“Mr. Aspis, you should be getting home so you can relax. You’ve been putting in so many extra hours this week.”

  “I appreciate the concern, but really, if this gentleman says it’s important, I believe him. Have a good weekend.” He’s totally sweating.

  “Alright, if you’re sure. You have a good weekend as well. Be sure to find some time to relax.”

  “Come on in, Mr. Lawrence.”

  I don’t hesitate. I’m in that office and closing the door before he’s in his seat. “I need you to do a favor for me.”

  The headmaster freezes and whips around to look at me, then maybe gets to thinking I don’t know about the incident and he relaxes, taking a seat in his chair with his hands laced on top of his head. He takes deep, calming breaths while trying to appear unaffected by my presence. “And what makes you think I have any desire to do that? As my secretary already told you, my office hours are over. It’s a four-day weekend. I should be heading home.”

  “So you can eat your frozen tv dinner on your couch with no pants on? Please.”

  “I will not tolerate disrespect, Mr. Lawrence. I’ve been very accommodating of you and your brother’s presence here, and I expect you both to stay within the lines I’ve drawn for you.” Ooh, headmaster means business.

  I can mean business, too. “Let me rephrase this. Your fated mate just had her locker pried open and destroyed, her personal property dumped all over the ground, and her backpack slashed open while she was in class. Now. You want to tell me again that you don’t want to help me?”

  He’s on his feet instantly. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “You want to get angry, I can get angry right back, and out of the two of us, I bet I have the physical advantage unless you want to shift and cheat.”

  “If you’re insinuating that Ms. Duncan is my mate, you have bad information. I am single by choice, and I plan to remain so. However, I can help you out since she’s a VIP student here and I don’t want her to feel unsafe.”

  “Cut the shit. We all know.” His defensiveness says he's completely aware of the situation.

  He stares at me, clenching his jaw and I can almost hear the gears turning in his head, trying to decide if he should admit to it or not. I don’t have time for games, though. I pull out my phone and show him the picture of Delaney’s arm, right where the mark appeared when she said out loud that this man in front of me was her mate.

  “What do you want me to do with this?”

  “You’re not giving her enough credit. She’s a bodysmith and knows exactly how you feel about her because she was called to your office and sucked your dick. She sensed the connection and admitted as much and now she has a mark for you. We all know, so like I said, cut the shit.”

  He exhales heavily and collapses into his seat, but his mode is still stuck on pissed off. “You have no proof of any of these unsubstantiated claims—"

  “Oh, fuck off. I’m talking to you as one of her mates right now, not as someone that respects your authority on this campus. Someone made her feel unsafe, and I know you have the sense of smell to track them down. So, we can sit here and debate who is or isn’t fated to be with the best thing that’s ever been given to this world, or we can help her feel like someone cares enough to fix the situation for her. Which side you want to fall on?”

  He stands and grabs his jacket and a stupid leather briefcase, tucking his phone into his pocket and locking his office door. Good. Looks like he’s going to play along.

  “Where is she at right now?”

  “I sent her home with everyone else to try and unwind and get some food. She was kind of shaken up and I think she has good reason to be. You want to know what was in her locker before class started?” I hand him the note I’m still carrying and let him read it.

  “Ring?”

  “Beautiful and matches her eyes. Currently on her hand and I don’t foresee her taking it off anytime soon. Something told her to keep both things out of her locker during class, so the important stuff was already removed before someone broke in. But clearly, they knew it was going to be in there because why else would they target Delaney’s locker at that exact moment?”

  Fury is still pumping through my veins as I recall the way Delaney shut down after we got her away from the locker room, and I know she’s shaken up by the near miss more than anything, but none of us blame her.

  “What’s with the reference to the goblin heart?”

  “One of her mates gets premonitions and acquired one for her years ago and recently gifted it to her. We’ve since been made aware of some of its properties and how it could possibly help free the gargoyle stuck on the side of your school. What the fuck, by the way? How many students have used that room with a cursed creature stuck outside the window? Doesn’t that seem a bit fucked up to you? No one has tried to help him? Surely a goblin heart isn’t the only way to get him down from there.”

  “I cannot interfere in such matters. My job as headmaster is to oversee the students and make sure my staff are taken care of and allowed to teach what they’re being paid to teach. He’s been quiet as a rock for years, to my understanding.”

  “That’s a terrible pun.”

  He quirks a lip up. “But an appropriate one.”

  We don’t talk much after that as we head down to the athletic building where he uses a giant ring of keys to gain us access.

  I know that as soon as we get in the vicinity of the locker room that he’s detected something, because his nose is flaring and he’s getting visibly angrier.

  “I know you’re a weird snake thing. Go ahead and get that freaky tongue out so you can get what information you need.”

  “Don’t need to. I know whose scent is on everything.”

  I follow him to the damaged locker, which my brother and I already stormed inside to check out before I came to see Aspis, and he runs his hands around the space, looking at the messed-up hinges and the inside of the locker.

  “You going to share with the class?”

  “I appreciate that you’re in a mood right now but do try to remember that your mate is unharmed. This is likely just a practical joke gone a bit wrong.”

