17

Sal

Theron humbled me very quickly.I hissed when Cain pressed the ice to my bruised cheek.

"Calm down," Cain muttered.

"You calm down," I fired back. "Where's your boyfriend? He's nicer and can heal me."

He chuckled, and I looked up at him. His dreads were pulled back in a ponytail with a dread tying it together instead of a hair tie. He looked a lot like Abel, just wider and more toned.

"Are you and Abel close?" I asked.

He nodded, reaching over to sip the coffee that he had for lunch. I saw him in the cafeteria when I came in with a million ice packs. "We were closer as kids, but still close now. We just are two different people sometimes. Like, he likes you. I like Jinn."

I smirked.

"He's a momma boy."

"Oh no!" I groaned.

"It's not a bad one. He just looks for approval from his mother. Dad and I bonded a bit more."

I nodded, imagining a little Abel cuddling up to his mother. I always imagined myself like that.

"He likes you, you know."

Our eyes met, my lips parting. I knew he liked me; maybe he liked me more than that. But part of me wasn't fully ready to be their girlfriend, not without figuring out my feelings for other men.

"Everyone likes you. I hope after this… you won't leave because I see the change you have been doing with the men of this group," Cain explained.

I wasn't thinking about leaving but… I hadn't thought about what would happen after this. I doubted it could end well, and the outcome didn't seem like the best.

"Oh!" Jinn's voice snapped me back to reality. "Who did that to your gorgeous face?!" Like Cain, Jinn and Osiris were in tactical gear. Osiris's hard eyes were on Jinn, brow raised at his statement.

"Father Theron," Cain explained as Jinn withdrew his white crystal.

"I'll heal you!" Jinn explained, doing as he said.

Osiris finally made eye contact with me. His eyes were bright and his features were handsome like Kier's. His dark black hair was over his striking blue eyes. A scar was over the right side of his lip. "Are you hungry?"

"Uh," I muttered, getting a rush of magic as Jinn healed me. "Yeah."

He nodded. "I'll buy you lunch."

Buy me lunch? My eyes glanced at him, but I didn't stare at him.

"Uh, Jinn," Cain started, and I instantly knew what he was going to do. "I actually need you to help me with something in your office."

Jinn tilted his head, oblivious. "What do you need help with, sweets?"

"I will explain on the way. Let's go." Cain stood, bumping Jinn.

Jinn cast me a smile before standing and following his boyfriend.

My eyes closed as I sighed. Alone with Osiris.

"Are… you okay to get food now?"

I peeked at him as he ran his hand through his hair. He was truly handsome, and I knew most of the people at the academy were obsessed with him. And here. Miren talked about him and the others and how hot they were.

Hearing girls drool over Beck made me laugh. He had been inside of me, though I needed a tune up on that.

I stood, nodding. "I'm starving. Theron beat the food out of me."

Osiris let out a slight laugh. "So, you met Theo?"

My eyes moved up to his as he led the way in line. "Something like that. Kier wanted me to be trained by him."

He shrugged. "Theo is a good teacher."

I grabbed what I wanted from the buffet-style table. "I don't know. I still kind of miss Mr. Evans."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I do not. Teaching isn't my strong suit, learning about Celestials is."

A smirk played on the corner of my lip. "Nerd."

He made a noise, something that sounded like he was offended. I almost laughed at him. When we made it to the end, he swiped his ID and paid for the both of us.

"I have cash at home, forgot to bring it, or see if I should bring it. I'll pay you back," I quickly added. I was surprised Osiris paid for me, but I was going to end up asking anyways. I couldn't find Beck or Briar. I knew they would pay for me instantly. I found Cain first, and he took care of me.

"Don't worry about it. I can afford it," he flashed a smirk before moving back to our empty table. I sat across from him, pulling my ice packets to me.

"Got too cocky with Father Theo?" Osiris asked, spooning some fruit into his mouth.

"Been through it?" I asked.

He nodded. "I came here already being known because of my older brother. Father Theo knocked me down a few pegs. I thought I was the best around; I was not."

I smiled, eating my food. "Miren underestimated me, so I got cocky with my fighting."

He chuckled. "I would pay to see that!"

"I think someone recorded it. I'll slip it to you for the free meal."

"Deal," he glanced down and smiled.

"Mhm," I sat up, thinking about a question. "Did you join thinking you were going to excel in something, and now you do… what you do?"

"I do research. We measure the Earth and the vibration, trying to figure out where the Revelation came from. Any time there's a new demon or creature, we figure it out." He sat up quickly. "Actually, there was a case—one of my first cases—where the animal ate a demon finger, and it changed into a demon. Its blood, its DNA was a demons, though it hadn't been before. It makes you wonder if something like that has happened to someone or if…" He froze. "Sorry, I'm ranting."

