Chapter Twenty

Adam

"Hey, Delaney! Wait up!"

She stumbles a bit and whips her head around looking for me, immediately homing in on where I'm waiting. "What the hell are you doing right now? Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

I approach her carefully, because this interaction could go poorly, and I've had enough bad interactions with her lately to last a lifetime. "My teacher cancelled because her kid started throwing up. My next class is online today so I was just headed to my dorm, but I saw you walk into the main office and hoped you'd come back out soon. You haven't texted me back in a few days."

I tuck some hair behind her ear, something I've done so many times before, and then I have to wrap my arms around her, because it's been too long since I have.

She melts into me, shaking a little bit.

"Hey, you okay? Did something happen in there?"

She shakes her head, then pushes off of me and backs away. Her color looks a bit better than it did a minutes ago though, when I first saw her ducking into the office. "Just another conduit trying to cause problems. I have it handled though."

"Who?"

"It really doesn't matter."

"Do you have to get back to class?"

She checks her phone for the time. "Not really worth it at this point."

"Where are August and Jackson? You shouldn't be out here by yourself."

"Sorry babe, just had to use the bathroom," August says as he and Jackson walk out a different door.

I remind myself I'm supposed to be friends with them, so I unclench my fists and give them a nod.

"Everything go okay with the headmaster?" Jackson asks.

"She said another conduit was causing problems," I tell them.

"Was it that annoying conduit in that class with Wilford? Didn't he say the headmaster was her brother? She went and complained, didn't she? You told him off though, right? He should know she was running her mouth."

"Yeah, I explained what happened. Shelly was trying to get you guys kicked out of the dorms, but they can't kick you out since we're mated now."

I kind of expected it at some point, but it still hits me like a blow. I jerk back and sit on my ass, right in the middle of the wide cement staircase that leads down to the school's courtyard.

"Woah, you okay?" I hear her voice, but it just makes me spiral further.

I'm so fucking sick of waiting. All this time that I've been fighting my feelings for her, convincing myself we could never be together, telling myself I'd be perfectly happy with someone else, and now she's just bypassing me as if I'm hardly even worth a consideration, and I feel like I'm well and truly losing her. I felt something similar before, but that was nowhere near how desperate I currently feel.

So I make an incredibly rash decision. "No, I'm not okay. I need…so fucking much, Delaney."

I can see in her eyes when she realizes what I'm about to do, but I don't give that panic enough daylight to progress. I've been good for too long, and in the process have become bad because I've been denying us both something that is one of the basic tenets of life.

"I should have done this fucking years ago," I say before pulling her down to my level.

And right there in the middle of the really fucking uncomfortable stone steps, I pull her on top of me, welcoming the glorious weight and frame of her body, rejoicing when her legs split apart and straddle me, and I bury my hands into the back of her head and I pull her to me and I kiss the ever loving shit out of her.

This is everything a first kiss should realistically be; my whole body seems to feel it. She responds, gasping as she sinks into the kiss and takes what she wants from the interaction.

My hands map out the curves of her hips and glide over her ass, pulling her onto me tighter, and I don't give a flying fuck that anybody could see us, that we're in such a public place. Because it's me and Delaney. "You've always been my soulmate. I don't know why I blinded myself, but I'm so fucking sorry. I love being your best friend, but I need more. I want you like they get you; I want to hear you panting as I discover how to make you come so hard you scream, and I want to know what it feels like when my body is so screwed up with yours that there's no real way to see which one belongs to who.

"You're not my only soulmate though; just as I'll have to share you, you'll have to share me. Can you accept that? I can't give up Cory."

She pushes herself off me, and like a splash of cold water, she's shaking herself out of the situation I just created. "Adam! How could you do this to them? You're not available. This…shouldn't have happened. I…I'll text you later."

She tries to run away, but I've seen that too many times; us parting ways without the promise of another time immediately. If I don't run after her then this will never happen.

At this moment in time I'm beyond grateful that August and Jackson have my six; I wasn't sure we'd ever get on, but they seem to know the heart of me and they have Delaney's heart at the front of their minds. They're mated, so they must instinctively know what she needs.

