Looking back up, I glance round at the people who I love, and who love me in return without condition. It feels as though my heart swells to twice its size, threatening to burst from my chest as I drink them in, the winter sunshine wrapping its chill around us but unable to touch us.
Stepping forward, I walk to Mum’s grave, kneeling down to place my hand on the headstone.
“I’m going to be alright, Mum,” I tell her, my eyes welling up once more. “They’ll look after me.”
Closing my eyes, I stay there for a few moments, hearing the breeze rustling in the trees, the birds chirping around us, the sunshine warming my face as the world keeps spinning.
Standing up, I take one last breath, gazing down at the stone.
“Bye, Mum,” I whisper, then turn around to face the others, focusing on my guys. “Let’s go home.”
They all break out into blinding smiles, obviously realising that I don’t mean the hotel, but back to Colorado. Back to Highgate Prep.
Although, they do say that home is where the heart is. And my heart is standing before me, kept safe in the bodies of four beautiful men.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
LILLY
We arrive back late, stepping off the plane into the crisp winter Colorado mountain air, the stars shining brightly above us, our breath coming out in puffs of steam. Luckily, there are a couple of days before the new term, or semester starts because my body is all kinds of fucked-up from the three different time zones.
I sleep for a solid fourteen hours, my Viking on one side, my fallen angel on the other, and wake up groggy, but feeling less exhausted as afternoon sunshine filters around the edges of the curtains in Loki’s dorm room. Stretching, I notice that the bed is empty either side of me, Jax and Loki clearly having left some time ago if the cold sheets are any indication.
Getting up, I grab a navy blue t-shirt from the floor, Loki’s vanilla scent all over it as I take a whiff before throwing it on, and heading out of the room and down the stairs towards the bathroom. My brows draw together in a frown as I register how quiet it is, and looking around, I can see that the guys aren’t down here.
I take care of business, flushing and washing my hands before coming back out and looking around again. Spotting a piece of paper on the kitchen island, I make my way over and grab it.
Got called away to a Black Knight Corp. meeting, be back this evening.
Your breakfast is in the fridge, make sure you eat it all up and drink your juice, Princess.
An empty feeling lies in the pit of my stomach as I read the note, my appetite gone as thoughts race across my mind.What Knight meeting? Did they only just find out about it? What if they have to...hurt someone?
Closing my eyes, I take a deep, calming breath, although nausea still swirls in my stomach at the thought of them being forced to do awful things at the hands of those that are meant to care for and protect them. They’ll tell me what happened when they get back. I can’t do anything to change things now anyway, so I might as well try and distract myself until they get home.
I decide to follow Ash’s instructions and have something to eat, opening the fridge to find a yummy bowl of Greek yoghurt, and a glass of juice on the shelf. Fresh granola flapjacks and syrup are waiting for me on the counter, with another note next to them.
I made your favorite, chocolate chip
Oh, Kai, you wonderful human!
Tucking in, I moan at the buttery oat-y taste, the flapjacks still warm from the oven. Finishing up, I put my bowl and glass in the dishwasher, and go to take a shower, then head back upstairs to get dressed.
Suddenly, I crave fresh air and looking out the window, although it’s a little cloudy, it’s not raining. A walk around campus sounds perfect to help blow these cobwebs away, and just what the doctor ordered.
Twenty minutes later, I’m heading out of the front doors of the academy, wrapped up in my wool coat, hat, and scarf, with super cute mittens on my hands, and wearing my favourite Run and Fly rainbow dungarees. Taking a deep inhale, a smile lifts my lips as the frigid air hits my lungs. This is exactly what I needed.
Rounding the corner of the building, my lips drop into a frown when I hear girlish jeering and laughing up ahead. Narrowing my eyes, I come round a large topiary bush to find Amber Cuntmuffin—surprise, surprise—and her two fanny flap sidekicks surrounding a girl I’ve not seen before.
I can’t see much of her, as they have her completely surrounded, but what I can tell from the ugly twists of their faces is that whatever they are saying isn’t nice. Frowning harder, I approach them and catch Amber sneering at the poor girl, who looks close to tears.
“Why don’t you go back to the gutter that you came from, charity case.”
What the ever-loving fuck is wrong with this cumdumpster?!
“You know,” I start, having stepped up right behind her. She whirls round, eyes bulging unattractively when she sees that we’re almost face to face. “Just because you have a cunt, doesn’t mean you need to act like one all the time.” I smile sweetly at her, tilting my head to the side in a fake gesture of innocence.
“Oh look, here comes the other English bitch.” Her lip curls back as she practically snarls at me. “She’s the school whore, so you guys should get along just fine, Trash,” she says, looking over her shoulder at the new girl, spitting out the insult and making the other girl flinch. Her name-calling just washes over me, and I smirk at her. “Let’s go, Bianca, Tina.” Ah, so those are their names. I guess I couldn’t call them fanny flap one and two forever.Snort.