17. Jane

I'm still buzzing from our win as we head back across the quad, but one glance at Avery's face and I instantly deflate. I need to find somewhere secluded so I can take care of his injuries, and then I want to find out how often he has to put up with this kind of targeted bullying. The occasional elbow to the ribs or nasty comment are bad enough, but seeing his nose broken twice in one day is making my blood boil.

He'd be safe if he left with you.

I stop so abruptly, I nearly run into Law. He hasn't stopped staring at me since I admitted I'm a mercy, so I guess that's another conversation I need to have. But right now, I'm trying to work out why taking Avery with me feels like such a good idea. Because no one ever got hurt breaking out of military college and living hand-to-mouth on the streets.

"I still think my place is the best option." I tune back in to realize Law is arguing with Avery, who looks like he's losing his grip on his last nerve. "It's as private as it gets on campus."

"Trust me," Avery huffs, "I have a better handle on the school's surveillance systems than you do. And Jane's next class is in the engineering department. That's my turf."

Law cocks his head. "Her next class is civics with Travis."

"Not anymore," Avery replies, but the words are barely out of his mouth when a loud siren splits the air. All across the quad, students freeze for a second, then start darting in different directions. "Shit!" Avery looks at Law. "You think it's a drill?"

"I thought you had the school systems in the palm of your hand," Law sasses back, but then shrugs. "Has to be, doesn't it? If it was a real attack, we'd be neck deep in feral alphas by now."

I shudder at the thought, but Avery is already herding me towards Bleak House.

"We should go to my apartment," Law insists, grabbing my hand and trying to pull me in the other direction. "It's closer. Plus, it has better security than your place."

"Hey!" Avery suddenly releases my arm and storms over to Law, bumping into his chest. With his busted nose and his flashing eyes, he looks dangerous enough to knock Law off his feet. "You might like hanging out with us now and then, legacy, but you're not a Bleak House resident and you never will be. You have no idea the kind of shit they'd rain down on us if we're not locked up tight during a drill. So, back off, okay?"

Law swallows hard enough for his throat to bob, but then runs his fingers through his hair. "Okay," he breathes out, shooting me an apologetic look. "Yeah, your place is fine. But I'm coming too."

"Shouldn't you be checking in with the Dean?" Avery asks in a snide tone. "I thought all the lords and legacies would be hustled into a top security bunker somewhere."

Law's eyes gleam down at me as he threads his fingers through mine. "And miss out on hiding under Jane's bed with her?"

Avery just mutters something about enjoying the basement, and then we're jogging across the lawn. We're moving in the other direction from the wave of students rushing from their classrooms. Just as many are spilling out of the residence halls in combat gear, and we have to move aside to avoid getting caught in the crush. Plenty of them shoot foul looks in our direction, and with the siren wailing all around us, my stomach is a snakepit of twisted knots.

Mercy, is it a drill or the real thing?

We're only four hours from the front – assuming the roads aren't washed out from mudslides - but there hasn't been an assault on campus since I started here. I've been through other drills, one eye on my patients while the charge nurse walks us through the lockdown procedures, but it always felt like a distraction. Just more noise and chaos in a ward that rarely saw a moment of peace. But now I can't help casting a look over my shoulder, trying to imagine feral alphas charging across campus…

My head snaps up, my feet tangling together as Levi Manson appears on my radar.

He's less than twenty feet away, jogging with the other Trap Team alphas towards a marshaling area. Hard eyes burn into mine, then travel down the length of Law's arm to reach our clasped hands. His lip curls in what I assume is either disgust or scorn, and then Avery says something in my ear, his fingers on my chin as he tries to turn me in his direction. But I can't look away, because Manson sees it all. He sees the way I'm leaning into Law, the way Avery puts his hands on me, so gentle and protective.

And he puckers his hard mouth and blows a kiss in my direction .

I jerk my head away, but we've reached Bleak House, and the guys are hustling me up the stairs. I stumble, but Law grabs my waist, and we rush inside. Avery calls out for his housemates, while Law collapses on the couch. He pats the seat beside him, but I stand at the window, watching the broad backs of the Trap Team disappear from view.

