Chapter 104: _Public Boyfriend, Private Chaos
Celeste’s POV
*****
8:01 PM, Outside the Dormitory buildings.
"Uhm..." I got down the steps nervously, head swerving from Azrael, to Luther and then Atlas. "Is this some kind of intervention? Am I about to be kidnapped?"
Azrael was the first to speak. "I sent you a text, little miss. Came here to see if you’d... Show up."
The pause in his voice made me feel like he had a different reason for coming here. One he was keeping to himself.
Ah—classic Azrael Vaelmont.
"Celeste," Luther’s voice echoed through the night next. "I found out about everything. Atlas told me—"
"Only," Atlas butted in quickly, "because you were already suspicious." He turned his head to me. "I think you should hear him out."
I squinted, torn between all three of them.
One was a man who did the physical equivalent of ghosting me, making himself scarce since our tense conversation last night.
The other was my cheating ex. whom I found out last night has been under a spell all along.
And then of course, there was Atlas, lingering behind Luther but staring at me like a man starved for too long.
This was it. This was the part about the mate bonds that I hated so much.
Four men who craved me and whom I craved just as much. But the problem? They couldn’t share, we couldn’t be open and, most importantly... I was already tangled with one.
"Azrael," I started after a long pause. "You’ve got some nerve. Asking me to see you for whatever reason after the harsh way you left me last night."
The latter’s forehead creased with a frown, sunglasses twitching. "Harsh? Celeste, I—"
"I doubt I want to hear it," my voice was deadpan, the edges raw with exhaustion. "You had your chance to explain yourself better. To not leave me standing in the forest while I dragged myself back to the Blood Trials like some fool."
I couldn’t see his eyes but I could feel his emotions through the bond.
His guilt.
That touched a part of me I couldn’t name. Only for a moment before I slid my eyes to Luther. "A–And Luther..."
Willow’s words about him meeting her for an explanation or whatever struck just then.
Now I saw the way his eyes lit up when I stared down at him. The quiet search for validation I suddenly couldn’t give. Not when every time I looked into his blue orbs all I saw was a man who ripped my heart.
"Luther, I—" before I could gather words to say, a baritone cracked through the tension like a knife:
"Oh, you all are here." When I swerved my head to my far left, I spotted the owner. Silas. He strutted toward us, eyes sweeping past the others before he climbed the steps.
He got to my side, grabbing my hand gently. "Hey, love." Came his grounding whisper. "Has your mom left?"
His presence made me feel at ease. "Yes... We talked."
After keeping his hazel gaze on me for a few more seconds, he swung his head to the others. "It’s the Dean. He said he wishes to see all of us in his office."
The relief I felt twisted instantly into unease.
Dean Thorne wanted to see all of us?
Wait—how come Silas—
"He said it’s urgent," Silas added, tugging my hand so I could bring my attention to that devilishly handsome face. "There’s something I need to tell you before we head there..."
I couldn’t stop myself from swallowing.
Whatever it is better not be something bad. I’m done with bad shit tonight.
.
.
"Really Silas?" I berated his ass for the umpteenth time as we trailed through the quiet hallway leading to the Dean’s office. "This happened last night and you didn’t think it was right to tell me?"
What was the thing he wanted to tell me? You might be asking.
Well, apparently, Dean Thorne replaced Luther with him. Making him and Atlas work together as my bodyguards or whatever the fuck the Dean took it to be.
Silas shook his head at my words, placing a hand on my shoulder as we walked side by side. Atlas moved ahead of us while Luther and Azrael followed behind.
Their unspoken judgement glaring even though I couldn’t see them.
"It’s not like that at all, love," Silas said with an apologetic sigh. "It’s just... We’ve been having good moments since last night and I didn’t want to ruin the mood. I was going to tell you soon."
A part of me wanted to be mad. But I wasn’t.
Honestly, all I could think of now was how to navigate meeting the Dean without showing my suspicion of him.
