“In about two hours. My lab is usually a longer class.” I knew that Damien and Killian didn’t have classes until the afternoon and Theo was taking a few online courses during his Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule. Hiro didn’t have any classes on Mondays.
Turning to my Kitsune, I asked, “Are you escorting me to class today?” I was hopeful. While I didn’t want to feel like I needed a babysitter, I did enjoy having that extra time with whoever was taking me to class. The guilty look that crossed his face told me I had assumed wrong.
“I wish I could, but the Council wants me to in the freshmen dorm more than I have been. That doesn’t mean that I won’t be here too, just that I need to make sure I’m covering my shifts as the resident advisor. Today, I need to be in the dorms. I’m getting ready to leave, but I wanted to see you first, make sure you were feeling better.”
“I understand.” The look on his face told me I needed to elaborate. “Don’t look so down; I’m fine. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be under the Council’s thumb.”
“Oh honey, we were under the Council’s thumb long before you got here. We had to sell our souls just to form our own group because they wanted us to spread our mythological around.” Ryder, who often spoke with his hands, was mimicking a circular spreading motion as he explained.
“No, what they really want is for us to mate.” Damien didn’t sound happy about the idea. Did he not want to settle down? Why did that thought bother me?
With the right person, I do. The smolder in his eyes said more than any spoken words. I blushed and turned my face down to my tray.
“Our friend James will be here shortly to escort you to class. I think you’ll like him.” Hiro leaned down to kiss my cheek, and I closed my eyes, taking in the sensation. As he pulled back, he elaborated. “He’s a bird shifter.”
“What kind?”
“Just ask him. He likes to show off.” Ryder rolled his eyes and I giggled. From the horse’s mouth.
“CER-AP-TOR! Good grief! I’ve downgraded to horse now? What have I done to deserve such a demotion?” Ryder pouted as he flailed his arms.
An inelegant snort bubbled out of me at his mini-outburst, and everyone chuckled in the room. I wasn’t even mad at Damien’s invasion into my head; it was worth it.
Hiro waved from the door as he stepped from the room. Ryder leaned down and kissed my cheek as well. “I’m going to go grab some breakfast. A man can’t live on sweetened coffee drinks alone.” He ducked as Damien tried to slap his arm.
“Where are you getting this stuff?” He demanded as Ryder fled the room. Turning back to me with an exasperated look on his face, I laughed. “I don’t keep this stuff in the house.”
I knew about the guys’ secret stash of sweets and coffee but my lips were sealed, so I just smiled serenely and finished off my orange juice so that Damien couldn’t swipe it from me and dump it down the nearest drain.
“You’d think as a med student he’d eat better.” He shook his head and grinned down at me. It did funny things to my stomach as butterflies took off.
Looking at my robe clad arms, I realized that I was dressed and I couldn’t remember getting into such a state.
Holding up his hands, Damien denied his involvement as he read my mind. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t touch you. Not that I don’t want to.” His grin turned into a smoldering look as he raked his eyes down my body. I was in a tank top but quickly realized that I had no bra on as my nipples pebbled under his attention. Shit! I pulled the robe closed in front of me, but a quick look at the Gargoyle told me he’d already noticed. Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, he brought his eyes up to mine. “Rini came over and did the dressing part after we returned home. Hiro had wrapped you up in a robe and a blanket before he carried you out of the medical building.”
Nodding, I couldn’t help the relief that swamped me. I didn’t want to admit the violation I’d have felt if it was one of them. They knew me though and knew the demons I still struggled with. It was one of the reasons I was so comfortable around them. They never made me feel stupid about my issues. Instead, they made me feel validated and let me work through my emotions as they sprung up, always helping and never pushing.
Shoveling the last of my food, I sprung up and grabbed some clothes. “I’m just going to shower, and I’ll meet you downstairs. When does James get here?” My unspoken question was the more important one: Are you sure you trust him?
“He should be here by the time you’re done getting ready. I trust him completely. He’s a good friend of ours, mated to a wonderful girl, a mermaid.
The little girl inside of me squealed. “Mermaids are real?” The excitement in my voice was off the charts. Who didn’t want to be the little mermaid when they were growing up? My Phoenix huffed, clearly thinking we were the better mythological. I mollified her. Don’t worry girl. I’m happy to be a phoenix! We’re pretty damn badass.
I knew my inner monolog was amusing Damien because he covered his mouth to hide a smile as he tried his damnedest not to laugh.
What, you seriously never talk to your Gargoyle? Poor batman must be bored to death in your head.
Batman?
His name. Your wings look like a giant bat’s… get it? Batman? I told you I was going to name all your creatures. It’s happening. It’s just a work in progress. I shrugged as I headed out the door.
But Batman is already taken. You should pick something else.
Hey now, Batman is badass and cool. You should be thanking me. At least I didn’t call him Rocky. Swinging my hips I walked into the bathroom as I heard him rumble through the mental line as he watched me walk away.
Twenty-Three
Nix
I couldn’t help but take to liking James immediately, which was odd for me. He stood only a few inches taller than I did and his friendly nature set me at ease right way. He was playful like Ryder minus the innuendo and something about him gave me the “big brother” vibe, even though I’d never had one. He had beautiful, naturally tanned skin thanks to his Native American ancestry as well as dark, long hair that he kept pulled back into a bun at his nape. Dark eyes were shadowed by thick lashes and eyebrows.However, what I liked most about him wasn’t his looks nor his personality—he was practically married, and I had more men than I knew what to do with.
It was his complete understanding of my safety and privacy that I loved. Plus, it seemed like the guys had filled him in not to touch me or make quick movements in my direction because he was extra careful around me, and I appreciated the effort. The fact that he would be able to follow me around discreetly in shifted form—flying above me—well that was my favorite part. The Council had signed off his bodyguard status and permitted him to shift outside of one of the spelled areas. Supposedly, it was against the rules to be shifted around humans unless it was sanctioned.
When I had found out he was a Thunderbird I had been awed, and nearly at the level of a fangirl. Hearing about them in Harry Potter had peaked my interest in them greatly. Come to think of it, him being a Thunderbird may account for my familiarity with him. If I remembered my lore correctly, Thunderbirds and Phoenix were considered to be relatives. My Phoenix chirped, sliding her feathers against my skin. Apparently, she felt the same way I did about him. It was still so odd to me that many of the creatures I had heard about were actually real. Maybe I could talk Theo into making a list for me of which ones were fake or extinct so I could memorize it? I may be less shocked that way when meeting new shifters.
“You good for your first class?” James flashed a grin my way as I played with the strap of my bag. “If you keep messing with that the whole thing is going to come unraveled. You don’t have a test or something today, do you? You’ve gone all quiet on me.”