I try to tell myself I just imagined the kiss, that it was nothing more than the sneer of a bully aimed at a bunch of traitors' sons. But I'm certain there was something else in his eyes. Like he could see past my disguise, under my skin, right to the marrow of my bones…

"I'm going to check the surveillance feeds," Avery says behind me, his tablet out and one foot already on the bottom step.

"Not yet," I reply, almost leaping away from the window. My skin feels too tight on my bones, and I take a moment to regulate my pulse, dampening the adrenaline in my veins. "First priority is fixing your nose."

"Upstairs, then. I need to know if this is a drill or the real thing."

He doesn't wait for me to reply, taking the stairs too fast for his damaged ankle. I barely healed him when we were on the course, just knitting the tendon back together and dulling some of his pain. He has most of his mobility back, but the swelling is still an issue, and I quickly follow him up to the landing. "Slow down," I caution him. "That ankle is still bruised."

But he shakes his head, almost falling on his bedroom door in his haste to get inside. I'm instantly enveloped in his scent – the iron of an alpha, with the sweeter undertones of caramel – and I feel my mouth water. Avery's bedroom faces north, with the tiniest glimpse of the Sanctuary River curving away in the distance. Thick woods take up the rest of the view, and I realize that Bleak House is probably the least protected building on campus. There's still the electrified fence and the patrolling guards, but a determined enemy could get right up to the fringe of trees under Avery's window before anyone knew they were there .

I shake off the stab of fear, watching as Avery settles on the chair in front of his desk. The furniture is as mismatched as the rest of the house, but everything is as neat as a pin, his belongings set out on his nightstand with military precision. I'm pretty sure he'd get a medal for the sharpness of his bedsheets, and I bite back a smile as he palms the top of his spotless desk. "I like things in their place."

"No kidding," Law snorts from the doorway, crossing the room to flop on Avery's bed. It's a double, and he smiles as he spreads his arms and legs, covering as much of the navy comforter as he can reach. He looks like a lazy housecat claiming his territory as he curls an arm around Avery's pillow. "You should try unclenching, little Locke," he smirks. "The best things often happen when you put a wrinkle in your sheets."

"Leave him alone, Law," I scold, turning Avery's chair to face me. He gazes up at me as I step between his knees, his shoes shuffling to give me more room. "I like neat, too," I tell him, cupping his chin. His amber eyes are the perfect shade of molten caramel, just like his scent. "I'm a mercy, after all, and hospital corners were the first thing I mastered."

He smiles, but he's watching my mouth, his tongue darting out to lick his bottom lip. I can see my anticipation mirrored in his face and my heart beats faster as I lean forward. I plan to heal both his nose and the bruising on his ankle – and maybe even take care of that little scar above his left eyebrow – but my treatment plan flies out the window as soon as his lips brush against mine.

We open our mouths like it's a synchronized dance, and then our tongues are tangling together, our breath mingling as my power blooms between us. He moans deep in his throat, and I shuffle closer, my hands gripping his shoulders as he tugs me into the V of his thighs. I'm melting and crystalizing at the same time, and when a possessive growl rumbles out of him, I answer with a needy purr.

The siren cuts off so abruptly, it's like a bucket of iced water over my head. I jerk back, staring into Avery's blown pupils as my tongue sweeps over my tender lips. "Is it over?" I wonder.

I'm not really sure if I'm asking about the drill or the healing, but Avery just tightens his hold on my waist. I'm vaguely aware of Law slithering across the bed, his shoes hitting the floor with a thud. Amber eyes, as warm as honey, stare into mine, until Law reaches over and flicks a finger against Avery's cheek. "Punch me, little Locke. I want some healing, too. "

Avery finally tears his gaze away and gives him a withering look. "You might deserve my fist in your face, legacy, but you definitely don't deserve her ."

I expect Law to tell him he's already had me – or as much as we were able to share in that classroom after anatomy class - but he just pouts and shoots me a wink. "Well, I guess I'll just have to toss myself down some stairs or something."

"Self-inflicted injuries get sent straight to the scariest ward nurse," I quip, but while Law chuckles, Avery starts digging in his bag. He pulls out his tablet, fitting it onto a stand and connecting it to his keyboard, then dips his hand into his bag again. When he lifts the Trap Team knife out and places it on his desk, it gleams like a deadly black snake against the faded wood.

