Chapter 77

When I wake up the next morning. I am in an absolute daze of joy.

Rafe just smiles at me as he passes my nook on the way to the bathroom, happy to see me happy, but Jesse immediately knows what’s up as I stretch my arms over my head, unable to keep the smile off of my face.

“Ugh, it’s so unfair,” he moans, flopping back into his own pillow pile as the bathroom door closes behind Rafe.

“What, do you want to swap with me?” I ask him, teasing. “Make out with Luca in the dream state instead?”

“No, I don’t want to swap,” Jesse mutters, bitter, lifting his head to glare at me. “It’s just very unfair, Ariel, that you get to wake up in a sex haze while the rest of us are all pent up-

–

“No one is stopping you from making out with the other cadets, Jesse,” I say with a happy sigh, climbing out of my bed and starting to set out my clothes for the day.

“Well, considering they hold very few charms for me, it’s not precisely an appealing option,” he replies, deeply sarcastic. “And considering that you actively are cockblocking me from making out with the one person I do want to get naked with with in this castle.”

“Again, I am willing to share Luca,” I joke, sending him a little grin over my shoulder.

Jesse just rolls his eyes at me. “Please,” he says, sitting up and pressing his hands together in prayer, “please release me from my promise not to hit on Daphne. Even just let me flirt

with her!”

“Jesse!” I sigh, turning to him. “Do you actually like her? Or are you just hitting on her because she’s the only girl around.”

He sits up straight for a second, turning his head like he hadn’t considered it.

“I will invite her over,” I say, pointing a finger at his face and speaking slowly so he hears how seriously I am. “And you can pursue her if you actually like her. But don’t mess her around, okay?”

“I promise,” he says, almost reverent.

“And if she likes another boy instead of you,” I say, turning my head to the side and continuing my glare. “You have to let her, all right?”

“Wait,” he says, going still and narrowing his eyes at me. “Did she say something? Who does she like?”

I don’t say anything, but I flick my eyes towards the bathroom door.

“Oh Rafe?” Jesse says, perking up. “I can handle that. Everyone likes Rafe until they realize that I’m the funny one –”

“If she likes Rafe you have to let her like Rafe!” I say, speaking over him and throwing out my arms in protest.

“Fine fine,” he says, though I can already see his little mind turning, scheming. noveldrama

“Fine,” I sigh, feeling very generous and happy. “I’ll send her a note.”

“You’re the best, little cousin!” Jesse says, hopping out of bed and darting across the room to wrap me in an enthusiastic hug, rocking me back and forth. “When is she coming over? Tonight? For lunch?”

“Oh, go away,” I say, pretending to be sterner than I am and unable to keep from laughing. “She’ll come when she comes.”

Morning workouts and breakfast pass blissfully, especially considering that Luca’s leg is pressed warmly against mine throughout the entire meal. The only dark point is when Jackson walks by and gives us a little nod of acknowledgement as he goes. I wave back to him, but I hesitate when Luca goes rigid beside me.

Slowly, I turn to him. “Guess we got…distracted, didn’t we?” I whisper, remembering our intent to have a little chat about Jackson last night in the dream state.

“Yes, I suppose we did,” Luca says, narrowing his eyes a little.

I sigh, staring into his pretty brown eyes, taking in the stern set to his mouth.

Are we okay? I ask quietly mind–to–mind, and Luca’s face instantly softens,

Ariel, of course we’re okay, he replies, shaking his head slightly as he slips his hand into mine beneath the table. I’m not mad at you I just don’t trust that guy. But you and me?

We’re fine.

I smile then, pleased to hear it.

But inwardly my wolf paces and I do my best to tuck the anxiety away, because I don’t want Luca to feel it.

You need to tell him, she says to me, nudging my soul with her nose. Not fair – he thinks he’s your only mate. He needs to know.

I feel like howling alongside her as I realize that she’s right.

But honestly, how do you break that to someone? I drop my eyes to the table, but look up again when Luca squeezes my hand. He raises an eyebrow at me and I put a smile on my face, nodding and turning back to the food as Rafe calls my name.

“Hmm?” I say, turning towards him.

“Are you going to be late?” he asks, turning his head at me.

“For what?” I ask, completely distracted.

“Alvarez’s office hours,” he replies, looking at me like I’m a bit of an idiot for letting it slip my mind.

“Oh!” I say, jumping a bit. “Oh my god,” I glance up at the clock on the wall, “I am going

–

to

be late shit “I scurry to my feet, and Luca stands too, dropping my hand so Rafe doesn’t

see.

“I’ll walk you,” he says, dead casual, like he was getting up anyway.

“No, that’s okay,” Rafe stands up, all duty, “I’ll –”

“Seriously,” Luca says, lifting his chin towards the full plate of food and cup of coffee in front of my brother. “Finish up, it’s fine. I’m done.” He waves his hands towards his clean.

plate. “Plus, I’m going to get to the gym, hit the bag a few times.” He lifts his fists then, taking up his boxer’s stance.

Rafe grins, pleased. “That’s a good idea. You’ve got a nation to represent.”

“Damn straight,” Luca says, giving my brother his best celebrity grin before nodding me towards the door. And then the two of us walk out of the Hall together. We chat idly, I think both of us knowing that this is not the time to have a conversation about Jackson McClintock – thank god – and so Luca just tells me about his workout plans.

I mean, not much of what Luca says about that workout makes sense to me, but I’m used to boys telling me enthusiastically about their athletics, so I nod along. When we get to Alvez’s office door, Luca glances around and then puts a hand on my shoulder, letting it slide slowly down my arm until our fingertips barely brush.

“See you at dinner?” he murmurs.

“Workout good,” I reply, smiling up into his perfect face. Luca grins back and then starts down the hall just as Alvez’s door opens.

I turn in surprise to look up into my professor’s handsome face. “Ah, Sinclair,” he says, and go stiff to hear him use my actual last name, even though there’s no one around to hear.

I

“So nice of you to heed my summons and join me for a little…chat.”

But the way his mouth spreads into a wide grin?

I’m very, very aware that this is going to be much more than a chat.

Sighing inwardly and doing my best to be polite to this man who is holding my secrets over my head like a sack of bricks, I put on my best Princess smile and step into Alvez’s office.

He closes the door behind us.