Reckless Souls (Saints Academy, #1)(97)

mouth opens a few times, scrambling to find the right words, fuck, any words, but I seem to come up

short.

“This is still your choice to agree but say yes, Rhea. Please just say yes, and we’ll figure this out.

Together.”

Without any further thought or consideration, a piece of my soul settles and I’m no longer rendered

speechless for the sake of one word. One word that will change the course of my future forever. I

know it. I can feel it in my bones.

“Yes.”





Chapter 28

Rhea

I have no idea what the fuck I’ve just agreed to, none at all. And as I look around at the four of

them standing before me in their uniforms, ties and all, I can’t seem to retract my decision. And

do I even want to?

I’m out of my depth, that’s for sure, but I want to figure this out. Together. Just like Xander said.

I wet my lips, wrapping my hand around the door handle, ready to leave, as Xander strokes his

hand over the small of my back. Apparently uttering the word yes to him has led to small, intentional

delicate touches that send shivers down my spine.

Fuck.

Zen continues to smile at me with the gentleness he always seems to exude, while Khaos and

Adonis act exactly the same; aware of my presence but nothing more.

“We need to leave now, before the next class starts,” I explain, and Zen nods in agreement as

Adonis slowly pulls himself up from my bed, the spot he’s clearly claimed as his own. Khaos ruffles

his hair, teasing me with a full glimpse at his green eyes, but I force myself to clear my throat and turn

back to the door. Otherwise I’ll be finding an excuse to convince them to stay here with me so we can

learn each other's bodies. Together.

Get a grip, Rhea.

Swinging the door open, I’m too busy scolding myself that it takes me a second to see Harmonia

waiting for me. Her eyes bug out of her head as she watches every single one of the Elite’s trail after

me, and before I can offer any form of explanation, Xander laces his fingers through mine, like it’s the

most natural thing in the world, and I roll with it. Enjoying the feel of his hand around mine.

His calloused fingers against mine makes my pulse pound in my ears. The public show of

affection is something I’m completely unfamiliar with, but I relax into his hold because even though I

may not admit it out loud, it feels almost… nice?

I hear my door click shut behind the guys, but my focus is on Harmonia’s gaze as she too looks

down at our joined hands. “Is this a two of you thing or are you all…”

Her words trail off as Zen places his hand at the base of my spine, encouraging me toward the

stairs in a show of Gods fucking knows what, and the grin on her lips slowly spreads as we begin to

move.

“Altogether. Understood. Don’t make me castrate any of you,” she states, flicking her white hair

over her shoulder with a hint of sass as she steps around us to be in front. Offering a pointed glare at

all four of them, none of them utter a word in response, and I can’t decide if it’s because they don’t

want to piss her off or don’t care about her threat.

My gut tells me the latter. These assholes do whatever they please, and since I’ve already

committed and said yes, I don’t think there’s much Harmonia can do. But I bite my tongue and say

nothing, too busy feeling the heat coming from everyone’s bodies, Khaos and Adonis included as they

walk behind us.

In a flash, we’re down the wooden staircase and a few feet away from the billowing black smoke

of the portal, when Xander’s hand squeezes mine, gaining my attention as my steps slow. He pulls me

to a halt as Harmonia steps through the portal first, giving me no time to tell her, but the way Xander

grips my chin between his finger and thumb leaves me speechless anyway.

Gazes locked, his brown eyes swirling with desire, I swallow past the lump lodged in my throat

as he adjusts us so we’re standing chest to chest. This close, his presence is all-consuming, with his

height, wide shoulders, and intense gaze. If it was anyone else, my protective instincts would kick in,

fighting to get away, but with him, it’s my fucking primal ones instead. Like the connection our souls

now seem to have beckoned me closer, setting me on fire from the inside.

“Before we step out there and feel the eyes of everyone watching, I need you to know this isn’t

just a public show for their benefit or to prove Selene and I don’t have sealed souls,” he explains, my

eyes rounding in surprise as I rake my teeth over my bottom lip.

“It’s not?” I ask with a quirk of my brow, and he scoffs while Zen’s hand at my back adds more

pressure.

“It’s not,” he responds, repeating my words at me but in confirmation, and before I can utter

anything else, his lips descend down on mine.

Gentle.

Soft.

Everything you wouldn’t expect from a growly fucking shifter, yet for me, he somehow manages to

offer a glimpse of him no one else gets to see. And I am so here for it. Learning them feels like I’m