  “No. Tell me who the fuck it was. No one messes with my mate and just walks away without any sort of consequences. The only thing I can come up with for who you’d try to protect and know the scent so well for would be your sister, who just happens to have beef with my girl. So, tell me I’ve come to the incorrect answer before I go and get the wrong person to pay up.”

  He sighs. “Can we not just resolve this matter quietly?”

  I study him. “You’re scared of her. Is that it? Why? Aren’t you some scary snake monster?”

  “That’s ridiculous. I’m not scared of my little sister. And I never said it was her.”

  “Great. So, tell me who it was then.”

  “How about I get you through the goblin heart ritual, and we call it even?”

  I laugh. “I’m sorry, but you helping another one of our mates’ mates, in exchange for not going after your sister, is a no go. Also, Ash is all over it already, I’m sure.”

  I turn to go, already knowing where this bitch lives since we studied Delaney’s dormitory building so much before she moved in.

  He follows behind, calling after me. “I know I can’t stop you without shifting, which would be bad news for this building, but I am asking you, begging really, to let this go.”

  I think about it, and then go right back to what I was going to do. Delaney should be the one to make this decision, but he doesn’t need to know that yet. Plus, I might be able lead him straight to her, and this weekend is all about mate bonding time, so what’s one more?

  “Mr. Lawrence!”

  “It’s Jackson,” I call over my shoulder.

  He catches up to me, walking beside me now, nervously. “What are you going to do to Shelly?”

  I smirk because he totally just fell for my trap. “How old are you, man?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “I mean, not really. Ash is kind of old too, it’s cool. Delaney’s into it.”

  “I can’t— I can’t do anything about the bond.”

  I start laughing. It’s actually kind of funny at this point.

  “How is that amusing?”

  “It’s like we all just copy each other at this point. You’re not saying that shit to her, I promise. When we get there, you’re going to fall to your knees and profess your undying love and devotion, pull out your dick, and then we’re all going to watch you fuck like bunnies and pass her around. She’s got a few bonds to christen.”

  He starts choking. “Excuse me?”

  I throw an arm round his shoulder. “Oh, we’re going to corrupt you so bad.”

  “I thought we were going to Shelly’s?”

  “I have a better plan; did you not hear what I just said?”

  “I— what? No. You cannot—stop! Mr. Lawr- Jackson, it’s highly inappropriate for me to act on this. Can you imagine what the board would say? Absolutely not.”

  “I think you’re scared of your sister still. Tell me, is she some like mega powerful super or something? That’s it, isn’t it?”

  “No, it’s— I just—"

  “You know we can help out with whatever it is you’re dealing with, right? You’re one of Delaney’s mates, you just gained a whole group of loyal supporters.”

  “You mean college students. Hardly a flex.”

  “Nice vocab, old man. I’m feeling so much more relaxed about this whole situation. Let’s play ‘speculate’. You just grunt or something if I say something true, okay?”

  “That sounds ridiculous.”

  “What’s ridiculous is Delaney’s ass and how it looks taking a dick.”

  “Are you always so vulgar?”

  I smile, imagining that exact scenario I just painted. “Only with Delaney’s other mates, I promise.”

  “I’m not sure that makes me feel any better.”

  “But now you’re imaging it too and we’re all one step closer to you making a move. She needs you, don’t be a dick.”

  “She does not.”

  “Shall we do a little research then on mates that purposely delay creating a bond? I don’t think the stats are going to lean in your favor. It always ends with bad things.”

  We’re getting closer to the dorms now, and at this point I’m sort of giddy at the idea of forcing this man to own up to the bond our goddess bestowed upon him.

  “You’re not…actually going to make me do any of that stuff, right? We’re just going to have a nice chat with Shelly, and I’ll explain how her behavior was absolutely reprehensible—"

  “And you’ll suspend her,” I interject, knowing exactly what the rules of the school are.

  “I-I’ll give her a stern talking to.”

  I stop in the middle of the pathway, forcing a few students to move around us. They give a polite, “Sorry Mr. Aspis,” to the headmaster, looking at him like he’s some sort of unsavory fungal growth they’d like to avoid, because really, finding him here in the dorms after hours is probably pretty weird for these people. “You have a lot of friends, Zac? I’m calling you Zac. We’ve talked about a hypothetical gang bang; I feel like we should be on a first name basis.”

  “Not that it matters. I won’t be able to tell the difference between you and your brother anyway.”

  I lift up my shirt and bare my hip. “Besides this stunner,” I say pointing to my ‘Willy’ tattoo, “I’ve been told my lower lip is more luscious than my brother’s. August’s tattoo says ‘free’ in a fucked-up hand because Delaney did them while she was completely shit faced. It was a good time. So when in doubt, just pull up our shirts.”

  He huffs. “I’m not going to expose your abdomen so I can address you by the correct name. Look, I shouldn’t be here. What do I need to do to get you to release me?”

  “You didn’t answer my question about friends.”

  “Not many people feel like friendship is a good option with a Naga. I’m close to my sister though, I basically raised her.”