I can't hear what Jackson whispers to her as he kisses her, erasing mine, but he keeps her in place and when I'm close enough he turns her around, forcing her to confront me.

She flinches a bit, not understanding what's really truly happening. So I reach into my pocket and I call my other person. They're still in class, but I think this counts as important.

It rings for a few minutes, the time it takes for them to escape the classroom and find somewhere private, but then I put it on speaker and make sure my phone is in a place where no one can misconstrue what Cory's about to say.

"Sorry to interrupt class, babe. I need something; it's time."

An intake of breath, which I know is the sound of excitement, but which Delaney won't be able to discern yet. "She's there? You…really?"

"Really. She seems to think that I can't have the both of you. You want to tell her what you told me?"

"Delaney? Can you hear me?"

"Hey C-cory. I'm not sure what's happening."

Cory clears their throat. "August, can you pass her that package I put in your bag the other day?"

"You got it boss."

August ruffles around in the messenger bag he carries, pulling out a neatly wrapped box about the size of my fist. He passes it to Delaney, who holds it very cautiously.

"Do you have it?" they ask, tenderly now. "Where are you at? I want to be there with you guys."

"We're on the steps down to the courtyard, right near the office," I tell my partner. I'm anxious and wish I didn't have to wait how long it's going to take for them to cross campus and get to us. "You want me to wait? Or should I let her open it?"

"Open it, Delaney. We can talk when I get there. Just know that…Adam isn't the only one pursuing you. He is available, but only to you; I can't cut off part of his soul or block him from it, so I'm hoping I can help it to shine instead."

Delaney has her face covered with her hands now, looking overwhelmed, so I pull her into my arms and try my best to comfort her while keeping the phone up. "This isn't some whim, Delaney-love. It's going to take a bit for me to make up for how I've been treating you lately; I know that. But when we take that step, I want it to be as a unit. I want to— we—want to officially court you. Do you accept?"

"Can I open this? I want to make sure it's not some black-market body part before I'll consider."

Cory laughs, somewhat awkwardly, because she's not that far off base. I take a step back so she can open it carefully. "Maybe its best if you sit down for this. That's pretty fragile and I know you're a bit unsteady right now."

She nods and sits down, all the while August and Jackson keep watch and also stay tuned into what we're doing, looking back towards the side of the office building way too much. So I crane my neck, only to see the headmaster staring out the window his office must be in, eyes fixed on a completely oblivious Delaney. I step between them to block his view and stare him down, even if he is the headmaster, because I feel protective over her right now. He flinches and drops the blinds and disappears, but I think he's already seen enough to understand the situation.

Fucking weird.

Delaney passes the wrinkled and torn paper she pulls off the jewelry box to me and I stuff it all in my pocket, balancing the phone on the step between us so Cory can continue to be a part of the moment.

She pulls out a silver chain necklace with a black twisted shape linked to the center of it. About the size of my thumb nail, it glitters and allows a bit of sunlight through it as she holds it up, taking its measure, remarking on its beauty but clearly having no idea what it is.

"Cory's magic…" I start.

"Premonitions, right?"

"Right. Well, they were at a flea market a few years ago with their family and saw this there, tucked into the corner of a stall."

"Goblin magic," Cory interjects, too eager to wait any longer. "It's a goblin heart."

Delaney looks horrified and nearly throws the treasure, but I cup it and make sure it stays safe. "You might want to finish that story," I inform Cory.

"Oh, right."

But they're silent too long, leaving me to ask if they're still there, until I hear footsteps and see Cory basically sprinting across the courtyard from the opposite side of us, taking the stairs two at a time, leaving them completely winded by the time they make it to us.

Bent over and heaving, they hold up a finger asking for a minute to calm down.

I pull them down onto the step between my legs and rub their back, making sure Delaney understands we're a package deal.

"I saw it…and knew I would need it someday," they heave. "Sat…in a drawer for a long time, and then…"

Cory looks to August, who fills in the gap of information. "We decided to collectively stop fucking around and be the people you need," August says with a nod.

"Yeah. That. I'm including myself in that because I feel like I absolutely have to. I'm terrified, but…anyway.