"And I'm listening," I was the whole time, eyes locked with his.

He shook his head, sipping his water. "I bore people with my obsessing over vampires and shit…"

"I wasn't bored. Who fucking told you that? Kier?"

"Nah, Kier supports my weirdness. Used to bring home files of the celestials. He would let me peek through them and study them. On April fool's day once, he made me believe that there was this creature that was obviously fake."

I couldn't hide my smile as my heart surged. Who knew the handsome joker was a nerd and the alchemist hardhead was a sweetheart? "My sister would do the same, but instead, she'd make up cases about the Oracles."

"So, you always wanted to be one?"

I nodded. "It was supposed to be me and her, here…"

"I'm sorry, Psalm."

My eyes lifted and I met his gaze. My body tingled with heat as we stared. "I know I barely know you, but I don't think you are boring. I wouldn't mind listening to your stories and research."

He smiled, looking down. "Thanks. I guess when you hear something over and over, you feel it. And I don't look or act like the nerdy guy I am."

I raised a brow. "Honestly, thought you were a nerd when I met you."

"Yeah, okay!" he chuckled.

Throughout lunch, I listened to his funny stories about Kier, which made me miss him more. I missed all the men when I wasn't around them. Cozen, I was going to miss for a while; it always happened. I missed Abel and Beck's jokes.

I was without them a day; how was I going to survive? I got too attached way too quickly, but that wasn't my fault.

By the end of the day, I hung out by the front of the steps, hoping that someone would just come, pick me up and take me home. I was sore, and my brain hurt from all the magic Theron had me learn.

I caught on quickly, but magic had a toll, even on those who could use it well.

My eyes moved through the trees and landed on the driveway where Kier was this morning. Out of all people, I missed him the most. Everyone else I would see or have seen today.

Kier was gone and could be dead right now, though I doubted much could kill him. Osiris told me about the time he broke his hip and kept walking on it.

Pain made us realize we were alive.

"I'm taking you home today," Osiris said as he stepped down to the last step that I was at.

I looked up at him, and I had to say, being this low to the ground and looking up turned me on. It was like I was on my knees for this priest, beginning to repent. I was sure a dick down my throat was able to do that. I reached for the bar, but he held out his hand.

"Father Theo has a way of making your body exhausted from training."

I wanted to tell him it wasn't only training, but he probably already knew that. Kier probably told him, though I wasn't sure how he would react.

Sliding my hand into his, I let him help me to my feet, groaning at the tightness of my thighs.

Osiris chuckled, but he bent down a bit before lifting me right onto his back. It caught me off guard, but I didn't have the strength to fight it. He adjusted, reaching back and grabbing my thighs as he began walking me out.

I pressed my cheek to his back, closing my eyes.

"I can't remember how many times Kier carried me like this after my first year of being a Rookie."

A small smirk curled on my lips. He signed us out and carried me through the parking lot to his SUV that he had taken here with Briar.

"Alright," he muttered, opening the passenger door, and letting me get off.

The impact of coming down to my feet made me whine. My body was on fire, and the moment I sat down, I was excited.

"And you have to do this all over again tomorrow," he said with a smirk, closing the door for me dramatically. He rounded the car, and I got to look at him once more. He was tall, dark, and very handsome. My thighs tightened together as the setting sun landed right on his face perfectly.

I inhaled sharply as he entered the car and started it. The scent of our sweat, yet his expensive cologne filled the car.

"What did you do when you were this sore?"

Osiris looked at all mirrors, and I swore he looked at me for a moment before he drove off.

With Beck and Abel, it was the instant that we liked each other. The crush grew with each passing day, and all today I thought about them.

How were these men able to invade my brain like that?

"Kier used to run me ice baths—"

"Nope," I refused.

He chuckled. "And he would rub my muscles before it to loosen me up."

"Kinky," I muttered at his words, thinking about Kier rubbing me down. "Ugh, a rub down would be amazing. Maybe you could call Abel for me!"

"He's busy," he answered.

"How do you know?"

"He's home to help his mother with moving things. He's busy."

I rolled my eyes. "Then no one is home! Beck is the next one, but he's still working. Same with Briar, it would take some convincing, but he would do it for me if I asked."

"I can rub your muscles, Psalm, without it being…" his voice trailed off.

I glanced at him. Risk Osiris rubbing my body or going another day without a rub down.

"Fine, but if you try anything, I will kill you."

Osiris snorted. "Can you even do that right now? The famous Spectre is down for one day."

"He had me do horrible shit!" I defended. "I used magic the most I've ever done. I use alchemy, not conjuring."

"I thought I was hot shit too, before I met Theron."

I scoffed. "I'm still hot shit, just exhausted, sore, and tired hot shit."

Osiris chuckled heavily, and I glanced at him, wondering how I could listen to that for the rest of my life.