Reckless Souls (Saints Academy, #1)(99)

smallest, gentlest kiss to the corner of my lips, before stepping back.

I’m left gasping for air, my brain short circuiting as my pulse rings loudly in my ears. What the

fuck was that? And how am I so affected by a single touch? I feel like I’m trembling, riding a high

like never before as I clear my throat and turn to face Harmonia, who is staring at me with a wide and

knowing smile on her face. I know there’s going to be so many questions she’s going to want answers

to but thankfully, that all has to wait.

“Assembly?” I finally mumble, running my hands down my skirt as I try to process who I am and

what the fuck just happened, and she nods in response.

“Yes, and the buzz around the main building definitely has something to do with whatever it’s for,

so let’s go,” she says, turning on her heels and heading back through the portal, and this time, I’m sure

to follow her.

The weird feeling I always get going through the portal, doesn’t override the energy already

flowing through my body like I hoped, and when Xander is right behind me, fingers back to lacing

with mine, I immediately want to turn on the spot and head back to Agion and say fuck it to the

assembly, consequences be damned.

Looking back over my shoulder, I see Khaos staring off into the distance ahead, trying to get a

read on the situation, as is Zen, yet Adonis is glaring at me with a knowing grin and a waggle of his

eyebrows, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.

My lips twist to the side, considering whether or not he would take me up on the offer of

retreating back to… explore, but Zen’s words cut off my train of thought, sobering me up with just a

few short words.

“I have a feeling this somehow links back to us.”

It’s like a bucket of cold water has been dropped over my head, and I quickly turn back around to

see if there’s something happening that makes him specifically say that, but I come up short.

“What makes you say that?” I ask, and he peers back over his shoulder to look at me.

“Because we vowed to never offer any public declaration of affection during school hours, unless

we had found the one.”

Wait what?

My pulse spikes, but for an entirely different reason this time, and I stand taller. Why the hell

would that make them call an assembly? What am I missing?

“Then let’s find out.”





Chapter 29

Xander

W ith Rhea’s hand in my grasp, I walk ahead, a rare move from me, tugging her along as Zen

keeps pace beside Rhea, and Harmonia holds up the rear with Khaos and Adonis.

No one speaks, each of us casually strolling into the assembly hall with our heads held

high and posture relaxed. Well, the Elites are at least, myself included. Rhea and Harmonia, on the

other hand, are confused by the attention we seem to have garnered by simply walking through the

doors.

Only this time, it feels different, even to me. The atmosphere feels charged, ready to burst at the

pull of a trigger, yet I have no idea what the target is.

I usually let the others walk up front, since we get attention no matter where we go, but I can feel

everyone’s eyes burning at the point where my hand is locked with Rhea’s. It seems the rumors of Zen

claiming her lips in class circled faster than we thought.

Good.

My wolf is far too fucking pleased with that fact. The rumble in my chest is barely containable

like he wants to howl for hours. Contentment mixed with excitement courses through me at the

prospect of moving forward with Rhea.

It’s not like I could have taken no for an answer anyway, my wolf wouldn’t have allowed it. I

would have just had to repeat the process, explain everything again and again, until she realized what

was between us, what links us together.

I can’t see past the future I want. Not a single thing. It makes it all worthwhile. Holding in my

wolf was harder than it sounded, but I know I have to, to protect us as a whole, but fuck she makes it

easier.

Squeezing her fingers tighter on instinct, I feel her gaze shift to me, but I keep my focus set ahead.

Walking between the pews, the sunlight gleaming in through the multitude of patterned stained glass

that adorns the ceiling and walls, I watch as each house turns their attention our way. Rhea stiffens,

but keeps moving.

My smirk is barely manageable with each step I take, until we come to a stop at the very front of

the assembly hall and my eyes land on Selene. This stupid bitch thought she could play us to get what

she wanted, like that would make us magically fall in love with her, promising her everything and

anything, when it’s never been further from the truth.

All it has done is make us despise her more than ever. A fact that won’t ever change. And now we

get to show her once and for all.

My wolf begs me to lift Rhea’s hand to my lips, publicly displaying my dedication to her, just to

make sure there is no mistaking how I feel, but I manage to stop myself. Barely. Stalking down the

wooden pew, I take the end seat, keeping Rhea to my left. Harmonia snags the spot beside her, much