  “Fabulous. She can be like our pet or something if she fixes her attitude. Also, I’m nominating myself as your friend, okay? You don’t get a say in this. Sometimes, we need to make tough choices. Do you want Shelly to be a successful contributor to society? Or do you want her to go through life thinking she can manipulate her way into artificial happiness?”

  “Must I answer that?”

  “Yes.”

  “You want me to punish her, don’t you?”

  “I think that if you don’t, other students will learn of it and know that there aren’t any consequences for wrecking school property. Or vandalizing personal property of other students either, for that matter.”

  “Fine. It won’t be pleasant, but I’ll see it done.”

  “Good boy. Now let’s go hang with our soul mate.”

  He swallows thickly and makes me practically drag him through the halls, and we can hear the ruckus behind our dorm room door before we’re near it, as usual, though this time it’s far less sexual sounding and more just…chaotic.

  I open the door, calling out, “Honey, we’re home!”

  The whole room goes still, pillows poised mid-swings in the air. We seem to have interrupted an epic pillow fight. Cory’s cheeks are bulging, and I can tell they’re having a hard time not spitting whatever is in them out all over the place. One slips out and I fight the urge to gag. “Are those…gummy bears? Good goddess, Cory, we have company. We’ve talked about this, I’m sure.”

  I see the moment they give up trying to keep them contained, and then a second later, their mouth sprays the wet, semi-masticated gelatin rainbow bears all over the room. Delaney does get the brunt of them, which is…unfortunate, but I’m positive Cory will find a way to make it up to her.

  “Hey Jackson,” Delaney coos, apparently not even caring that she’s covered in sticky saliva with chunks of gummy bear.

  Then her eyes swing to our guest. “Oh. Hi. I think I hear my phone ringing, I’ll just uh…” and she darts out of the room, closing her bedroom door behind her.

  “Her phone is definitely right here,” Adam points out as he pulls an enormous bag of marshmallows…out of his pants.

  “I’m thinking I don’t really want to know what this game was. On the other hand, I kind of do. Do I?”

  Ash walks up looking a little bashful, discarding his armful of throw pillows en route. “Hey there, Zac. How’s it going?”

  “You know, I’m not entirely sure. Is this what goes on in most college dorms? I’m very confused.”

  “Just think of the weirdest, most sexy thing you can figure out with all the puzzle pieces you're seeing, and you’ll probably be right,” Cory helpfully chimes in as they start to clean up the sticky mess.

  “Yeah. Well, she doesn’t seem like she wants to talk to me, so I’ll just be going. Lovely chatting, gentlemen—er, people. Sorry.”

  Cory shrugs and goes about their task. I grab a hold of Zac’s collar from the back, ensuring he doesn’t actually run. “Who wants to go and manhandle the conduit?”

  “Oh, it’s definitely my turn,” Adam yells as he fucking sprints out of the room.

  “Would you like a beverage or something?”

  “No thank you, Cory.”

  Cory spins around. “You know my name.”

  “Is that a blush I see, Mr. Scary Snake Man? Did you look into all of Delaney’s mates? You did, didn’t you? That’s cute. Isn’t that cute, fellow mates?”

  “Adorable,” my brother says under his breath as he sits in the armchair near me. He’s eying the way I’m holding onto Zac, and I can tell he’s not liking it much, but this is all for the betterment of our mate, so he can deal.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Zac

  What in the actual fuck am I doing? No really, how did I even get here?

  I turn to look at Jackson, if that’s even his real name, narrowing my eyes because I’m pretty sure I was just completely tricked into walking into Delaney’s dorm room. Can I argue I was brought here under false pretenses?

  “He needs a beer. Cory, you mind?”

  “I got you boo,” Cory says to the other twin that is sitting in an armchair, semi-glaring at me. “You look like you don't want to be here, but surely that can’t be true. What’s wrong with your face? Did your kitten just run away or something? Are you having acid indigestion? Do you need some antacids?”

  I eye the room Delaney disappeared into, hoping like hell she isn’t listening to this conversation. The last thing I need is her thinking there's something wrong with my internal digestion or organs. “I was forced here under duress and would like to return to my quarters, please.”

  They all start laughing.

  The thing is, I'm pretty sure they’re laughing at me, not with.

  “My man, don’t be dumb. Sit. Have a beer. Nothing weird is going to happen.”

  “That’s not what I promised,” maybe-Jackson says under his breath.

  Cory hands me a beer, already opened with a wedge of lime stuck in the neck and pats me on the shoulder. “We’re really excited you’re here. I thought for sure it would take a hell of a lot more convincing to get you to give into this.”

  I don’t even get my mouth open before Adam comes out, naked, carrying Delaney while he actively fucks her. He raises one arm in victory, shouting, “I win! Fuck all of you!”

  They all groan and dig into their wallets for cash before throwing it down onto the table. “Wait, that's the game I interrupted? How... does anybody think it would be beneficial for the rules to be explained to me?” Jackson looks completely crestfallen, presumably at having missed the fun, but I just cannot seem to drum up the effort to care. I don’t even want to begin to figure out how all the very-muchness-of-weird things happening when I walked in led to this conclusion.

 

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