"When goblins die, they undergo a process with their mate, because only death can sever a goblin mating."

"Gonna be real here," Delaney interjects. "I thought goblins were made up."

Cory waves her off. "No. They're just very secretive."

"You…know too much about goblins I think," Delaney counters.

Cory just shrugs. "I get very focused on subjects and need to research them until I burn out. Anyway, I digress. When a goblin is about to die, they repeat their mating vows with their mate and link hands, breathing together until the last breath is given up.

"Then the surviving mate calls their lover's heart to them. It uses up what remains of their mate bond, which sounds scary but is actually very beautiful. This is the result. I know that doesn't sound super romantic, but goblin hearts are incredibly rare, because they're usually hoarded and hidden, highly sought after."

"Uh huh. Yeah. Totally," Delaney says, looking a bit green.

"There's no biological material from the goblin left, Delaney," Cory says in a tone that says she should understand this at a very basic level.

"It turns to this rare stone over the course of the next 24 hours after their death. It's said that the heart will find its way to someone destined for…" Cory looks to me, finally out of confidence.

I nod and pick up the mantle. "If taken by ill begotten means," I supply, "the heart is a curse. If found and acquired without any sort of trauma, as is the case here, it is a huge blessing, and a sign that someone will find great happiness. The heart instinctively wants to bring people together, Delaney. It's a symbol of dedication.

"Goblin hearts have been studied, but no one really understands how they work. It's not magic in the way we use, it's…older, like earth magic. This appeared to Cory and they didn't know why, but when they met you, and Cory was able to put a face to all the stories I had shared…"

"I felt it. Like a click, in my soul, Delaney. We haven't had enough time together to develop anything at all besides friendship, but I want the ability to try for so much more."

"You…do?"

Cory pulls the necklace from her hands and holds it up, asking for permission to put it on her. She nods, still looking a bit unsure, but lifts her hair to the side and spins around so it can be clasped about her neck.

"It's a long chain because it's meant to hang over your own heart," Cory explains, combing through Delaney's hair, right as she spins around slowly, eyes widening when she realizes how close together they are.

"Do you think you could ever see me that way? As a potential suitor?"

This is sort of the moment all of my plans hinge on. If she says no, things will get sticky.

Delaney's eyes meet mine over Cory's shoulder, looking for input. For years she's been the closest person I've had in my life, and I hers. It seems surreal to be at this moment of time, where she's seeking permission to make a move on somebody I thought I would have a happily ever after with alone. So I encourage her with what I hope is a nice smile, but I feel ravenous. I'm not a shifter; in fact, my magic is only good for moving water around in interesting ways. Nonetheless, there"s a beast in my chest wanting to pounce and tear her apart. Hypothetically of course.

"I just—" she says, attention back on Cory alone now. "You're not asking me simply because of my history with Adam, right? This isn't something you feel you have to do to keep him?"

Cory doesn't wait to formulate an answer. They grab her, backing her up until she's pressed against the handrail and then pushing forward more so she's forced to bend backwards slightly. I watch their mouths move together, tongues almost instantly involved, and my dick gets so hard so fast that it makes me a bit dizzy.

I can't help but to prowl closer to them, stand beside them and wrap my arms around both of them as they cease to pay attention to anything else. They're completely in a bubble, and even though Delaney is ever so slightly taller, she looks like she's seconds away from trying to climb Cory. She's even making little mewling noises every time their mouths move against each other and then switch directions, both so excited to be kissing that they don't keep to one position for more than a few seconds.

We've been out here long enough now that classes have ended and there're more people around, doors opening nearby releasing students. The sudden influx of voices seems to shock Cory and Delaney back out of the moment, but they don't jump apart. They stay locked together, eyes inches apart, staring at each other slack-jawed as if they can't understand what just happened.

"In case that wasn't clear," Cory says with their voice very affected, "me being low-key obsessed with you has nothing to do with your involvement with Adam. I'm excited to see you two together and encourage you, and to bear witness to all the changes ahead, but I didn't get a premonition about this goblin heart because of him. I got it because you're meant to be in my life. I need you as a partner too, just as badly as I need him. I don't know why the goddess does what she does, but this feels right. Did that not feel right to you? Please say it did."

