The next morning, Loki and I head downstairs to find the others sitting round the table, eating breakfast. I sit down to a plate of pancakes, crispy bacon, and eggs, all drizzled with syrup, with a glass of fresh orange juice and ice.
I look up to catch Kai’s amber stare.
“Thank you. For this, and the granola bars yesterday,” I tell him, a feeling of lightness descending over me. I love that they take care of me.
I know that in this day and age of feminism and equality between the sexes, it’s not necessarily the most popular view, but there’s something about being cared for by a man, or in my case four men, that feels right. Like it’s meant to be this way. And anyway, we look after each other, just in different ways.
“It’s my pleasure, darling,” he replies with an upturned face, his beautiful smile lifting my spirits further. There is still that darkness in the depths of his eyes, like something is eating away at him from the inside. A fissure of worry skitters through me.
“I’m sorry we weren’t here yesterday, Princess,” Ash says to my left, and I turn to face him, my heart beginning to race as I suddenly remember why they were gone.
“What happened? Did you have to…” I trail off, swallowing hard, unable to finish my sentence. Ash grimaces, pausing with his coffee cup partway to his plush lips.
“No, just usual training stuff, and a meeting afterwards,” he tells me, and I just know that there’s more to it. I want to know what the meeting was about, but I want to find out about their training first.
“What does your training entail?” I ask hesitantly, watching him intently. His face starts to shut down, then he sighs, closing his eyes and setting his cup down.
“Well,” he starts, opening his lids and locking me in his steel gaze. His brow is wrinkled, his hands clasped on the table, his cheeks tight with the force of his clenched jaw. This isn’t easy for him, and my heart aches for this strong man who’s seen such horrors. “There’s the usual self-defence and offence training,” he tells me.
“Basically, we learn how to beat the shit out of people,” Loki interrupts, Ash snapping his head towards the redhead and snarling. “Don’t fucking sugarcoat it, man. Just tell her, she can handle it,” Loki argues, looking my way with a small smile as he says the last part.
“Hey,” I say gently, resting my hand on Ash’s arm which is vibrating with tension. He turns to look at me, his eyes pained. “I will not think any less of you, my love. Or any of you,” I tell them, looking at each one in turn. “I love you. It’s a forever kind of thing,” I joke, loving the stunning smile that graces Ash’s lips once I look back at him.
“Loki’s right, we learn to beat people up. As you know already, we extract information from them and often have to get physical. So we practice to prepare, and they like for us to keep up with our skills,” he practically spits out. “We also have different roles that we train specifically for. Loki specializes in stealth and espionage, blending into different situations seamlessly.”
I can’t help my snort at that, Loki being subtle is not something I’d imagine him capable of. He looks at me, with one auburn brow raised as if to remind me of exactly how stealthy he was last night, and my cheeks heat with the memory of waking up with him pushing his way inside me.
“Jax trained in South Africa, learning how to patch people up in appalling conditions, so that he can better…” Ash pauses here and swallows.
“Torture people,” Jax simply states, his low voice sending shivers across my skin as always, although not just the usual lust filled ones. I look to see his blue eyes are hard, no doubt remembering all the pain that he’s doled out over the years.
I reach across and grasp his huge hand, giving it a squeeze. His eyes brighten, a small tilt of his lips letting me know that he received the message of acceptance and love I was trying to give. I don’t blame any of them for what they’ve been forced to do, forced by the very people who should have been protecting them.
“Kai specialises in tech, as you know,” Ash carries on, and I study Kai, who gives me a tight smile. “He’s trained in online warfare, hacking, and pretty much any way to take someone down, ruin a life or business, all from the comfort of home.” I give Kai a reassuring smile, and he nods in return. But his deeds clearly trouble him too as I see his jaw is clenched and hands are nervously picking at the food on his plate.
“And you?” I ask, turning back to Ash. His jaw is steel, rock-solid, his stare faraway, avoiding eye contact.
“As our leader, Ash has to make hard, impossible decisions, and they test his commitment regularly,” Loki once again interjects, his voice full of pain for his friend, and Ash’s eyes go dark, his brow furrowed.
“Like what?” I whisper, my mouth going dry as my grip tightens on Ash’s arm.
“Like whether someone lives or dies,” Ash tells me, voice lacking any emotion, his eyes empty and staring just over my head, like he’s recalling all of those lives he’s been forced to take.
Tears sting my eyes as I let go of his arm, and use both hands to guide his attention back to me. His grey eyes find mine, and they are haunted, full of ghosts that no eighteen year old should have following them around.
“I’m so sorry, my love,” I murmur, feeling moisture spill down my cheeks. His whole face softens, his own hand reaching up to wipe away my tears with his long pianist fingers.