Law's silky brows arch in surprise. "Where did that come from?"

It's a good question, but Avery ignores him, fixing me with a stern look. "You can't be their blade boy, Jane. Those animals only see you as Cutter, which makes you expendable in their eyes. You go out onto the field with them, and one way or another, you're gonna get hurt."

I think of the way Manson just looked at me and suppress a shiver. "I think it might be worse if I pull out."

"What are you talking about?" Law grabs the back of my blazer, pulling me around to face him. When he gets to his feet, I'm so close I can see the flecks of gold in his green eyes, and his usually minty scent hits me in a bitter wave. "Has the Trap Team been harassing you?"

I pull a face. "I had the pleasure of meeting them during gym class. They were running drills while I was doing my fitness test, and Manson said I should be their new blade boy because of Cutter's skills with a blade. Next thing I know, I'm trying out, and the instructor tells me to turn up for Friday's game."

Law's eyes have grown progressively wider as he listens to me. "Forget it! Those guys are half feral, and it's only worse when they're on the Trapshot field. If you knew the things the Alpha Elite get up to…" He bites the side of his tongue, his hand coming down on my shoulder. "Avery's right. It's a really bad idea, Jane, because they won't think twice about putting you in danger."

I nod, remembering my blind panic as they chased me down in the gym, their alpha scents burning my nose as they watched me almost fall off the rope. How much worse is it going to be with real weapons and a win on the line?

"I'm changing your schedule," Avery says abruptly, his fingers flying over his keyboard. "I'm deleting the Trapshot games and putting a military flag on your file, same as Cutter's. Only someone with the highest security will be able to book you again."

I'm tempted to ask if he means Colonel York, but that would feel too much like summoning a bad omen.

Which is why my heart almost stops as Drew bursts into the room, his chest heaving as he tears off his blazer and flops next to Law on the bed. His scent is chaotic – hot iron and citrus so sharp it makes my eyes water. But it's the wild groan tearing from his chest that has me dropping to my knees in front of him. "Drew! What's wrong?"

"Not a drill," he gasps, flicking his sweaty hair off his face. "A rebel spy was caught sneaking onto campus. They're trying to work out if he's alone, or if he's a scout for a larger attack."

The Crimson Claw Rebellion has been a thorn in the military's side for more than twenty years. No one knows where their base is, but they have a knack for appearing right where our defenses are the weakest.

Drew's gaze suddenly drops to where his twin is gripping my shoulders. "Did I miss something? What's going on here?"

"A few things, starting with the fact I'm a mercy," I tell him quietly. "Avery was hurt today – more than once, in fact – and I just finished healing him."

Drew's eyes have bugged out of his head and Law gives a soft laugh, his arm snaking around his friend's neck. "It was damn delicious," he says in a low voice I feel all the way to my toes. "I could taste the healing happening from here, and it hurt so good."

But Drew doesn't laugh along with his friend. "You guys knew about this already?"

"Not until today," I rush to tell him. "There's a good reason why I didn't say anything, but I didn't like lying to you."

I reach out to touch his arm and he nods, but Avery is drawing me up into his lap, his other hand busy on his keyboard. "Ah, shit," he mutters under his breath, his arm tightening on my waist. "They've already doubled security across campus and canceled all leave for the next two weeks."

"Family Day," Drew says quietly, his gaze bouncing between me and his brother. "Think we can still get Jane out?"

Law sighs, and when I meet his gaze, he looks more serious than I've ever seen him. "My father was planning to come, so security was only going to get tighter, anyway. But now, with a Crimson Claw spy on campus…" He rubs his head, suddenly looking exhausted. "Either my father cancels, the Dean calls the whole thing off, or they decide to make a public display of it. Lock down the campus, and check every bag, trunk, and pocket. We'd have more luck passing Jane off as a general than getting her past the gate."

His eyes meet mine, and I see a shadow there that makes my heart clench.

I don't know much about Law's family, except that his father is on the council and has a lot of influence in running the Civin States. I don't know if he has brothers and sisters, or if he has a good relationship with his parents. But from the way he's rubbing at the stress lines on his forehead, I have to assume he's not looking forward to his father's visit, and not just because it's going to complicate my escape.

