Reckless Souls (Saints Academy, #1)(51)

I really can’t fucking breathe.

“Who knew you looked so pretty in a dress,” Adonis starts, abandoning any form of greeting as

they take over my peaceful space and overwhelm my senses. Well, except for taste, but if my body

had any say over the situation, my mouth would be stimulated too.

My eyes narrow as I finally remember who I am and find my voice. “What are you doing here?” I

ask, folding my arms over my chest.

“Eating,” Khaos grumbles in response, raising his eyebrows at me in challenge, but I simply shake

my head. Asshole.

“I mean on campus. It’s Christmas break. I assumed I would have the place to myself,” I reply,

casting my gaze at all of them, who are staring at me intently. I could feel the relief I had at the

prospect of being alone slowly disappear and in its wake, a mixture of anger and disappointment

floods my chest.

Xander leans his elbow on the table before him, placing the side of his head on his fist as he

stares intently at me. “Well it’s a good thing we aren’t. Otherwise you’d be all alone, and we can’t

have that now, can we,” he practically purrs, my mouth drying up as my thighs tighten. The rasp of his

voice vibrating through my body on its own accord.

“I mean, we can, that’s the whole reason I—”

“We wanted to get you alone,” Adonis states casually, then winks, interrupting my response to

Xander, leaving me to gape at him in surprise.

Is this a joke? Why would they want to get me alone?

I know I shouldn’t engage in this discussion because I’m getting sucked in every second they’re

here but fuck if I’m not curious to know more.

All the questions run through my mind, but what catches me off guard is the fact that they’re being

open and honest about it. My brain can’t seem to compute and all I can come up with to say out loud

is, “Why?”

“Because you’ve been avoiding us,” Khaos cuts in, pulling my gaze to his and my pulse quickens.

It’s like he can fucking sense it when the smallest smirk graces his lips. Fucker.

“I’ve been avoiding everyone, not just you,” I murmur, relieved as my drink appears in front of

me, and I take a quick sip, praying my food will come soon too, so I can ignore them and eat.

“Well I don’t like it, or should I say, we don’t like it.” That comes from Zen, catching me

completely off guard as my jaw drops in surprise.

What am I even supposed to say to that?

I really am fucking screwed.

Supreme bitch and her drama be damned.

“Thanks for your concern, but what specifically don’t you like about me avoiding everyone?” I

ask, clenching my hands together in my lap, my lips rubbing together as I search each of their eyes for

an answer.

“The distance. We want it to evaporate. Not for everyone though, just us,” Adonis answers simply

with a shrug, and I frown in confusion, but before I can respond, Xander interjects, continuing their

point.

“I know you feel it, Rhea. We’re man enough to admit it. So that just leaves me to question where

you’re at with it too.” His voice is gruff yet soft at the same time, his deep tone almost soothing, but I

can imagine in other circumstances it could cut you to shreds.

“Feel what?” I mutter, captivated by his brown eyes, and he grins, like he knows he’s won

because my words do sound like a weak attempt at denial.

“Don’t pretend there isn’t something in the air when the five of us are together. Fuck, it was

definitely there in the woods that night,” Khaos states, pulling my gaze to his green eyes, a stark

reminder of the night in question, and I almost shiver at the thought.

Pull yourself together, Rhea.

“That’s irrelevant. I’ve honestly spent enough of my time here fighting off guys who want to chase

me for being nothing, and I’m over it. I have no interest in—”

“You’re not fucking nothing,” Zen grunts, his usual calm and collected demeanor slipping away

for a moment as his eyes drill into mine and he leans forward, bracing his elbows on the table. “You

can’t be placed in Agion hall by the portal and be nothing, it’s impossible. We never thought you

were nothing, ever, don’t insult my awareness,” he adds, glaring at me until I offer a slight nod in

acknowledgement.

I’ve officially been chastised for assuming the worst in them, all because of my insecurities and

the way other students have been treating me too. Although I can feel whatever it is they’re feeling,

I’m not convinced I should act on it. I still don’t even know who I am. The thought causes a twinge of

pain to ricochet in my chest, but for now, I’ll humor them.

“Then what do you want?” The words slip from my lips before I can think better of it, and as all

of their eyes seem to darken, my head dives into the pits of desire I feel whenever I’m around them.

“To get to know you,” Adonis states, finding his voice again. I almost like the fact that he isn’t so