plate, sliding it over to her as Moses poured margaritas for everyone. It took her a moment to realise a new camera had been installed on the rooftop, covering the entire kitchen area, which had been a blind spot up until now.
“Should we be drinking on camera?” she muttered low to Niko, who snapped a glass down in front of her.
He shrugged. “We’re celebrating, don’t worry about it. Kalen won’t let us drink much anyway. We’re still on emergency standby.”
She cut a look to Cian, who was sitting on the opposite counter, Oscar beside him. Oscar was halfway through an enchilada, a hint of amusement in his dark eyes as he watched Moses pretending not to understand what Theodore wanted on his taco and loading it up with pineapple instead. Cian’s food was untouched and there was no drink in his hand. He held an easy smile on his face and was obviously keeping his emotions tightly in check, but it was clear that he was worried.
She checked her phone, but there were no new messages from Sophia. There was every chance that Ironside had increased security after Luis’ and Cian’s dreams, throwing off whatever plans had been in motion for an attack at Ironside. But that didn’t mean it couldn’t still happen in the future. She knew the health and safety of the Gifted wasn’t exactly the government’s highest priority, but Ironside was a billion-dollar industry for the country, and all of their Icon assets were within these walls, so even though they didn’t put a lot of stock into the Gifted abilities, they were probably still taking the idea of a threat at least somewhat seriously.
She forced the thoughts from her mind to eat the vegetarian tacos Theodore had made for her, even though her appetite had dipped. She didn’t really have a choice because Theodore was watching her, waiting to pounce the second she pushed her plate away. As soon as Cian spotted her covertly watching him, he also started eating, flashing her a carefree, cocky grin.
It was obviously fake, but the longer they held eye contact, the more it smouldered into something darker. She could see him remembering what they had done in the closet that morning. He even seemed to be staring at her lips, and it made her too nervous to eat, so she reached for her margarita instead, the cool, tangy liquid spilling across her tongue as she switched her attention from Cian to Niko, who was already on his third burrito.
He caught her watching and notched his chin up in question, his brows twitching up as he took another huge, tearing bite.
“Where do you put all that food?” she asked.
“He burns it off,” Kilian answered, returning from his shower. “Most of his classes are sports.”
“I’m three times your size,” Niko defended, after swallowing the food in his mouth. He raised his arm and flexed it, and Isobel blinked at the immediate bulge of muscle.
He had grown. They all had.
They were all taller and more muscular than when she had first seen them in her first week at Ironside. Oscar’s hair was growing out, his curls loosening the longer they got. He could almost pull half of it up into a ponytail now, and it looked like whoever had cut his hair last had given him a slight undercut.
Cian’s maturing was a little more obvious than the others, with the tattoos and piercings now littering his body, whereas Niko, Theodore, and Moses had just grown stronger, the angles in their faces broadening and sharpening.