“I have a photo shoot with the guys today, but tomorrow works,” I answered.
“I can’t believe you are still doing that,” Cormac clucked, sounding fucking amused.
I didn’t even bother explaining the absolute nonsense my siren got me involved in and would no doubt continue to. She was a possessive bitch. She didn’t give a flying fuck that by doing this photo shoot it was going to alert everyone to my relationships, even the ones that weren’t supposed to be happening. You know, like with two of the goddamn faculty members.
She didn’t care.
My siren, and obviously my subconscious will, wanted everyone to be aware of who they belonged to. All six of them. Whether they were cool with that or not didn’t matter to her. Although considering how our magic intertwined and interacted, I didn’t think they cared at all. I think, if anything, they preferred it when she acted like a nutjob.
Honestly, I was the victim of her games.
I smirked, because the truth? I was totally okay with the photo shoot. After all, my siren was me, so I could complain all I wanted, but it didn’t affect how I actually felt.
I could feel Adriel and Desmond come up behind me as Cormac offered a head nod before jogging towards the parking lot. I could see how grumpy both of the men behind me were when I turned. I almost smiled. The last classroom I’d been in was too small to fit extra people, so I knew for a fact they’d sat out here fucking pouting. It was cute.
“I hate that class,” Adriel growled.
“Adri,” I admonished, squeezing his hand, “we were maybe ten feet apart.”
“Ridiculous amount of space,” he scowled.
Was it just me, or had he gotten more adorable? It was like the grumpier he became, the more it made me smile. Honest to god, that was how I felt.
Desmond was unusually quiet despite his hand on my back, but I could see anger underneath his cool exterior. I knew it was because of the principal, and I had a feeling that if Principal Fucked Up didn’t calm his shit he wouldn’t live till Christmas.
And if I asked them to kill him now, would they? Absolutely.
As we walked into the parking lot, I looked around for Cash, Rhett, and Dean. I hadn’t gotten to spend nearly enough time with the Reid brothers today, and lunch had felt impossibly short. Or, and this was more likely, I was becoming super attached to them.
We reached the cars as I rested against Desmond’s chest, Adriel talking quietly to him as I waited for my kitty cats and Draven.
My kitty cats. A warm surge of affection washed over me thinking about how I used to get a ride home with them every single day in grade school.
“Why is she just waiting there?” someone whispered as I crossed my arms over my backpack straps. Annoyance threaded through me, and I let out a tired sigh.
Despite only being in fourth grade, I was already developing a very low level of patience for petty people. Normally I wouldn’t have to deal with these girls because Cash and Rhett would be here to wait with me. Unfortunately, they had practice after school today, so I was left waiting for Dean by myself.
Didn’t these girls have cheer practice or something?
“Doesn’t she like stalk Dean Reid or something?” one of them whispered loud enough that they knew I would hear it. “She’s always following him around.”
I kept my face blank, refusing to react, as the bell rang and students began to file out from the building. My chest squeezed anxiously as I searched for Dean, looking for his trademark dark messy hair and serious expression.
“Total stalker,” one of them confirmed as my jaw tightened. Deanie was nowhere to be found yet. Where the heck was he?
A relaxed, thankful sigh fell from my lips as Dean strolled out, looking concerned and searching for me. When he saw me, he kept his gaze on me, walking over with determined steps. I couldn’t help but smile. I always knew things would be okay as long as he was around. He just had that way about him.
I didn’t understand the comments my mom made about Dean. Not fully. He didn’t seem ‘intense’ or ‘too old for his age’ to me. Then again, apparently I encouraged his bad behavior. Which I didn’t… most of the time.
Alright, so one time this kid had made fun of me, and when Dean had punched him, I may have smiled. Possibly.
Some guy caught up to Dean, calling his name, but he continued on his path towards me, his eyes shaded with annoyance. I had to fight the urge to not run up and give him a hug. It was a bit compulsive, but I couldn’t always help it around the Reid brothers.
“Why won’t you try out for the team?” the kid asked. His scent was very human.
“Lorcan,” Deanie greeted, not answering the kid, but pulling me into a hug as I relaxed against him. He was a lot taller than he used to be, now in sixth grade, but his lion still rumbled under my cheek as I wrapped my arms around him. My eyes almost closed, feeling suddenly very sleepy. Probably because I felt safe from the mean comments the girls had been making only moments ago, my anxiety due to their judgement slowly dissipating.
“Is this your little sister?” the kid asked, frowning.
I wanted to scowl at him and tell him that I was his best friend. Literally his best friend. He would tell you if asked. In fact, he told the guys in his class, who hung onto his every word, that exact thing only last week.
“No.” Dean offered him a blank look without explaining himself. It made me know that he wasn’t a huge fan of this guy. “I need to get her home. I’ll consider the practice thing, but it’s unlikely.”
I turned as he intertwined our fingers and we walked towards the car. I had forgotten about the girls, who now just stared at us openly. I couldn’t help but smile at that. Good. They should know he was my best friend.
I knew Dean would never let me down. He would always be there.
Offering me a small hand squeeze, he opened the door to the car, his driver greeting us. He immediately asked about my day, and I told him about an art project I was working on. Dean listened to every word I said, a privilege reserved only for me and his brothers. Everyone else he ignored.
I knew he would always make me a priority in his life.
And he had. Always. Honestly, looking back at it, I should have realized I was their mate. The comfort I felt in their presence. The way that they always did what they thought was right for me, even if I disagreed because I was stubborn as hell and liked taking chances. They felt like home because they were home. They were—and always would be—a staple element of my heart.
“Dean looks annoyed as hell,” I murmured as he strolled out from the school, forcing me to pull out from the memory completely.
I could see his brothers following behind him, looking upset. Draven hummed in agreement, having joined us at some point. Adriel and Desmond both cursed about something, but my attention was focused on my angel, who I offered a tiny smile to. Unfortunately, that left me completely open to Dean and his insanity.
By the time I realized what was going on, it was too late. I was trapped against Dean’s massive rumbling chest, his arms wrapped around me possessively as he buried his nose against my neck. Ah. He must have heard about Principal Fucked Up.
Oh shit… we were in complete view of everyone, weren’t we? I heard the clicks of cameras as commotion began to sound. I scowled at their annoying existence but tightened my grip on Dean, knowing damn well this was going to make things a hell of a lot messier. I mean, the bastard was literally holding me, a student, in front of the school that he worked at.