howering as fast as possible I dash back out in my towel. Volces In the living area stop me and I grin when I hear Mason and Theo are back. I''m about to walk out to great them when I hear my narne mentioned. I pause, focusing my hearing to listen in on their hushed conversation.


    "How long are we going to try and keep this up for? It''s not fair," Theo says.


    "As long as we can, it''s for her own good," Mason responds


    "You


    saw how scared she was Theo, she''s not ready for that" Luke reasons.


    "And what if she''s never ready, what do we do then?" Axel asks.


    "Then we deal with that too," Mason grunts.


    "I just think we should let her decide for herself," Theo sigas.


    "We will, just not yet. She already has so much to deal with, she doesn''t need any more pressure right now," Luke


    says.


    "I''d also like to remind everyone that we have a huge responsibility weighing on us already, we don''t need to even consider the possibility of adding any more until we have dealt with the threats to us and this entire realm. End of conversation," Mason says with a raised voice, his temper ring up.


    Will the


    The room goes silent after his outburst and I have no idea what to do. Do I confront them?... Will they lie to my face about what I just heard if I do?... Or do I ignore it and let them lie to protect me from whatever they think I''m not ready to handle? That feels like the easiest option, I can learn to live this new life oblivious to whatever it is until they deem me ready to know. But there''s a huge problem with that, my detective nature. If I get a clue about something I have to follow it. There''s no way I can let this lie. I yank open the door.


    "What are you talking about?" I demand. All four sets of eyes turn to me. They look like four little rabbits caught in the headlights. Mason is the first topose himself.


    "Nothing, eat some breakfast," he says sounding bored.


    "I lost my appetite," I snap at him, "what are you hiding from me?"


    "Mace, if you don''t tell her, I will," Theoes to stand beside me.


    "No, you won''t," Mason snorts.


    "Deacon is your fifth bond," Theo says so fast that Mason has no chance to react. I stagger back in shock as shouting begins all around me. Deacon is my freaking bond!


    "Why were you hiding this from me?" I try to ask but ites out as barely a whisper. I stumble back into my bedroom, I need clothes, I have to find Deacon and ask him why. I open my wardrobe and find itpletely empty. Shit. All I have is a towel, Mason''s t-shirt, Theo''s hoody and Deacon''s jacket. I can''t run around the academy with no pants or underwear.


    "Josie," Luke says cautiously.


    "Get out," I shout at him.


    "Please, let me exin, we..."


    "I don''t want to even see you right now, get out of my room," I cut him off. He backs off and I copse onto my


    #


    bed. I want to go home, I want my mum and my best friend, Freya. I want my boring human life back.


    "Can Ie in?" Theo asks softly. I look up at him, he


    me the truth and he did tell me, despite Mason''s proto me too but I heard how he had been fighting to tel


    "Yes, but please could I borrow some underwear? I feel vulnerable like this," I motion to my


    ny towel. Theo nods and leaves, I hear more shouting but I try to block it out. Theo returns, looking pissed and hands me a pair of boxers that I quickly put on, along with his hoody.


    "Is that mine?" he frowns.


    "Yeah sorry, Axel stole it for me. Is that okay?"


    "You can have anything of mine, actually I like you wearing my clothes," he smiles but he looks sad.


    "Are you okay?" I ask.


    "I''ll be fine. Mason hates me but whatever," he shrugs.


    "He doesn''t hate you, he''s just mad, he will calm down. Thank you for telling me, but please don''t hide things like that from me again,''


    "I won''t, I never wanted to in the first ce but Luke, Mason and Deacon said it would only hurt you if you knew," he sighs.


    "Hurt me how?" I frown.


    "Because you can''t be with him, Jose, not like you can with us, not yet anyway,"


    "Why not?"


    "Thank you, Theo, but I think I can take it from here," the deep voice of Mr Collins interrupts and my heart skips a beat. I look up at him standing in my doorway and if I wasn''t so angry I''d probably swoon. Why does the asshat have to look so damn good right now?