Chapter 174

“Nah,” Daphne says with a big yawn, reaching for her suitcase and lifting it up onto the bed to flick it open. “I brought my own.” noveldrama

We get ready for bed pretty quickly, with Daphne’s face cracking with

yawn after yawn. We chat a little bit, winding down from our day as we brush our teeth, get changed, and climb into bed. I’m even a little jealous when I flick off the light, because Daphne’s eyes are already fluttering shut. I’m pleased because I think that this means that she enjoyed herself, but also…damn, I wish I was sleepier.

My mind is still buzzing with everything that happened today. Not only did my mates bizarrely come to an agreement to tolerate each other this morning, but then I had an identity swap and became a girl again, and left the Academy behind, and got to see my huge insane family that I love so much. I sigh, content but eager for tomorrow. It will be so exciting to meet Luca’s family and see where he came from, but I also want to spend some time with Jackson, make sure that he’s fitting in here okay.

Having two mates – it’s a great deal of work, isn’t it?

As I lean back against my pillows and close my eyes, I sigh, ready to settle in for the night. But even as I begin to do that, I feel a little nudge in my soul.

My eyes fly open because…well, what the hell was that?

My wolf, eager, jumps to her feet. It was Jacks! She says, her tongue lolling a little as she spins in a circle, looking for the source of the little bump. I go still, trying to figure it out, when it comes again. My wolf gives an eager yip, excited.

He…hello? I say in my mind, passing the words down the bond. Jackson and I haven’t figured out the mechanics of speaking mind–to–mind to each other the way that Luca and I have, but we’ve had much less time to practice, haven’t we?

There’s a pause, and then another nudge comes, accompanied – of all things – by the mental image of the outside of my own bedroom door.

I send a request for patience down the line, wordless and emotional, as I grin, getting excited. I look over at Daphne, but she’s curled up neatly in her little bed, breathing peacefully, so I decide to risk it. I do my best to be sneaky and silent as I scootch to the end of my bed, and swing my legs out, and then patter over to my bedroom door.

When I pull it delicately open, my face bursts into a grin when I see my mate standing there, leaning against my doorframe and looking impossibly sexy for someone who is just…

leaning against some wood.

“What are you doing here!?” I hiss, stepping out of my room and pulling the door shut softly shut behind me, a move that conveniently brings me so close to him that I can feel his body heat even though we’re not touching. My eyes flutter half shut as I’m overwhelmed by his rich, heavy scent.

“Are you tired?” Jacks murmurs, looking down at me and running a hand over my hair, tucking it back behind my ears. “Were you sleeping?”

Grinning, I shake my head no.

“Well,” he says, giving a little shrug. “I’m not sleepy yet either. So…let’s hang out.

–

I laugh a little, silently, and then press one finger to my lips as I grab his hand and pull him along with me down the short hall to the living room of our family suite, where we had the mom will clean it up in the party tonight. The room is dark and still messy from all the fun morning, I know and luckily silent. I stop at the doorway, peering around for a second, casting my wolf hearing out to the door on the far side of the room that leads to the Royal Suite where mom and dad sleep.

–

But luckily, there’s nothing. I grin up at Jacks and then pull him across the room to the hall door, where we slip out. But once I close it behind us, I know that speed is more important than stealth.

“Run!” I whisper, spinning and starting down the hall at a sprint.