Page 151 of Caelum

Trying not to let tension strum through me, because I knew Eve would be susceptible to it and she’d already picked up on whatever was making Reed shadier than usual, I merely sent out a group text.

Within thirty seconds, I had agreements from all my brothers except for Nestor.

“Nestor still can’t move from his suite,” Eve said before I even muttered a word.

Reed swore under his breath. “Shit. Yeah. I forgot about that. I’ll tell Sam and Fraze to go to his bedroom.”

I told Dre and Eren about the change of locale and Reed did the same before we set off at a leisurely pace toward the Academy. Though none of us uttered a word, we silently maneuvered around to the back of the building, going in through one of the rear entrances rather than through the foyer where one of the faculty might have spotted us.

Eve might not think much of seeing Reed and I hanging around eachother the way we were, but I knew if the faculty spotted us, they’d immediately think something was going on.

Our rivalry was over four years in the making, for God’s sake. Friendships weren’t formed from that kind of dislike.

Well, except when a Chosen was involved, of course.

The tended front yard made way to the more rugged area where staff tended vegetable plots. There were too many students and teachers for us to be self-sustainable on an island that was too rocky and rugged for its own good, but we managed to grow some stuff.

Because of how hot it could get—we were in Africa, after all—the veggie and fruit patches were covered with a kind of tarp that had holes in it. As we passed, it quivered in the stiff breeze from the sea, and the scent of ozone, as well as Eve’s perfume, settled some of the unease Reed’s hush-hush manner had stirred.

Herding in through the side door, we paused at the instant fall into relative darkness until our eyes adjusted. Here, wood reigned supreme. The floor, walls, and even the ceiling were covered in the stuff. The staircase, too, was formed from it, and the railings were ornate, even though these areas had been manned by staff back in the day and staff didn’t need ornamentation.

As we headed up toward Nestor’s part of the building, Reed followed us while I kept Eve close to my side, and we remained in the shadows until we approached his room.

Knocking on the door to warn him, I opened up and led the others inside.

Nestor lay in bed, looking pale as fucking water. Seeing him so infirm really aggravated my Incubus. I wanted to lay claim to the Ghoul who’d hurt him, wanted to strike out and maim those who’d dare injure my Pack brother.

Of course, we’d slaughtered the Ghouls that night, so one of us had done the deed, but that didn’t ease my soul. It wanted blood and vengeance every time I looked at him and saw him so frail and weakened by what had happened.

Dre was sitting on the sofa I knew Eve was sleeping on and had been since Nestor had been discharged from the sickbay, and Eren was over by the window, looking out onto a prime view of Cruckshanks Bay.

I nodded at them both in greeting then squeezed Eve’s hand. I wasn’t sure which mark I touched—whether it was Nestor’s or Dre’s—but it didn’t surprise me when she instantly ignored the latter and headed over toNestor’s side. Despite wearing Dre’s mark, things were still chilly between them.

Watching her care for my Pack brother? Jesus, it annihilated me. Seriously. Even before she’d received the mark, she’d gone to the sickbay and sat with him, had been the one to wheel him out and back to this part of Caelum. It made sense that they were mates, too, and I couldn’t be happier if I were honest. In fact, I could be. If Eren was marked next or if Eve was marked in turn.

Of course, her marks were a great concern to me. Only males had them, so once again, the existence of those etchings on her palms was proof of just how unusual Eve was, but still, I’d take it if it meant Eren was Chosen next.

“How are you doing?” she asked my brother softly, her hand coming up to rub over his forehead.

The lucky bastard grabbed her wrist then slid his fingers down until their hands were bridged. “I’m okay. I don’t have a temperature, Eve,” he teased, and the note of amusement in his voice relieved me further. He might look like he was close to death’s door, but he wasn’t.

She huffed at his reply but took a seat next to him on the bed. With her back turned toward us, she didn’t see the look I shot Nestor. His eyes flashed, and his chin dipped as he silently confirmed that he wasn’t lying—he was okay.

Deep inside, the news comforted me, and I headed over to Dre. He raised his fist as I raised mine, and we bumped them together in greeting. As I took a seat next to him, a knock sounded at the door and Reed, who’d been hovering there, pulled it open and let his brothers in.

“What’s going on?”

It didn’t surprise me that Frazer was the first to speak. He was their leader, after all. Just as I would often take charge, he did too.

Reed rubbed the back of his neck in a way that put me on edge, but with his free hand, he held out something to Frazer. The Sin Eater frowned as he scowled down at Reed’s palm, then his eyes bugged out.

“That the key ring you lost as a kid?” Samuel blurted out, his own shock evident.

Reed nodded. “Yeah. The Coolangatta one.”

“Back up, guys. What the fuck are you talking about here?” Dre, as always, waded through the shit to get to the bones of the matter.

I expected one of the other Pack members to answer, but they didn’t, Eve did. And that? Well, it stunned me.

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