"Hold up," Avery says behind me, his arm flexing as he turns me back to the computer. There's a new window open on his screen, and from the grainy image, I realize he must have a camera somewhere near the front door. A couple of military vehicles have pulled up outside and two huge alphas are shoving Travis up the stairs. "The MPs are here!" he hisses, bouncing us both to our feet. His fingers fly across his keyboard, the screen beeping before going dark. "They have Travis, and it doesn't look good. Jane, you need to hide. Now!"

The guys exchange frantic looks, then scramble out of the room. I follow them to the landing, but Avery pushes me towards the attic stairs. "You'll be safest up there."

Law grabs his sleeve, hissing in his face. "With Cutter? Are you nuts?"

But the front door is rattling open, and I can smell the oily scent of soldiers even from the landing. I duck back, Law shooting a concerned look my way as he runs lightly down the stairs. His shoulders are thrown back, his head held high like he has every right to be in Bleak House during an emergency drill. I'm desperate to catch a glimpse of Travis' face, but both the twins are pushing me now, and I stumble up the stairs to the attic door. The handle turns and I rush inside.

I wouldn't be surprised to find my last visit was only a dream, but I'm back in that sunlit aviary, the sweet scent kissing my burning cheeks. I cast a quick glance at the huge bed with its soft tumble of pillows, then sneak to the window. The pane is open a few inches and I can hear raised voices, but then the MPs are thumping down the porch stairs, shaking their heads as they rub their palms on their thighs. I can hear one of them growl something about terrorists living under their noses, but they don't look back as they climb into their vehicles and drive away.

"Cutter?" I whisper, turning in a slow circle. A cool breeze from the open window creeps over my exposed nape, but nothing else in the room stirs. Just pale shadows dancing on the rafters and the sense that someone was just here, the air still warm with their scent. "If you can hear me, I'm sorry for barging in like this. But I'd love to meet you in person if you want to do that sometime."

I peer around, but there's not so much as a creak of a floorboard, and I squash down a flicker of disappointment as I cross back to the door. For some reason it feels wrong just to leave, and I pause to say over my shoulder, "And if I can ever do anything to help you, just ask."

I leave the room with a lump in my throat, but I'm quickly distracted by the scene I walk into downstairs. The guys are standing in the living room, and Travis' angry voice is still ringing in the air as he storms down to the basement. The other guys look pale and worn out, and I stride over to them, my hackles up. "What did they do to Travis? Is he okay?"

Drew puts an arm around my shoulders, drawing me away from the basement stairs. "Has he said anything to you about his older brothers?" When I shake my head, he sighs, his usual quick smile replaced by deep grooves around his mouth. "They're a big deal in the Crimson Claw Rebellion. Kieran and Samuel have been part of the leadership structure since their dad was arrested, and they've tried to grab Travis a couple of times. The MPs just told him that the spy was trying to get a message to him. From them ."

I feel sick, almost wishing it had been a battalion of Vistrian alphas storming the campus instead. Because if Avery gets beaten up on a regular basis for having a traitor father, what kind of punishment are they going to inflict on Travis? The other guys' dads have been locked up for a decade, while Travis' brothers are an active threat if they really are part of the rebellion. "Is he okay? Did the MPs hurt him?"

"He wasn't bleeding, but you should still probably go see him," Drew says. "I'm pretty sure you're the only one he'll talk to right now."

I'm already moving towards the stairs, my feet flying as I rush to the basement. I expect to find him slumped on the bed, nursing some awful injury, but Travis is standing in front of his punching bag. He's barefoot, his shirt tossed on his bed, and his hands are already covered in gloves. But instead of pounding the hell out of it, he's just staring at the patched leather .

"Are you okay?" I ask, rushing to his side. He doesn't look at me, so I worm myself between him and the bag, reaching up to touch his face. It's like putting my hands on a stone wall in winter. "You're freezing, Travis! What's going on? Did those assholes hurt you?"

He finally looks down at me, the corner of his mouth tipping up an inch. "You don't cuss very often, do you?"

I shrug, still searching his face for signs of injury. "Only on the outside. Trust me, some of the ward nurses make me want to use every rude word in the book." I bite my lip as awareness flashes in his dark blue eyes. "You know?"

