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Chapter 93
~Jace’s POV~
The music playing in my room was loud, bass thudding through the speakers as I lay on my bed with my arms folded behind my head, staring at the ceiling of my dorm room.
I wasn’t listening to it.
My thoughts were too loud anyway, and I was focused on Spring.
With her wide eyes that always seed to see more than she let on. Spring, who kissed back like I wasn’t just one of four, but soone she actually wanted.
That kiss...
I had been teasing when I dared her to kiss all of us, thinking it would make her blush and we’d skip it.
Kind of a half-hearted mischief, because that’s what I did. I joked. I grinned. I played the flirt. But when Spring did it by herself—when her lips t mine... Hell, I stopped breathing.
Everything tilted sideways.
My heart had stuttered. My hands had gripped her waist a little tighter. I had wanted to pull her in and never let go.
But I didn’t.
Because even I wasn’t selfish enough to steal more than what she gave willingly.
I rolled over, staring at the wall now, arm slung over my eyes.
"I’m dood," I muttered to myself.
A knock at my door cut through the sound of music.
Once. Twice.
"Open," I called lazily and propped my body on my elbow.
The door creaked, and Kael walked in, tall, too calm, wearing that face that said he was thinking more than he was letting on.
"Hey," I greeted, sitting up.
Kael nodded. "Got a minute?"
"You here to declare war over our girl?" I teased, half-smiling.
He raised an eyebrow. "Not today."
I shifted to the edge of the bed, studying him. "What’s up?"
Kael stepped in, shutting the door behind him before leaning against it. "Just checking in."
"With ?" I scoffed. "Aww. You do care."
"I saw your face when Spring kissed you."
My smirk faltered. My chest rose as I inhaled, my eyes narrowing slightly. "And?"
"You looked like a man on fire."
I sighed. There was no use denying it to Kael, if it was Storm, maybe, but not Kael.
He and I were almost similar. He was sassy, bold, strong, smart and a damn genius. I was a devil, a girl’s worst yet best nightmare.
"Because I was."
Kael’s expression didn’t shift. "You know she’s not choosing one of us, yet."
"I know," I said quietly.
"And you’re okay with that?"
I paused, then gave a half-shrug. "I’d rather be one of the four than none of them, like Lucien. I want her however she gives herself. Even if it’s in pieces."
Kael nodded slowly, like he understood too well. "You love her?"
"Yeah." The word ca out before I could weigh it. And I didn’t take it back.
Kael looked away for a second, thoughtful. "She’s changing."
"She’s always been more than any of us saw," I said. "We’re just catching up."
Kael didn’t reply and walked to the window, standing there just looking out.
"Do you think she’ll survive it?" he asked softly.
I blinked. "Survive what?"
"Everything that is coming for her."
Kael exhaled softly as he let his hand drop to his side.
"Soon, when our families find out, then there’d be more pressure and probably more threats."
Kael turned back to . "But we are still four alphas. We don’t make her stronger by existing."
That hit deeper than I expected.
For a mont, the room was still, the only sound the fading song from the speakers.
"She’ll survive," I said finally. "Because she’s Spring."
Kael smiled faintly, pushed off the wall, and headed toward the door.
"Storm’s planning sothing during the field trip," he said without looking back.
"How sure..." I paused. "Knowing Storm, he won’t miss this chance," I concurred.
"Yeah, just thought you should know."
I smirked again, but there was steel behind it now. "Then I’ll plan sothing better."
Kael paused at the door, glanced over his shoulder. "Don’t lose yourself chasing her."
"I already did," I murmured. "But for her, I don’t mind, Kael. She’s our mate after all."
He smiled subtly. "Love sick puppy," Kael muttered.
"Says the one who couldn’t wait to get kissed by his mate."
"That’s alright."
And as the door shut behind him, I leaned back again, that kiss replaying in my mind.
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~Spring’s POV~
The textbook in front of blurred for the fifth ti. I’d reread the sa sentence thrice now and still couldn’t tell you what it ant.
My pen spun loosely between my fingers, the only sign I hadn’t thoroughly checked out. A light ping echoed from my phone beside the lamp, breaking the silence. I glanced at the screen.
Rhys: Hey, Solstice. You up?
I smiled before even unlocking the device. I’d almost forgotten how comforting it was to get a ssage from him like this using Solstice as an alias.
But more importantly, it was the sound of him calling my real na that made up for everything.
Even if it wasn’t the "Rhys" sitting across from at the breakfast table, talking to Spring... it still felt like my brother chatting with and not soone else.
He was charming.
(Solstice): I am. Trying to read sothing, but this book is trying to assassinate my brain.
Before I could type anything else, another notification flashed—this ti, a missed video call from Chloe. I blinked, sighed, and tapped "call back."
She picked up before it even rang twice.
"NO way! You’re glowing," Chloe half-squealed as soon as she popped up on my screen, her face pressed comically close to her screen.
I rolled my eyes. "Good evening to you, too."
"No, no, don’t play it cool! That skin. That smile. Spring Kaine, don’t lie—what happened to you today?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but she cut in with a sharp inhale, eyes going wide. "Don’t tell ... Spring. You got kissed. Wait, that wouldn’t make you glow like this. Don’t tell you and one of your mates did it already!"
"What?" I sputtered. "What do you—?"
Chloe clapped both hands together with a squeal, eyes sparkling. "Which one of those hot guys did you have sex with?"
"Sex?" soone choked.
At that very mont, I lifted my eyes—only to see Eryx and Kaius standing in the doorway, both holding mugs of what I assud had been hot chocolate.
I froze.
They froze.
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