Page 59 of Laid Bare

“I can’t, no matter how much I want to. I had to reschedule a meeting with a client, but don’t make any plans for Saturday. Luka and I have a surprise for you.” Hearing they got together to do something for me sends warmth flooding through my veins. “And we’ll be staying the night afterward with you, if that’s okay.”

“More than okay.” My smile is so damn bright, and my excitement is so damn palpable, I almost forget about the crap day today has been.

“I need to get going, but make sure you let us know when you get back to the academy. I love you,cor meum.”

“I love you, too, vampy.”

Axel laughs, planting a kiss on my forehead, cheeks, and lips before reluctantly letting me go and walking away, leaving me to wait for my bodyguards.

I should be concerned that I’ve been left alone here, but I won’t lie, it’s nice to have a minute to myself outside of the academy without someone constantly breathing down my neck. Plus my bodyguards are right on the other side of the door, so I know they’ll come running if they hear even the slightest sound of distress from me.

But for a moment, I pretend I’m just a normal girl, waiting for her friends to show up.

* * *

“You’re fucking dismissed. Don’t let this shit happen again!” Cassian’s bellow startles me from where I lean against the wall, waiting for the demons to come back out.

Smoke billows from Zane’s nostrils as he storms out of Cassian’s office, and Bane is no better, but he doesn’t let it show outwardly like his brother.

I open another portal, not needing to be told we’re ready to go. It looks like they’re ready to blow this popsicle stick stand just as bad as I am.

Zane passes through first, with me following and Bane pulling up the rear. They call out a quick goodbye, reiterating that they’ll be right back, before I can get my portal closed.

Aero chooses that moment to make himself known, zipping back and forth in front of my face. It’s easy to see that he’s ready to return to his normal size. He won’t hear any complaints from me on that subject. I actually miss him not shadowing me. I know he was close, closer than he’s ever been hiding underneath my hair, but it’s just not the same without him nuzzling against my stomach when my nerves go haywire.

Plus, Bane and Zane are bound to ask questions if he isn’t here like usual. It’s just another clusterfuck of epic proportions I’ll need to navigate with this new development.

One thing’s for sure. I’m pissed, and everyone will know it going forward.

Cassian’s audacityhas my fucking blood boiling, even now, hours later. Gone is the seclusion I’ve given myself when my mates aren’t around, and now, except for when I’m sleeping, I’ll have the demon brothers to entertain.

All women, hell, men too, value their privacy, and mine has been stolen right out from under my nose. You would think with my mates around, they wouldn’t be needed, but nope. There were no concessions made—not that I took the time to ask. I was more focused on leaving the office before I exploded.

But still.

It’s one thing to tell myself to give them a chance and get to know them, but it's completely another when it’s being shoved down my throat the way it is.

I could have fought against his orders, but I held myself back because Cassian is the only reason I’m still fighting another day for my survival in a world that’s bound and determined to rid me of this life.

So I’ll have to suck it up for now. There’s bound to be times where they have to do other shit than sit around my dorm for all hours of the day.

“Alright,” Bane claps his hands, jolting me out of the pissed off thoughts running through my mind. “So, Bailey, we’ve come up with a solution to this little,” he waves his hand, “problem.”

Zane plops down next to me on the couch, man-spreading his legs, ignoring the indignant huff from the normal-sized Aero whose head is on my lap.

“We know you’re not all that happy about us moving in here. It’s bullshit, we know, and we agree with you,” Zane murmurs, bumping my shoulder with his arm. “So we’ve called that fae prince professor dude to come and voodoo the wall away between your dorm and ours.” He waggles his fingers like he’s doing magic. “That way, the two dorms will become one, and we’ll be on opposite sides. It’ll still give you the illusion of privacy while we’re still following orders and living in your ‘dorm’.” Zane finger-quotes the word dorm with a roll of his eyes.

Well, damn. That’s… fuck. That’s a brilliant plan.

“Oh my gods! I could kiss you guys right now!” I squeal with excitement, ignoring the smoldering look Zane shoots my way.

“Well,” Zane spreads his arms across the back of the couch, “I’ll pucker up, pinky. I’m ready.” His statement is followed by kissy noises that makes heat spread up my chest and into my bruised cheeks.

“Gods,” I huff, shoving at Zane’s side. “I wasn’t serious.”

“Shame,” Bane mutters, heading toward the door before I can question why he said that. He pulls it open, scaring the Smurf standing at the threshold, who fumbles with his phone, dropping it to the floor.

“Fuck,” Thaddeus curses, bending down to grab his discarded cell. “How the hell did you know I was here? I hadn’t even knocked yet.”

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