Roman’s classroom that one time during the Trials, which was—holy God, still is—one of the hottest things I’ve ever experienced. And Cam, Asher, and I got to third base in an empty classroom together during the Inter-academy Ball, but this… this feels different. The three of them just kissed me in quick succession, in front of each other, and it was casual, easy, with no explanations needed or given.
Could this thing between us all actually work? Could we really do this?
“Ellie!”
My heart jumps. I know who that is—only one person in the world calls me Ellie. I turn and see Maddy bound through the doorway, grinning, her blue eyes sparkling.
“Hey, Mads.” I open my arms for her, and Roman moves to clear the way as she launches herself at me.
I hug her tightly. Maddy clings to me a little, and for a second, it’s like she’s fourteen all over again and I’m eighteen, and Mom’s just died, leaving us with only each other to depend on.
“Did I scare you?” I whisper. “I’m sorry, Mads. I’m so sorry.”
I promised my sister I’d always be there for her. Dad might’ve skipped out on us, and Mom might’ve died too soon, but I’m not ever going to do either. That’s what I promised her, and now I’ve gotten myself into danger and scared her. Almost broken my promise, maybe.
“It’s okay.” She pulls back, beaming down at me. I can still see the fear behind her eyes, but it’s eclipsed by so much joy at the moment that her smile almost blinds me. “You’re back now.”
“How long was I out?”
There’s a long beat of silence as everyone exchanges glances, and the nervous feeling in my chest expands, making my heart beat faster.
“It’s August,” Roman says at last.
My stomach flips. What?
“We moved you here,” Cam explains, still sitting on the bed next to me, like he can’t stand to move too far away. “To Roman’s house. We couldn’t keep you on campus while it was pretty much closed down for the summer, so we’ve all been here.”
“All summer?”
“I went home to visit my family a few times.” Asher grimaces almost sheepishly.
“Good! I… That’s good. I’m glad you did.” Asher’s close with his family; I don’t want him missing out on seeing them because of me.
Holy crap, have I really been out for almost three months? What kind of damn spell hit me?
I rub my eyes, trying to process all the new information I’ve just received. “So… you five were here all summer. All of you. Hanging out together. And I was asleep?”
Everyone nods.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”
I had four hot guys who are apparently all getting along and willing to bang me, and my baby sister all here for an entire summer and I slept? Through all of it?
Somewhere in the universe, someone is laughing at me.
And that someone is a dickhead.
“You must be starving,” Asher says. He’s always good at sensing and diffusing my bad moods, even when his magic dampening cuff is on and he can’t read my mind. “Let’s get you something to eat.”
“Yes, please.” Some of my incensed anger fades at the mention of food, and I sit up more, pushing the covers off. “If I’ve really been lying here all summer, I don’t want to spend another second in this damn bed.”
The guys all hover anxiously around me as I find my feet, but when it becomes clear I’m not about to keel over, they let me walk to the bathroom without an escort. Thank goodness. This whole thing is weird enough as it is, and I appreciate that they’re trying to give me a little bit of normalcy.
I take a quick shower and change into some clothes—Maddy brought all my stuff from school—then head downstairs to find that one of the guys went a little overboard with cooking breakfast. The kitchen island is laden down with pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, the works.
“I’m not going to be able to eat all of this,” I warn, although I fully intend to try.
“I’m finally cooking for someone who will appreciate it,” Roman replies, giving me a look that makes my insides melt. Huh. I did not take him for the cooking type. “Unlike these four.”
There’s some good-natured teasing as the others all assure him they love his cooking, and I stare around the kitchen in shock as they load up their plates. Since I’m not moving, Cam fixes one for me, piling it high with some of everything.