Delaney buries her face in the side of Cory's neck, wrapping her arms around them as Cory reciprocates. "Yeah," she finally says. "That felt… more than right. I don't… I don't understand." She lifts her head up and looks around at all of us gathered around her. "Must you all have made concerted efforts like this at once? There's so much going on inside my head, inside my chest, inside my body… this is a lot for me. I only just mated those two…"

August and Jackson move closer to her, standing at her back and allowing her to lean up against them. I notice that she still doesn't let Cory get farther away though as all five of us stand close together in a pack. "This is what you should have had from the beginning," Jackson says softly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Absolute devotion, everybody falling over themselves for a chance with you. We won't apologize for coming on too strongly now, because this timing just feels too perfect. We could have slowed down and paced ourselves, but where's the fun in that?"

"Where indeed?" she says, tapping her fingers over her lips like they're tingly still. Fuck, mine are tingling and I didn"t even take part in that kiss.

"Adam," she says hesitantly, "you're sure you're okay with this? This is what you really want? I feel like we've gone through everything to nothing and back again a half dozen times since I started at Hemlock. You were so adamant you didn't want me. What changed?"

"How about we get out of the middle of the courtyard? We should head somewhere we have more privacy so you can be more comfortable and relaxed."

She looks a little relieved at this suggestion, to be given even a small break from thinking so hard. "Okay. I wanted to spend some time with Leo, see if I can catch him awake. You guys can hang out in my living room or something while I do that. I can't just dive all in, Adam. I need some time to think."

I mean, it's better than a straight-out rejection, but it doesn't feel great. "If that's what you need. Take your time, but we're still going to talk about this when you're ready."

I hold out my hand, hoping she'll take it. And this is something else we've done so many times before, but when she slides her hand against mine, the rasp of her skin on mine and the heat that bleeds through feels way more intimate than usual. She stares down at our linked hands with the tiniest of frowns, turning my head with her free hand to look at me. She stares into my eyes, and I feel my soul being weighed and judged.

And then just because I can, I pull a caught-off-guard-Cory in for a kiss, waiting to test Delaney"s rection. I hear her breathing quicken, see her lick her lips out of the corner of my eye, and I know we"ve got her hooked.

August and Jackson walk ahead of us, and I nearly trip when I see the back of August's shirt. "August? Where'd you get that shirt, man?"

It appears Delaney hasn't seen the back of it either; the front of it just looked like a black T-shirt. She's losing her shit but trying very hard not to.

"My brother. Why? It's so soft."

"He doesn't know the back is sun activated," Jackson smirks.

"What the hell did you do to me?"

Unable to hold the smile in anymore, I read the back of August's shirt for him. "It says ‘Normalize Pegging' in pink letters."

August opens his mouth and turns like he's going to yell at his brother, and then shrugs instead as he starts to walk away again. "I ain't mad."

The rest of us start cracking up as we follow along, heading towards Delaney's.

"If you ask her nicely, I'm sure she'll give it a go with you too, bro." August wraps an arm around Jackson's shoulders, making a show of comforting him.

"Are you serious right now? This is a joke because it really happened?" My sweet Delaney did…that?

Delaney stares me down in challenge, waiting for me to react badly. That's never going to happen. "Goddess, that's hot. Kinda weird thinking about you so sexually without any repercussions, but as he just said, I ain't mad about it." And then I kiss her again, making sure she knows exactly how affected I am by that image of her taking one of her mates in such a way. It's weird, but I actually feel when she breathes in the lust off my skin, making me tingly as her eyes roll back in her head a bit.

"Built in detector," she mumbles.

I love that I know what that means, that she can tell what my feelings are for her by tasting the lust my body is giving her. I give her a goofy grin. "That makes me ridiculously happy, actually."

"Oh my gods can we please get behind closed doors?" Cory begs, trying to cover up their pelvis with hands crossed over it.

Delaney giggles, pinches Cory on the cheek, then hooks her arm with both of ours and skips off.