“Don’t cry, Princess. Please. I can’t bear to see you cry over me,” he pleads huskily, leaning down and placing our foreheads together.
“I told you, you are worth every tear of mine, Asher Vanderbilt. You all are. My tears are not mine anymore but yours, as the rest of me is yours.”
He takes a sharp inhale, his large chest rising, and I know that it will take time and persistence for him, for all of them, to believe that they are worthy of my love. I will tell them a thousand times a day if that’s what it takes. Closing the distance, I place a gentle kiss on his lips, tasting the salt of my tears mingled with the coffee that lingers on his. He kisses me back, his whole body relaxing as he seeks entry with his tongue. I willingly give it, loving the taste of him in my mouth as we explore each other, like discovering a new place just off a well known path.
He ends the kiss with one last sweet peck on my lips, pulling away and looking more at peace than he did before.
“I love you so much, Lilly,” he confesses, staring into my eyes with such intensity, I know that I should be scared. But I’m not. I meant what I said. We are a forever type of thing. “Now eat up, otherwise, we’ll be late for our first day back.”
I begin to cut into my pancakes, heaping my fork with eggs and bacon too, and moaning when I place the food in my mouth. Fucking yum!
We finish breakfast in a comfortable silence, although I do catch the others giving Ash funny looks every so often. After the fifth time, where Jax actually elbows Ash in the side, I turn to face the man in question.
“Out with it, Lucifer,” I tell him, his lips quirking at the nickname. He sighs, setting his own cutlery down.
“At the meeting last night, Julian told us that we’re having dinner this Friday with all the Black Knight families,” he tells me, peering at me. He rubs the back of his neck whilst biting his lip in a way that would be very distracting if I didn’t suddenly feel butterflies take flight in my stomach. “And we’ve been told to bring you.”
“W–what?” I ask, my stomach dropping. “W–why?” I look at the others, but they all have matching looks of worry on their faces.
“We don’t know, Pretty Girl,” Loki answers, taking hold of my suddenly cold hand. “But we will be there, and I promise we won’t leave you alone, not even for a moment,” he tells me vehemently, rubbing his fingers across my knuckles.
“Do they…do they know about the bonds and shares?” I question, turning to Ash. His brow is once again deeply furrowed. Poor guy will have terrible frown lines soon if this keeps up.
“I’m not sure how they can, although that thought did occur to us, too,” he muses. “I looked at the papers. Laura was, and now you are, silent investors. Completely anonymous.”
“But I wouldn’t put it past them to have found out,” Kai states, his melodic voice full of concern.
“Maybe it’s just dinner, you know?” I say, feeling unconvinced. “I mean, Julian seems to have a bit of a…thing for me, right?” My nose wrinkles remembering his inappropriate looks and touches.
Ash’s upper lip peels back.
“I hope that you’re right, Princess,” he says, looking round at the others before settling back on me.
But as chills spread over my skin in the warm room, I can’t help the feeling that I’m wrong.
The first day back in class flies by, and before I know it, it’s lunchtime. Willow shared my last class, Interior Design, so we head to the dining hall together. I open the wooden doors, hearing a gasp next to me as Willow takes in the beautiful, light-filled space with a slack-jawed expression.
“We’re not in Kansas anymore,” I say with a chuckle, thinking back to the first time I stepped foot in here, and the awe I felt seeing it.
“We are definitely not in World’s End, that’s for sure.” She ruefully laughs as we make our way to a table next to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Did you not come here for breakfast?” I ask as we take our seats, Willow facing the door, whilst I choose one looking out at the breathtaking view of the mountains and forest.
“I was too nervous to eat,” she admits, looking a little lost as a waiter, Gerald, comes over.
“Good afternoon, Miss Darling, Miss Anderson,” he greets us, Willow’s eyes going wider than even I thought possible.
“Hello, Gerald,” I reply, beaming at him. “Have a good Christmas and New Year?”
“Yes, thank you. And yourself?” he politely enquires. I decide against telling him that I went to Bali to see one of my boyfriends who’s recovering from steroid abuse, discovered that I’m rich in my own right, have stocks and shares in a company of dubious intentions, and visited my mother’s grave for the first time.
“Lovely, thank you,” I say instead.
“Do you ladies know what you want today?” he asks, looking from me to Willow.
“Ummm…” she starts, looking all kinds of flustered as her cheeks heat up.
“I’ll take the steak, chunky fries, and side salad please, and a glass of full-fat coke with ice,” I tell him. My intention was to have a salad, but I’m suddenly craving meat. Snort. Not that kind of meat. Although…
“Of course. And you, Miss Anderson?” he questions Willow, who looks like a rabbit in headlights.