"The guys told me. You're a mercy, right? An omega with a magical kiss."

That's a nicer way to describe me than ‘bleeder', and I drop my eyes, flushing with shame. I've been sleeping in Travis' bedroom, using his reputation like it's armor, and I haven't told him the truth about who I am. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. At first, I didn't know who to trust. And then I wasn't sure if the guy who put me in the footlocker was going to come back and arrest me…"

He's suddenly scooping me up, his boxing gloves under my butt as he carries me over to his bed. "Tell me about this guy," he growls, eyes flashing as he places me on the edge of the mattress. Leaning down, he cages me in with his big arms. "Name, rank, and where the fuck can I find him?"

I shake my head, trying not to stare at the broad chest right in front of my face. "It doesn't matter. If he was going to come after me, he'd have done it already." I don't mention the rumors Avery has heard about York heading back to his estate. "And I'm leaving on Family Day, right? He's not going to bother hunting me down in the city."

Travis' lip curls, his scent all unyielding iron. "That's not good enough, Jane. I can't send you away with this shit hanging over your head."

I reach up and touch his face. It's still cold, but it gets warmer the closer my fingers trail to his mouth. Travis, I realize, has beautiful lips. Most of the time, they're scowling at the world, but now they open on a sigh. I can feel him relaxing under my touch, but then he jerks back, crossing his arms over his chest. "I have to protect you, Jane, so you need to get away from me. As fast as you can. It's not safe to be close to me."

There's so much helpless anger in his voice, I lean forward, resting my hands tentatively on his hips. He's still wearing his school trousers, but my fingers brush the skin above the waistband, and it's the opposite of cold. I feel a matching heat uncurl in my belly as I gaze up at him. " I'm not safe, Travis. I was put in that footlocker because I hurt a senior officer. He called me to heal his injured mate, but he was so close to death, I couldn't save him without sacrificing myself. I always knew I'd die in service, but when it came down to it… I took his power for myself. They think I poisoned him, but it's worse than that. I nearly drained the life out of him with a healing kiss."

"Good," Travis growls. "Then York got what he deserved."

I jerk back, searching his eyes. "You already know his name and rank, then."

"Avery just confirmed it. But I had my suspicions… You have a way of patching us back together even when you're not trying to."

I have to blink away the sheen of tears in my eyes, because out of all the garbled and effusive thanks I've ever received, this is the sweetest. Which is why I have to make sure he knows the truth. "But I was the opposite of a healer, Travis. I nearly killed York. Even now, he could be suffering the side-effects."

" Because you were trying to save his mate ." He grips my shoulders and gives me a little shake. "York wanted a miracle by the sounds of it, and he didn't think it would come at a cost? The guy is a soldier, so he knows that life can be snuffed out at any time. He should be kissing your feet in gratitude, Jane."

I open my mouth to argue, but the words don't come out. Because he's right, in a way. Healing Steele was the hardest thing I've ever done, and it nearly killed all three of us. I might have gone about it the wrong way, but I saved York's mate. Which means he got what he wanted.

Travis is watching the thoughts flicker through my head, but now he sighs and starts peeling off his gloves. "But I'm not wrong about you needing to get away from here. They're going to be watching me closer than ever after this security breach. There's no escape for me, Jane."

My heart clenches at the hopelessness in his eyes. "But you're graduating this year, right? You only have six months left, and you're free of this place."

He's tossed his gloves on the bed, and now he touches my chin, his thumb sweeping over my cheek. "Followed by conscripted service for no less than three years. From what I've been told, the best scenario is getting shipped to the Albarak Sea, where I will guard the coastline from algae attacks." He cracks a rare smile, but it's not a happy one. "I think they're hoping I'll get so bored I drown myself. "

"Don't do that," I murmur, wrapping my fingers around his. "Come lie down with me. You're so cold you're making my teeth ache."

He quirks a brow at me, but when I scoot up the bed, he follows me without hesitation, lying down on his side so we are face-to-face. "Are you gonna warm me up, Mercy?"

I tug the comforter up until it covers us both, and then squeeze his chilly hands between mine. "That's my job," I tell him lightly, but my lips tremble as I press them to his scarred knuckles. "I want to fix everything that hurts you."

