After breakfast, I did a kickboxing workout and showered, and the afternoon was designed for me to do whatever I wanted. Evenings were when I waited for the guys and Everett to come home and we'd eat together, watch a show or movie, and then all head to bed.
Since Tristan was usually at home, he'd work out with me or we'd spend the afternoon keeping active while having fun.
"Scared you're going to be lonely?" Otis sounded amused.
"I never miss you," I emphasized.
"Hmph." An odd expression crossed his face, but he quickly covered it up. "I don't care."
"Deep down I know that's a lie."
"It's not."
"What if I was kidnapped?" I whispered like it was a sin to say in public.
"Still wouldn't miss you," he grumbled. "The house would be peaceful, and we wouldn’t spend so much money fixing what you destroy with your temper tantrums."
"You're supposed to be like, 'Oh Cass. Of course, we'd miss you. Don't jinx yourself like that'. Not, 'You break shit all the time with your once-a-year tantrum.'"
"It's not once a year."
"All right, all right, like five times, but I was good this year and only had two," I defended. "I can't believe that snake witch tried to lie about what you said."
"She's not fond of you."
"A lot of people aren't fond of the human girl surrounded by some of the wealthiest and strongest supernaturals this generation has seen." I hooked my arms around his neck and giggled. "I'm the perfect accessory."
"You're heavy," he growled but kept his hands on my hips. "They want the four of us to join the Supernatural Society."
I stopped moving at that, my eyes locked on his.
"What?"
The Supernatural Society was more elite than the damn government. It was an organization of supreme supernaturals. They were the people the government had to consult to conduct national supernatural events and such.
They were the founders that aided in the rise of supernaturals when the humans fell into financial crisis, and with a mere push, created the world we lived in today. The Society was in charge of ensuring all supernaturals had rights, a voice in the legal system, and were fairly represented no matter what part of the world they lived in.
Everett had assisted them on a few missions and they paid in millions. If you were part of the Supernatural Society, you were more than just a celebrity.
You were basically a god.
Their jobs were hard and whatever tasks they were assigned to accomplish could lead them straight into the morgue, but if they acknowledged you and wanted you to be a part of their world, it meant you were beyond valuable and in return, you would be treated like royalty.
Otis pulled me closer, turning us around until we were in a quiet corner. I relaxed against the wall but kept my arms where they were. From afar, it might have looked like we were making out, and I guess that was the perfect ruse if I was going to get any information regarding this sudden info bomb.
"They want us to join the S.S. They've been asking for months...but now that Tristan has secured the job with the Secret Ops, they have a good position where the four of us can be together. We still keep our jobs, obviously, but we'd also be able to do our part in protecting our people."
"So...like the military?" I offered, trying to get a general picture of what they would have to do. "You'll be like Everett, who picks up the missions or assignments he wants and goes away for a few days and then comes back, right?"
He didn't answer.
"A few weeks?"
Again, his expression was cold, and my heart dropped.
"Did you guys agree to join?"
He knew I wasn't going to put up with a silent answer for this one.
"Yes."
"When?"
"Earlier when Margaret was talking with us."
"I didn't hear you guys talking about any of that," I pointed out.
"Snakes have the ability to change what is being heard around them. Margaret must have made it so it sounded like we were talking just about the kidnappings. Plus, you zoned out for a bit, didn't you?"
"Don't turn this back on me," I grumbled.
"Cass."
"When do you guys start?" If they were going to tell me last minute, I'd kick the shit out of them.
No. That's too easy. I'll give them the silent treatment for weeks. No, months! Then they would see...and I'll use their toothbrushes to pick my teeth! I'll hide all their favorite things and—
"Tomorrow..."
My diabolical plan screeched to a halt, my eyes staring back at him in devastated shock.
"T-tomorrow?"
"What they want us to do is urgent. This kidnapping thing...there's something more to it, and we can't—"
"Tell me," I demanded, my deadpan voice making him frown.
"Cass—"
"Were you guys even going to tell me? Or did you figure a human like me didn't deserve to know?"
"Cass, we wouldn't use you being human against you."
"That old hag does exactly that every single time she comes to our house bearing news for only you guys. She decided I wasn't worth being a part of the conversation that you guys are joining the Supernatural fucking Society and ditching me tomorrow for who knows how long."
"Six months."
"Six fucking months?!" I always swore when my temper was rising, and the second bomb had just erupted. "You guys are leaving for six months and decided that I didn't deserve to know until now? No, let me rephrase that, you guys weren't going to tell me, but as we were dancing you probably felt pity for me and decided to grace me with the news, am I right?" His frustration was obvious, but he remained silent, which only made me let out a huff. "Un-fucking-believable."
"That's not a word," he muttered.
The glare I gave shut him right up, and I unhooked my arms from his neck. "I'm going home."
"Cassandra."
"Fifteen years," I whispered, my voice filled with anger. This was a betrayal. The four men that I cared about were leaving me for six months and they truly didn't think I was worth telling.
"Fifteen years and you guys don't think I'd be okay with you leaving? That you couldn't tell me right when you found out? I'm going to be by my lonesome self for six months, and you're only telling me out of pity."
"It's not out of pity," he interrupted, but I shook my head.
"Then why wait? What stopped you from telling me? It clearly isn't hurting you or the others. We just had an amazing dinner in celebration and what? You'd wait till were home, relaxing in front of the fireplace, and then you'd drop the news?"
I took two steps forward, until my face was inches from his, my eyes burning with what I knew were tears. "Or would the four of you have left me with nothing but a farewell note — all for my safety." I couldn't keep the bitterness out of my voice.
He swallowed, his usual guard falling and allowing the bits of vulnerability and sadness I knew he fought not to share with anyone, not even his bros, to peek through.
"Cassandra. You're...important. To us...to me."