“Uh, I’ll take the same,” she quickly replies, breathing out a relieved sigh.
“I’ll put the order in and bring your drinks back shortly,” he tells us with a smile. I grin back, I like the old man. Not like that butler, fucking Crow. Speaking of, I haven’t seen him around for a while.
“What kind of school canteen is this?” Willow hisses at me, interrupting my thoughts, and I laugh at her.
“I know, right. The day’s menu choices are on your iPad. Or you can just order what the fuck you like, and they’ll make it for you,” I inform her with a roll of my eyes. Rich pricks.
“Jesus,” she murmurs, going still as the whole place goes quiet. Her eyes widen again, and it really is adorable.
I turn round, a huge smile lifting my lips as my Knights walk in looking all kinds of dark and dangerous. My core twinges at the sight of them. They spot me and head towards our table. Having spent the past few weeks with them, I’d forgotten just how imposing they can be.
Ash in his usual pristine black suit, tie, and smoothly styled jet hair, his eyes the colour of steel. Jax dressed head to toe in black, his bulging muscles threatening to rip his t-shirt in a Hulk moment. His lips twitch ever so slightly when his sparkling blue eyes meet mine, and I savour that almost smile that’s meant for me alone. Kai is the epitome of geek chic in green chinos, a chequered shirt, navy bow tie, and a mustard cardigan. He looks so damn hot I can feel my temperature rise just watching him. Loki struts in like a fucking peacock, his auburn hair artfully disheveled, his low slung jeans hugging his toned legs, his white t-shirt sculpted to his torso in the most mouth-watering way. Today his shirt has a drawing of an eye in black ink, an anatomical heart in red, and an etching of a cockerel.
A delighted laugh tumbles from my lips as my hands cover my mouth, and his face lights up with an arrogant as fuck smirk. When they finally reach our table, he swoops down, capturing my lips in a bruising kiss that leaves me breathless and tingling.
“I missed you, Pretty Girl,” he says, his lush lips turning down in a pout as he sits in the seat next to me and pulls my chair closer to his.
Jax sits on my other side, scooting his chair closer, then leans in and tangles his hand in the hair on the back of my head. Using his grip, he turns my head until I’m facing him, then proceeds to decimate my lips with his velvety ones. Her Vagisty is panting like a bitch in heat by the time he pulls away, and my heart races seeing the look of wild hunger in his blue eyes.
“I missed you, too, Baby Girl,” he rumbles against my lips as he pulls away, his own lips lifting as he sees my dazed look.
“Shit, girl! That was hot!” Willow blurts out, and all eyes turn to her, Ash and Kai having sat down too, making her squirm in her seat.
“Who the fuck are you?” Jax growls, letting go of my hair and levelling her with his piercing stare. She swallows audibly.
“Hey!” I scold, whacking his pec with the back of my hand. Fuck! When will I ever learn that their muscles are hard as fucking rock? “That’s Willow. She’s my new bestie, so play nice.”
Bad bitch that she is, she holds her hand out, waiting for Jax to shake it. To his credit, he does and doesn’t pull a dick move like squeezing too hard either. Brownie points, Jax.
“Jax Griffiths,” he introduces himself, letting go of her hand with a small nod.
“Nice to meet you, Jax,” she replies politely, holding her hand out to Loki next, then Kai, who both introduce themselves. Finally, it’s Ash’s turn.
“Asher Vanderbilt,” he states, shaking her outstretched hand. His voice is cold, but not unfriendly. “Your brother is Hunter Anderson, co-leader of The Shadows crew, based in the World’s End Estate, Chelsea. And Iris Montgomery, who graduated Highgate Prep five years ago, convinced her father to sponsor your senior year here.”
I look at him with wide eyes, almost as round as Willow’s.
“That’s right,” she says, her voice a little shaky. “How did you know all of that?” she questions, suspicion laced in her tone.
“I make it a point to know things, especially if they involve my girlfriend,” he tells her, and my heart does a little pitty-pat at the term. Stupid really, given all that we’ve gone through.
“Good to know,” Willow murmurs, just as Gerald comes back with our drinks.
He takes the guys’ orders, then heads off again, leaving us in a slightly strained silence.
“Fuck’s sake,” I huff out, turning to Willow and ignoring the brooding arseholes around me. “How was your first morning?”
She proceeds to tell me all about it, and before long Loki joins in, with the odd word from Ash and Kai. Jax remains quiet, but that’s no surprise given his usual engagement level with strangers being zero. Our food arrives, and we all eat, continuing to chat. I invite Willow back to our dorm for dinner later, both of us silencing any arguments by offering to make shepherd’s pie for the guys.
I’d call that a successful introduction.
After all, they didn’t threaten to kill her.