When we got in front of his door, Professor Amelia was already waiting there with her usual welcoming smile. She didn’t say anything, simply opening the door and gesturing for us to enter the office.
It was lit up with bright white lights, Thorne sitting behind his desk with an unreadable look in his eyes.
He followed our movements—mine especially—as we lumbered to his desk, standing in front of it. "G–Good evening, Dean." I greeted first, my anxiety already going through the roof.
Gods, have mercy.
Clearing his throat, Thorne nodded. "Good evening, Celeste. Has your mother left yet?"
I nodded, hoping I wasn’t the main reason for this impromptu summons.
The others glanced at me but none said anything, merely greeting the Dean in a disorganised fashion. Nothing but silence sat in the room for several seconds.
As it did, my mind did the natural thing it was good at.
Spiral.
’Did he feel the accidental spike in my room’s wards?’ was my first thought. ’That... That shouldn’t make sense right? Except his connection to the academy’s wards is stronger than we thought—fuck, maybe he did leave those notes.’
My body shook, gaze averting from the man.
Then, after the exhausting quiet, "I’ll go straight to the point. I called you here because I heard about your... Monogamous relationship with Silas."
A frown twisted my face.
That was NOT what I was expecting at all.
"I know I originally said you should avoid being around your mates simultaneously," Thorne rubbed his neck with a light sigh. "But this is pushing it. And detrimental to our evaluation."
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing right now.
Detrimental? Evaluation?
"With all due respect, sir." My voice rose a bit. "You make it sound like we’re experiments to you. I’m a young woman with a life—don’t tell me you’re trying to govern that now."
Thorne arched a brow before a ghost of a smile cracked his stone-cold expression.
"Of course, not, miss Bloodoak. It’s merely a suggestion. While we’re not certain, we have reasons to believe the bond has nothing to do with the beasts you summon at all."
Atlas chimed in. "Who’s we?"
The Dean’s eyes cut behind us.
Footsteps echoed from the door as Professor Amelia joined us. "Professor on ’mate bond theory’ here. The Dean makes a solid point." She got to his side, placing a hand on the edge of his seat. "Furthermore, I’d like to point out how unwise it would be to avoid the bonds. Any of them at all."
Fuck. My. Life!
Just fuck it.
Fighting to keep my emotions in check, I breathed. "So what is your ’suggestion’? I make all of them my boyfriends? How would that work when I’m supposed to keep the bonds a secret?"
Thorne laughed heartily while Professor Amelia merely smiled.
And that only made it harder to stop myself from crashing out.
"Miss Bloodoak, no." The Dean shook his head, pointing a finger at Silas before bringing it back to me. "Keep what you have with Silas. It’ll be a distraction to the public."
He paused with a silent huff. "In the background, stay close with your other mates. Neglecting the bonds, especially with how complex and new it is could prove harmful."
I was going to speak when Azrael sniggered. "You’re taking away her agency. Stripping her down to a lab rat for your amusement."
"Nothing is amusing about any of this, Mr Vaelmont." Professor Amelia countered. "It’s what’s best for you, Celeste and possibly the rest of the academy."
Azrael didn’t back down. "Then why is she mandated to keep it a secret from those she trusts the most? Her parents for hell’s sake. You’re telling me we shouldn’t find that worrisome?"
My head swerved to him before I could stop myself. Those sunglasses had never felt so annoying until now.
I wanted to see his eyes as he challenged the Dean’s authority for me. All I got was a brief pivot of his chin to my direction—then Thorne interrupted the moment.
"As it stands now, she’s allowed to tell her parents if she pleases," he shrugged. "Where I strongly draw the line is with outsiders. Friends or otherwise."
Heat flushed my cheeks.
Too bad Willow already knew part of my secrets.
"Anyway." The Dean placed a hand on his chin. He gazed at me for a moment. Then, "the four of you will be given three days to leave the academy. To any vacation spot of your choice. That way you’ll get the chance to experience the bonds to their full capacity."
Silence.
I blinked once. Then twice, my mouth refusing to close.
Did he just say a vacation?!