"You shouldn't waste your breath on me." He uses his thumbs to tilt my chin up. "But I won't say no to a proper kiss."

I nod, but he's already sealing his lips over mine, and I know from the start it's going to be a different kiss from the others. Kissing Law was like being swept up in a hurricane, and healing Avery reached deep into my soul and touched a place I didn't even know existed. But letting Travis into my mouth is like finding my way home. The chill melts from him as soon as our tongues touch, and then he's everywhere at once, drawing me against him like he's a sun-warmed rock. I wiggle closer, rising up on my elbows so I can fall deeper into his kiss.

"You taste like strawberries," he murmurs, licking at my mouth like I'm one of Law's fancy desserts. "How did I not know the sweetest food in the house was already hiding in my bed?"

I giggle as he flips me over, licking his way down my throat and across my collarbones. Pleasure shivers across my nerve endings, growing even brighter as he hums against my skin. "Everywhere is delicious," he mumbles, swirling his tongue in the hollow of my throat. "This could be a problem, Jane. I don't have a lot of self-control when it comes to my favorite snacks."

I giggle harder, squirming to get away from his hungry tongue. But then he props himself on his hands and stares down at me. "If this goes further, I'm fucked."

I bite my lip, more than a little pleased by the absolute certainty in his voice. "That sounds bad."

"It is." His finger traces a circle on my throat, round and round, like he's hypnotized. Or maybe he's putting me in a trance, because his next words make me fall deeper under his spell. "Because one little taste of you, Jane Mercy, and I want to keep you with me forever."

That definitely sounds the opposite of bad, but I know why he's looking at me like it is. "I never get a chance to protect the things I care about, Jane. But I can change that with you. I have to change that."

My heart swells so big, I wrap my arms around him and pull him tight. If we're going to hurt, we're going to do it together.

"But not right now," I tell him. "Let's just enjoy each other for as long as we can."

And do I even care if the guys break me? Because once I'm on my own, in some city they'll never get a chance to visit, I'll have all the time in the world to try to patch myself back together.

Before he can reply, Drew sticks his head around the door. I blush at the way I'm plastered across Travis' chest, but as soon as I try to move, his big hand comes down on my back, holding me in place. Drew bites the edge of his lip, his eyes dancing as he takes in the comforter twisted around our legs. "Afternoon classes are canceled," he says. "So, does that mean it's early to bed?"

"Or we could cash in our prize," Law suggests, slinking into the room and leaning against the wall. He looks around the room with interest, and I wonder if this is the first time he's ventured into Travis' domain. But then his eyes grow even brighter when they land on the bed. "This is super cozy. How come we've never had a sleepover down here?"

I can feel the explosion rumbling deep in Travis' core, and I sit up quickly. "Do you really think we can go to the rec center?"

Law beams at me, then shifts his attention to Travis. "Did Jane happen to mention she masterminded the highest score on the Strategy and Tactics course today? It was the cleanest run Peters had ever seen."

I flush, but Travis tilts up my chin, his eyes shining. "Way to go, sweetheart."

I'm lost in the glow of his approval when Law says, "The prize is free access to any campus facility for a period of three hours."

"And you chose the rec center?" Travis snorts, his thumb still brushing down my spine. "I thought you were allergic to exercise."

"It's not my favorite way to pass the time," Law admits, then wags his brows at us. "But it does have a pool."

A pool. How long has it been since I went swimming? And even then, it was sneaking away to the commune lake, only to be dragged out by our parents and punished for shirking our chores.

"The pool's off-limits to us," Travis says, sounding annoyed. "You think I'd be taping up that punching bag for the hundredth time if I could use the rec center facilities whenever I want? That's the Trap Team's turf. "

"Avery has it in writing," Drew says smugly. "It's our turf. For the next three hours, at least."

Travis looks down at me, a kaleidoscope of emotion in his dark eyes. There's excitement over spending more time together, and a lingering warmth from the kisses we just shared. But underneath it all is that shadow of fear that never seems to leave him. "Then we should go make the most of your victory. But after that, we focus one hundred percent on getting ready for Family Day. No matter what, Jane gets away from this place and settled somewhere safe. Agreed?"

The other guys look at me, their expressions just as conflicted as Travis'. But then they both give grudging nods. "Agreed."