**Theo''s POV
"We really need to work on our porting skills," I say breathlessly as I jog to keep up with Mason''s long, determined strides. We have relied on Deacon and Luke to port us around and now both of them are gone we are running around like headless chickens. We reach Deacon''s eld office and Mason pushes the door open without knocking.
"We need to speak with the elders, urgently," he says, forgoing any kind of greeting.
"Good afternoon, Mason. You know I can''t set that up easily," Toby, one of Deacon''s fathers responds from behind the desk. It''s odd to see him there rather than Deacon.
"Someone calling himself Comelius Grey has just shifted on live television in the human realin and announced himself as their new God, and us as the enemy. I''m sure that warrants a visit," Mason retorts and Toby''s eyes go wide.
"Oh dear, let me see what I can do," Toby picks up his phone and presses a button. "Hello, Sweetheart,
try and put me through to the council? We need an urgent meeting with the elders... yes, thank you, bring Ronnie too," he says before looking back to Mason. "Olive is patching me through. Her and Ronnie will be here shortly,"
We wait in silence as he holds the phone to his ear impatiently until someone answers. "Good afternoon, my name is Tobias Gregory, acting headmaster of Greys Academy. I have some vital information regarding crimesmitted in the human realm. I need to request an urgent meeting with the elders," he says into the phone. He goes quiet and nods as he listens to someone speak on the other end of the line. A look of determination crosses over his face and I know they''re not making it easy. "With all due respect, that just isn''t good enough. What part of urgent did you not understand? One of our kind has just revealed our existence to the human world on live television and dered us the enemy... yes, my source is very reliable. My son is a part of The Spark bond, he is in the human realm and is able tomunicate with his bond group telepathically. Two of his group are with me now. Yes, I''ll await your call, thank you," he hangs up the phone and sits back in his chair with a sigh.
"I guess we
we will just wait here then, Mason says and takes a seat on the couch. I sit down beside him and momentster Olive and Ronnie join us.
"Oh boys, it''s lovely to see you. How are you? How is Deacon and Josie?" she asks with a friendly smile.
"We are all as good as we can be," I smile back.
"So what''s happening?" Ronnie asks and Mason reiterates what Deacon had told
us.
"That is not good. Are Deacon and Josie somewhere safe at least?" Olive asks, her voice full of concern.
"They are, Luke and Axel are with them too," Mason reassures her.
"Oh, I''ve missed so much. When did this happen? How did they get there?"
"Just yesterday, it wasn''t something we nned. Luke and Axe decided to test it and by some miracle, they made it through," I tell her.
"I''m d they made it. You two must be feeling disappointed you couldn''t go too. Neither of you have experience in porting between realms do you?" she asks.
"Unfortunately not. Only Luke and Deacon are experienced enough to even attempt it. So now we are stuck here until they find a way back," I sigh. Olive looks like she''s about to say something else when the office phone starts ringing.
Chapter 01 20
Tobias Gregory speaking," Toby answers. He listens for a few seconds before he looks at Mason and nods. "Here in the academy? Would it not be more suitable If we... Of course, I understand. We would be honoured to host them, thank you," he says and then puts the phone down.
"They areing here, apparently they nned to visit the academy soon anyway. They''ll be here in two hours. I''ll have the grand hall set up for a meeting. You two should probably go and get some lunch whilst the dining hall is open. It will be good for the students to see you are still around, and still fighting to fix the realm because there have been some wild rumours spreading through the academy," Toby smiles.
"I don''t give a..." Mason starts.
"Of course, thank you. We will see you in a few hours," I cu Mason off quickly, grinning widely.
"See you soon boys, and if you need anything please let me know," Olive smiles warmly as I practically push Mason out of the office door.
"Let''s go eat, we could both do with a decent meal," I suggest and Mason just grunts.
When we enter the bustling dining hall and join the queue the room seems to quieten down.
"I told you, I think she is dead and Mr Collins did it because she was a traitor. He caught her breaking the portals and killed her and now he''s in jail,” I hear someone whisper.
''No, she can''t be dead, the Spark bond would have killed them all. I think she has rejected her bonds because she was having an affair with Mr Collins," someone responds.
"Ignore them," Mason grunts, his body tense as we listen to all the gossip about
us.
"It''s Theo I feel the most sorry for, he has spent all that time being rejected by Mason, and now his bond has left him too so he''s back to following Mason around again like a rejected little puppy that nobody wants," another voice says in a hushed tone. Ouch. Is that really how they all see me?
"He doesn''t deserve your sympathy. He''s stupid if he hasn''t learnt by this point that nobody wants him. He''s such a sap. He needs to realise that Mason is not interested in him like that."
"Fuck it," Mason growls turning towards me. His hand grips the back of my head and he pulls my face towards him, nting his lips on mine for a brief kiss. Then heces his fingers in mine and holds his head high as shocked gasps and whispers sound around the room. I could cry with how proud I am of him right
now.
N.O Darling Author
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