Page 126 of Caelum

“We can’t leave yet,” Stefan pointed out. “Our souls haven’t declared themselves, and we have to go through the portal.”

Frazer’s mouth tightened. “I know.”

“Plus, if there was still some blowback to be had from the Aboh op, we’d be sitting ducks for McAllister,” Stefan grunted. “Should have known that bitch wouldn’t show up to dirty her hands.”

It didn’t take much to figure out they were talking about the mission that had put Nestor in the sickbay. He was the only one still out of the loop because he was, undoubtedly, still unconscious. My heart ached to see him, and as that had been my original intention this morning—to visit him—before this had all begun, I hated that he’d be waking up without me at his side.

From the way the two were talking, though, it didn’t surprise me that Frazer and Stefan were the ones who seemed like they were in charge. They were, after all. Of their own individual Packs.

As the eldest, when he hit twenty, Dre would declare his Pack, but that didn’t mean he’d be leading it. Stefan would. I saw it in him then. I mean, it had always been there. Had always been a prominent part of his character—his dominance. Still, it hit home because I’d never seen this side of him before.

He was a soldier at that moment.

A soldier who was going to war for me.

My throat closed at that, and I let it. I wasn’t alone. They were with me. But that it was because I’d forced their hand was like a knife to the belly. It triggered a strange pain that went far deeper than the physical.

“Look, leaving is a last-minute thing,” Dre interjected, his tone reasonable. “It’s what we do if shit hits the fan. So far, Little Bo Peep over there has managed to keep her crap in line. The faculty doesn’t suspect anything, and you three have managed to keep the fact you’re mated under wraps. Until the status quo changes, we don’t have to go anywhere. We can stay here, and I think that’s for the best.

“We’re not sure when Nestor will be back on his feet, and we still need to train; we still need for Bo Peep to get up-to-date with everything. If weleft now, then…” He shrugged. “We’re just cutting our noses off to spite our faces. If it’s only an extra three weeks, it’s time on our side. Not just for blowback, but also for the fact we’re all currently safe here and still training.”

“You’re right,” Samuel told him.

“It does happen from time to time,” Dre retorted, snarky as ever.

“We still need to have a plan in place for emergencies. This eighth soul… it’s decided it’s in charge for the moment, but if that shifts?” Frazer shook his head. “We need to be off here within a few hours.”

Samuel nodded. “The minute we’re done here, I’ll make some calls.”

Frazer grunted. “Thanks, Sammy. Make sure the boat is big enough for all of us and a crew, yeah?”

“Didn’t think anything else, Fraze,” Samuel replied, and from the calmness etched on his features? He hadn’t been lying.

Although these boys hated each other, for me, they were uniting.

Even Dre.

God. Had I reaped a miracle?

“If this is too much, just tell us, okay?” Frazer said, his tone surprisingly insistent.

Samuel grunted at Frazer’s concern. “Twice I had to take blood from a bag,” he mumbled. “It doesn’t happen every day.”

“Your Vampire is starting to cannibalize the other souls,” Frazer retorted. “That means you’re getting stronger but will be more tired. There’s no shame in needing help.”

Well, that was news to all of us by the looks of it.

“You’re close to the final phase?” Stefan questioned, his respect evident in his tone.

Sammy wrinkled his nose. “That’s what the sickbay is saying.”

“Until then,” Frazer broke into the conversation like things hadn’t gone off track, “we need to work something out.”

“She needs training,” Stefan suggested. “Outside of her classes with the faculty. If we can get her in tune with her other souls, maybe help build her control some… it might ease the strain?”

“Or it could agitate the eighth,” Eren replied grimly.

“Maybe, but I doubt it,” Reed inserted. “Our souls like control. They appreciate it. When we’re balanced, they are. Teaching her about what we can do and who we are can’t do anything other than help.”

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