said you didn’t want to…but maybe you should go to SOMA and learn?”
“That’s a good idea, but it’ll be up to Koth to decide if it’s safe enough.”
Riah cleared his throat. “I recognize that this is not my place to speak, however, I sense trouble on our horizon and I do not think we want to risk a repeat of today…just in case I am not here to reverse it. Or it is beyond my reparation.”
Tegan sighed and stood. “I’m sorry, Gigi, but it’s best if we send you off now.”
Tennessee got to his feet. “To Issale.”
Tegan snapped her fingers and a white portal box opened up behind her. “We’re not trying to be mean here…”
“I know.” Gigi closed her eyes and nodded, then got to her feet. “It’s okay. I’ll go.”
I jumped to my feet and sprinted around the table to her, tackling her in a hug. After a moment, I pulled back. “It’s okay, this will be safer for you. You’ll get stronger.”
Savannah stepped in beside me and pulled her in for a tight hug. “The school will be good for you. You won’t have to be so afraid anymore.”
Gigi stepped back and turned toward the portal. “Okay.”
Tennessee nodded and then stepped into the portal. Gigi took a deep breath and followed.
“Be right back, y’all.” Tegan winked, then leapt inside her own portal. It closed behind her.
The room fell silent and tense. I felt everyone’s eyes on Savannah, even if they were trying to not stare. Savannah sank down in her chair and scrubbed her face with her hands. I walked back to my seat and sat beside Riah. Every second that passed without someone speaking was awkward.
“So…” I cleared my throat and glanced around for anything to talk about when my gaze landed on Constance’s lavender soulmate glyph on her hand. “So, how many soulmate pairings do we have here?’
Jackson and Bettina raised their hands.
Constance and Daniel.
Emersyn and Deacon.
Mona and Kessler.
Hunter and Devon.
And of course, Tegan and Tennessee.
“Interesting.” Riah hummed. “So not all the Bishops have soulmates.”
“Nope, Bentley and I are free men, right?” Cooper took a sip of his drink.
“Not for long for you, my brother.”
“OHHHHH,” everyone cheered.
Cooper spit his drink. “What?”
Bentley shrugged. “She’s coming.”
Cooper’s face turned sheet white. “What?”
Bentley shook his head as he cut his food. “You’ve got time to panic still.”
Savannah’s expression darkened as she stared at the ground.
Easton rubbed his palms together. “So does that mean we can’t get him a girl for in the meantime?”
Cooper glanced at Savannah, then hung his head.
Bettina scowled. “No, he shouldn’t date anyone and get some girl’s hope up knowing it’ll be swept out from under them when a soulmate shows up.”
Jackson grimaced. “Bugger, that rubbish does not sit right. Bloody hell.”
Bettina smiled and kissed his cheek. “Luckily that worked out well for us.”
Cooper glared.
“I mean, we could get him a girl for right now.”
“DEACON,” Emersyn hissed.
He grinned and gave Easton a high-five.
“I don’t know, Emersyn, it might be good for him.”
Cooper blanched. “MOM.”
The portal opened right back up and Tegan and Tenn strolled inside.
Tegan smiled and sat in the chair at the head of the table. “What did we miss?”
“I’m afraid to ask.” Tennessee grumbled as he walked over to sit at the opposite end of the table between Kessler and Hunter. “I just want to eat.”
Hunter chuckled. “Bentley informed poor Cooper his soulmate is coming but he’ll have to wait a bit for it. Easton and Deacon are proposing a friends with benefits situation for him in the meantime, and really, son, I think they might be on to something if even your mother agrees.”
Tegan cackled.
Kessler rubbed his chin. “How long has it been now, Coop?”
Coop glared. “Not that long.”
Kessler waved him off. “True, you weren’t as bad as Tennessee in the dating arena.”
Tennessee paled. “Can we leave me out of this? I think I get enough shit for my current romance.”
Tegan arched eyebrow. “Current?”
“No! No, you know what I meant.”
Tegan grinned and winked. “I know but you’re so cute when you’re flustered.”
Deacon pursed his lips. “Tenn, did you date before Tegan? Word on the street was you didn’t.”
Easton wagged his eyebrows. “He didn’t date anyone after Libby.”
Em gasped. “You dated Libby?”
Everyone turned to Tegan, who shrugged. “As if I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah, they were a hot little number for a —"
Lily elbowed him. “Easton.”
Easton waved her off. “But that was like eighth grade, for a month, so no big deal.”