The Tracker Hive Academy Year One - Avery Song Page 0,49

a king or queen of the Hive who anchors the whole cluster?"

"You're correct." Alaric nodded. Tanner’s scowl was as strong as ever, but he reluctantly placed his hand under Alaric's, the ice shard multiplying in size and shifting into an ice flower that blossomed outward.

"Hold on," Zackery commented. "I know I'm the slowest here, but does that mean if we label Mr. Masters as the Hive leader — the king or whatever — does that mean with that demonstration just now, Ms. Sky and Mr. Asshole are connected to him?"

"Hey!" Tanner growled. The rest of us ignored his response, piecing together Zackery's question.

"Alaric is the Hive Leader. Bianca and Tanner are connected. The more connected the three of them are, the stronger the overall Hive is. Does that mean with you guys being a team, together you're a triple threat?" I concluded.

"Correct," Alaric replied.

We were quiet for a full minute, soaking in this new information. I looked at Tanner.

"Does that mean you're gay?"

"What is it to you?" he huffed. "Don't go using that against me or I'll surely fail you."

"Nothing wrong with being gay." I shrugged. "I just wanted to state that I knew that already."

"You did?" the four guys asked.

"I live with the three of them. I'm not stupid," I noted.

Tanner began to blush while Bianca snickered. "I told you she was observant."

"Hmm. Her acceptance of things makes life a lot easier," Alaric complimented.

"Us, too!" Shadow Jade announced, skipping over to get a closer look at the ice flower.

"Us, too?" Zeus questioned.

"Hmm? Oh, we don't have a preference," I answered.

"Meaning?" Zackery inquired.

"You like boys and girls," Zeke concluded.

"Yup!' I replied with a nod. "I can date either."

"Interesting," Zeke smirked.

Zeus groaned. "Stop fantasizing about the possibilities. It's seeping into our minds and we don't want it."

Zion smiled sweetly. "Zeke has an intriguing imagination. It excites him to know he has possibilities."

"Can we change the subject before this guy starts making the rest of us horny?" Zackery reached out to try and slap Zeke's head, but he ducked.

"Last time I checked, I was entitled to my own fantasy. No one said to announce it in front of Jade's guardians, but cool. I'll be able to ask them first to take her out for some fun," Zeke said with confidence.

I actually blushed at his declaration, looking at Tanner, Bianca, and Alaric, who were staring blankly at us.

"For once, I'm unsure whether to be excited or to wonder if I'll get banned from dating you four." I shook my head.

Bianca leaned over to Alaric. "We should buy her an apartment. I don't want to interrupt them."

"I guess," Alaric replied.

"Are you two listening to yourselves?" Tanner glared at them.

"Me!" Shadow Jade declared, picking up the ice sculpted flower. She walked back to me. "Ours with the tree!"

"Sure," I approved, not minding the fact she just stole the flower.

"Guess I better make that permanent, or Shadow Jade may destroy the office if it melts," Zackery concluded.

"Good idea," the three others replied.

"So...let me get this straight. The reason why my elements got all crazy on our first encounter was because we are potentially a Hive, and I'm the connector? Does that mean they're my only Hive...members?" I inquired.

"They should be since together they harness all the elements to match yours. In our case, we're lucky to be able to balance Alaric out. Both Tanner and I have four elements that together make up the eight. This is still something relatively new. However, we have noticed a recent uptick in those with Hive potential being murdered or sold on the Black Market," Bianca explained.

"That would make sense," Zion declared. "Gathering those with the potential of being a part of a Hive or a connector. Those with more elements have higher probability, making them the perfect targets. If they aren't one, they can use them for other things or kill them."

"You're thinking that someone in this school suspected that we're a Hive and wants to eliminate us," Zackary declared.

"They don't want to eliminate us," Zeus pointed out. "That was a trial."

"Confirming whether we have a reaction to Jade." Zeke bit his lip. "There was no other way for you guys to get out of the trap without using that connection. It was the perfect demonstration, and now our hidden enemy knows."

"So?" I asked. "What does that mean, then?"

"They're going to come after Jade," Zackery confirmed.

"Or kill her," Zion muttered.

We glanced at him, noticing his dark eyes were deep in concentration.

"Think about it. Look how powerful Alaric, the headmaster