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Chapter 77
~Jade’s POV~
The sound of Xander’s voice snapped whatever haze I had been floating in.
Reality crashed back hard. "Oh Moon Goddess—"
I scrambled upright on the couch, my heart racing as panic replaced pleasure. My panties were sowhere near my ankle on the floor, my tank top abandoned by the door, and Xade was still half over when the gym entrance creaked open.
I grabbed my panties first, pulling them up hurriedly while trying to smooth my hair at the sa ti, which only made everything worse.
The door opened wider, and Xander stepped inside. His eyes landed on imdiately.
Not my face.
Not even Xade.
His gaze fixed on my tank top lying near the door before slowly dragging back toward us, taking in the state of my flushed skin, my bare legs, and the unmistakable scent of arousal hanging heavily in the room.
Heat flooded my cheeks.
I covered my chest instinctively with both hands.
Xander’s brow lifted slightly, amusent flashing behind his eyes despite the jealousy that darkened them.
"You know," he said casually, leaning against the doorway, "I have already seen everything there is to see. You really do not have anything to hide."
"Xander," Xade warned sharply.
I swallowed, wishing the floor would open and swallow whole. It was only now that I truly felt and saw my situation.
Xade moved quickly, grabbing his joggers properly before heading toward the adjoining shower room. "Behave yourself," he added over his shoulder.
Xander only smirked.
A mont later, Xade disappeared inside, and I heard water running almost imdiately.
I stood there awkwardly, unsure whethe r to sit or run.
Then Xander bent down, picking up my tank top from the floor.
When he walked toward , his expression softened slightly. The teasing edge remained, but there was sothing else beneath it—sothing warr.
He held the shirt out. "Here."
I accepted it quickly. "Thank you."
My voice ca out quieter than I intended as I pulled the fabric over my head.
Javelin purred inside my mind.
"You should tease them back. Pull at their hearts. They are already halfway gone for you."
I ignored her. Right now, I did not feel seductive. I felt exposed, overwheld, and suddenly very aware of how fast everything between us was moving.
Xander crossed his arms. "You two move fast when left alone."
"I’m leaving," I said before he could continue.
His teasing paused. "You’re leaving?"
"Yes." I adjusted my shirt unnecessarily. "I skipped school already. I need to head ho before things get... I should go ho," I repeated again, shaking my head.
Xander’s expression shifted. "If you go ho now, durings school hour, won’t your mother notice?"
I was about to reply that she won’t because she wasn’t at ho when I realised it. My mother was still out of the city, but Kael... I pressed my lips together. "Kael will easily notice I skipped school."
And he would absolutely lose his mind.
"She’ll lose her mind," I lied, straightening my back.
Xander huffed a quiet laugh. "Yeah, that sounds accurate."
"I’ll use the bathroom before I go," I said quickly, needing a mont away from both of them.
"Sure," Xander replied.
The shower turned off just as I stood up to leave.
Xade’s voiced from the bathroom. "Don’t leave yet. I’ll shower properly before we head out."
I nodded absently and walked past them, grateful for the temporary escape. Behind , I heard the door opening and Xade stepped out, towel wrapped loosely around his waist when I stole a glance. His eyes t mine.
I quickly looked away and walke dout, refusing to look back.
By the ti I got to Xavier’s restroom, the bathroom door closed behind , and I exhaled slowly, pressing my palms against the sink.
My reflection stared back at with flushed cheeks and swollen lips that told the entire story of what had just happened.
Everything felt different now.
Not wrong, just... heavier.
Outside, muffled voices reached .
I was not trying to listen, but Javelin carried sound too well.
"You’re cunning," Xander said quietly. "But be careful, Xade. Last warning."
There was a pause. Then Xade’s scoff. "Like I need that from you. If you were in my shoes wouldn’t you do the sa?" Before Xander could answer, Xade added, "Oh yes, I forgot, you already had a taste of her yesterday."
I sighed as their footsteps moved away. I stared at my reflection again, my chest tightening slightly at the tension between them.
The bond tied us together, yet it also pulled at unseen edges between the brothers.
And sohow, I stood right at the center of it. I splashed cool water onto my face, trying to steady myself.
Tomorrow would be normal again. School, training, routine. At least... that was what I told myself.
— — —
After Xade, Xander and I left the house to get the phone, I was driven back ho. Thankfully, Kael wasn’t ho to worry about who brought and the likes.
And at night, he barely spoke five sentences to before he bid goodnight. I knew sothing was off about him. He knew sothing he wasn’t telling .
Albeit, rather than focusing on him, my mind drifted to my mates as sleep pulled in.
By morning, I told myself things would settle. They did not.
The mont I reached my locker, I saw Isadora leaning against it, arms crossed, her expression already stormy.
She pushed off the tal the second she saw . "We need to talk."
"I just got here, Isa."
"Where were you on Monday evening?"
My fingers stilled around my locker key. Why was she asking? "I was out," I answered lightly, avoiding her gaze as I slipped the key in.
"With who?"
"Does it matter?"
"It does to ."
I shut the locker halfway and finally looked at her. "Why are you interrogating ?"
"Because you’re lying."
I blinked. "Excuse ?"
"I went to your house," she shot back and my body tensed. "I wanted to greet your mum before she left and spend ti with my bestie," she dragged the last word to make feel guilty.
Though Isadora was shy and kept to herself, when she was angry she was a force of nature. "And guess what? Kael opened the door." My stomach tightened. "He said you weren’t ho," she continued, her voice rising. "So where were you, Jade?"
I said nothing. That evening was not sothing I could explain in a school hallway.
Isadora’s jaw clenched. "You’ve been distant. You barely tell anything anymore. Do you even have ti for ?"
"Now is not the ti," I said quietly. "I’m tired, Isa. I’ll explain soon."
I tried to step around her, but she grabbed my wrist.
"Are you hanging out with soone else?" she demanded. "Do you have a new best friend?"
I frowned. "What?"
"You told Kael you were sleeping over at a friend’s house. If that friend isn’t , then who is it?"
Her voice cracked slightly at the end, and that hurt more than the accusation. A few students walking past slowed down, their curious stares burning into my skin.
I shook my head slowly. "Where did you even get that idea from?" I asked, though I already knew.
"From Kael," she replied. "He said you told him that yourself."
I saw it then. The hurt behind her anger. But I could not fix this here. So instead, I chose to hurt her. "Not everything is about you, Isa," I said coldly, else she wouldn’t drop it. "Enjoy."
I walked away before she could respond. Only when I turned the corner did I release the breath I had no idea I had been holding.
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