Reckless Souls (Saints Academy, #1)(91)

satchel without even pausing or waiting for Harmonia, while I just gape in surprise.

Fuck.

I thought after everything at Christmas, the time we got to spend together, and the connection that

suddenly formed between her and Xander, that we’d fall into some kind of communication much

easier, but she’s making it more difficult than I care to admit.

Yesterday, after I watched her fall apart at the dining table with muted gasps and ecstasy at

Adonis’ touch, I thought there may have been progress, but when I ran into her later in the day, I was

wrong again. Rhea Harrington is a conundrum.

Getting back to the main Academy building, I couldn’t take another step without almost forcing

her to listen, but when I pinned her against the wall, all I could think about and focus on was her lips.

Then we were interrupted by the administration staff and their concerns over some vision about the

darkness. Rhea was able to use that moment to slip away from me, just like now.

Double fuck.

I drag my hand down my face, my mind scrambling to think of a way to get her to hear me out,

when Adonis appears at my side. The rest of the class heads for the doors after Rhea, while I continue

to stand and stare at the exit she just took. I’m almost positive if I chase after her, it would only push

her farther away.

I’d tried to approach the subject calmly yesterday, but that did me no good. Which leads to today,

and them watching, which is what forced my hand, I just hope she can forgive me. But if that kiss is

anything to go by and her physical reaction, I’m hoping there’s nothing to forgive at all.

Xander and Khaos appear simultaneously before Adonis can even speak, each of them looking at

me expectantly, when Harmonia appears in front of me with a shake of her head. With her white hair

tied back off her face and her pink eyes darkening as she glares at me with a twist to her lips, I know

she has something to say. And I know she won’t hold back.

“Honestly, I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with you guys. I’ve never known anyone, let alone

a group of four, who fuck up as often as you lot, and you’re supposed to be Elite,” she says with a

sarcastic tone and a roll of her eyes. “Get your shit together, or instead of encouraging my friend to

explore whatever this is, I’ll be pushing her to run for the goddamn hills, like I did when she first

caught your gaze,” she adds, her teeth snapping together in anger, and I offer a single nod in response

while the others remain silent, watching her with a hint of surprise.

Harmonia has always just been… Harmonia. We crossed paths for sure, especially since we live

in the same hall, but never really had a conversation or deeper interactions, until Rhea made an

appearance. But I heed her warning well, because just like Athena said, we are as fierce as we are

calm.

As she retreats, storming out after her friend, I turn to my own, all of whom have a mixture of

emotions on their faces, silently communicating with their eyes that I need to hurry up and explain my

actions.

“What the fuck just happened?” Xander asks, rubbing the back of his neck as he stares me down

and I shrug, wetting my lips as I try to take a calming breath. It’s not that I regret my actions, but now

all I feel is frustration. Knowing she’s run off only adds to my stress.

I don’t respond at first, just flicking my eyes in the direction I know they’re still standing in, and

the three of them offer no hint of saying any more. I shake my head as I brush past Khaos and Xander

and walk toward my own bag.

I’m not having the rest of the conversation here, there’s too many people around, and you never

know who might be listening in, intended or not. I can vouch for that after yesterday with Rhea.

Sensing the three of them falling into step behind me, I swipe my bag up off the floor and head for

the exit. The few people that remain in the room step out of my way quickly as I march past, raking my

hand through my hair as I hurry to the portal.

I find myself back in Agion all too quickly, but of course she’s nowhere in sight. She could have

gone to the dining hall, but my gut tells me she’s here hiding. I just need to have a firm conversation

with my brothers first, before I fucking ruin things for all of us.

Stopping by Xander's door, he appears at my side moments later, palm flat to the wood as it clicks

open, and I don’t wait for him to invite me in, moving straight past him and flopping down on his bed

with a sigh.

“Zen Elias, what the actual fuck is going on?” Khaos asks this time as Adonis shuts the door

behind the three of them, and I give him my own pointed look for using my full name. Dick.

He fucking knows what’s going on, we all do, but there’s so much, we don’t even know where to

begin. We need to make sense of where we stand with regards to Rhea and figure it all out.

“What are your thoughts on Rhea, like for real, everyone’s thoughts?” I ask, watching as the three

of them stand taller at the mention of her name, even though she’s exactly what we’ve been dancing