Page 50 of Nine Inch Nasty
She looks around at each one of us to connect, before landing back on my face. “Apparently, it’s our turn. I officially have as many mates as my mom now that Skylar is here, even if some of these bonds haven’t been fully consummated yet. It seems that doesn’t matter; I have 11 mates, which means I’m now qualified to be the voice of the goddess. Fuck. I have to be a queen? Yeah, that’s…that’s a pretty terrible idea. I literally can’t do that. Oh, and congrats on your new council positions, guys.”
I choke. I realize there’s nothing in my throat on which I could actually choke on, but what in the holy hell?
The room is silent, other than me mildly dying, and it becomes too oppressive for Delaney, quick. “Can somebody say something please? I was trying to avoid actually acknowledging what’s happening, but clearly avoidance didn’t work. We will be talking about that gargoyle Cory dicked to death in a minute, but I guess what I’m asking, is…are any of you willing to follow me?
“I know it’s a huge ask,” she rushes to add when no one says anything yet, “so I understand, completely, if it’s a hard no for most of you. I guess…we could try and work something out to still get time together.”
“I guess being the voice of the goddess kind of means you won’t be living in student housing, hmm?” Leo asks somewhat blasé.
Zac leans forward, thankfully with some loose shorts to cover up his junk, bracketing himself over Delaney’s lap. “For what it’s worth, I’m pretty sure your mom thinks this situation is hilarious. She’s giddy to start a new chapter. That’s the moving truck you saw outside— they’re going to be taking the downgrade and moving into the headmaster’s house, and plan on working the university over a bit. You’re offering us a fucking mansion and the most prestigious jobs any of us could ever hope to achieve, and alsoyoucome with all of that? Are you fucking crazy? We’re silent because we’re all a bit…shocked. I am willing to bet none of us really feel like we’re qualified enough for those jobs. Aside from you. You’re going to kick ass, baby.”
She pats his cheek gently. “You guys know my dads have pretty much always been some type of idiot, right? It was only worse when they were younger; I promise, if they can do it, you guys can do it. There will be a training period of course, and it will be... different, for sure, but this is pretty crazy stuff.
“The fact that we have such different representation coming to the council? I can’t help but think all your people need that. Like,the lions need more attention on their lack of females so we can find some answers, and demons…I don’t know what problems you guys have, but visibility can’t be a bad thing.
“And a mythical sparkly unicorn? You see what I mean? We can learn the jobs. I think you guys are the right fit though, as scary as that feels to hear. Maybe none of us have the experience with the government like some of my dads did prior to mating my mom, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn. I really don’t think the goddess would have given us this opportunity if she didn’t think we could handle it.”
Adam smiles at her. “You called it an opportunity. A minute ago, you were crying over it. I take it you’re processing it a little?”
“I’m scared shitless, and I honestly never, not once in my life, considered I’d be taking mom’s position, like I cannot stress enough how little I imagined that, but I guess there’s a reason I have so many mates, right?”
“What about school?” Wil asks, and I think a lot of us are wondering that since there are so many students amongst us.
I’ll be giving up my place on the football team, and I don’t know how to feel about that. I do know though, that keeping my spot on the team isn’t worth losing my spot with Delaney. I know she’s going to need every last one of us for this part of her life, going to need all the support she can get.
Plus, all the dicking she can get.
“Well…there’s always distance learning if some of you want to do that. There were provisions given to my dads when they became part of the council so they could continue their studies while working at HQ, so we could make that happen for those of you that want to.”
“When do you need our answers by?”
Delaney whips her head to Skylar, and I know instantly that was the wrong thing to say, but the dude can’t help it if that’s how he feels.
“Oh, um…”
“Nah, I’m just messing with you,” Skylar says with a smile that feels out of place on Saladriel’s face. “Delaney, it would be an honor for me to accept. I do think that maybe we should have a mating ceremony, though. Something official. I think it could be really good to help ease our transition into the positions. Plus, we deserve to celebrate together. We all have our mating customs, and I might not speak for all of us, but I want nothing more than to put a very public, very obvious claim on you. I want there to be no doubt in anyone’s mind that I’m part of your group, that I’m part ofyou. Plus, it would be a good opportunity for all of our families to interact with each other.”
Judging by the green sheen on Delaney’s face, meeting everyone’s families and seeing them interact isn’t her idea of a stress-free event.
“I wouldn’t worry about it. What could go wrong?” Skylar asks with that perfect smile still on his face.
“Dude! What the hell?!”
Skylar looks to me, alarmed. “What?”
“You never, and I meannever, utter the words ‘what could go wrong’ at the crux of a major life change. Double especially when you’re in the starting phase of playing out some famed prophecy that we know very little about! Here I am trying to have a nice, sexy night with my girl so I can kiss her face off a bit, and you’re practically inviting people into our home to terrorize us! Not cool!”
Skylar looks crestfallen. “I’m still learning your ways here. I did not mean to invite terror into this happy, shag-infested home.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Delaney tries to reassure him, but those words might be even worse than the ones Skylar said.
“I’m picking up a lot of shaky emotions from everyone; can we please try and turn that down a bit?” I rub my forehead, wishing I could turn off this ability every once in a while.
“It’s not our fault, dude,” Adam says. “You just basically told Skylar that he doomed us. How is that supposed to make us feel? Great. Now I’m all worked up and I want to tear the water out of the pipes in the wall and bury myself in a comforting bubble.”
I stare at the ceiling, then focus on just holding Delaney. “Sorry. I know we’re all a little on edge right now. Let’s…all take a deep breath.”
Chapter Nineteen
