Reckless Souls (Saints Academy, #1)(106)

pockets, a gentle and serene grin on his lips as he quite happily stares at me, but I don’t miss the way

he flicks his eyes to Xander a time or two as well. Hmm.

Turning to Khaos, he’s already looking at me with his piercing green eyes boring into my soul, his

dark hair hanging over his face as he quirks a brow at me and nods his head in Xander’s direction.

So I’m apparently supposed to draw the information out of him. Awesome. Surely one of them

could help me, but it seems like today isn’t the day for that. Lack of communication sucks dick.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to threaten the quiet vampire-to-be with something devious from his

cousins, Thalia and Cassandra, but I refrain, pulling on my big girl panties and turning my full

attention back to Xander.

“Are we going to stand around for the next hour, or was there something specific you had in

mind?” I ask, swinging my arms at my sides instead of planting them on my hips like I want to. I need

to show I’m open to the conversation instead of letting my frustration get the better of me.

He takes one step, then another, followed swiftly with another as he begins to pace before me. “I

want to try something.” Turn. “It’s been driving me insane.” Turn. “But I really don’t want to do it

without you around.” Turn. “But he’s literally going crazy,” he rambles, rubbing at his temples as he

continues to pace, and I wave my hand in the air to get his attention.

Whatever it is has him rambling like a madman, and it’s not helping my own stress levels all of a

sudden. “I need you to spit it out because my entire body is reacting to your tension and that’s not

going to go well for anyone,” I state, clenching my hands as I place them at my side.

A hint of guilt washes over his face as he turns to face me head on, feet planted shoulder width

apart as he stares straight into my goddamn soul. “I want to shift. No, I need to shift, Rhea.”

My head rears back in shock at his words, surprise coloring my face as I immediately take a step

toward him. “You haven’t shifted since…” my words trail off as he shakes his head, and it’s my turn

to feel guilty this time. “You should have told me sooner. I know things have changed quicker for you

than me,” I state, my hand instantly reaching out to his side where I know his mark is now; my mark.

“It’s not your fault,” he replies, shaking his head dismissively as he cuts the remaining distance

between us so we’re chest to chest. “Everything else I’ve gained from kick-starting my powers early

can be over sensitizing sometimes, all the new scents, sounds, and the fucking speed. I can’t tell you

how hard it is to not move as fast as I know my body can now,” he adds, a buzz of excitement zinging

in his now amber eyes, and I smile. “But he’s going crazy up in here,” he states, tapping his temple as

I tilt my head back to keep eye contact with him.

“We’re not sure if his shifting might also calm that for him too,” Zen adds from behind me, and I

nod in understanding.

Gods, the last time he shifted, it was… magnificent. Beyond any words, and I can’t deny that I’m

eager to see it again.

“Are we safe out here?” I ask, not wanting to be the bearer of bad news or the one dousing us in

negativity, but my heart, my soul, my magic, believes that keeping him safe is paramount over

everything else right now.

“We just have to hope we are,” Khaos states, a hint of uncertainty in his voice too, but I don’t look

away from Xander to get a sense if there’s any hesitation from his perspective. “We can keep watch

while he does, and you’re here to calm him if needed.”

I can do that. I can definitely do that.

“We couldn’t ask someone to put a ward up to shield us away from everyone, they would have

wanted to know why, and it’s not a risk worth taking. Not yet, at least,” Zen explains, which makes my

eyes widen, offering me a reminder that I am no way accustomed to the fucking supernatural world

and the abilities within it because I didn’t even consider the option of a ward to be a thing.

I have a lot to fucking learn, but yet I’m an unwilling participant in Academy drama.

Xander’s Adam’s apple bobs a few times as he swallows past the lump in his throat, and I watch

his pulse throbbing at his neck.

He needs this, and he needs us to be here for it, me included, and who the fuck am I to deny him a

moment to find peace within himself?

Leaning up on my tiptoes, I place a gentle kiss on the corner of his mouth before taking a reluctant

step back. “Do it, Xander,” I breathe, my chest tightening with a mixture of excitement and trepidation

at the unknown. “I’ll be right here with you.”

As if those words were the soothing balm he needed, he offers me a panty-melting smile from ear

to ear, before taking a step back himself. Slipping out of his blazer, he undoes the first few buttons on

his shirt, before reaching back over his shoulder to pull it off in one swift motion, revealing his