I almost don’t notice when the music ends, but then Tucker pulls away and moves to stand behind me. I look up to see Sir up on the stage, with Shane and a guy I’ve never seen before, standing behind him.
“The music will resume momentarily. Now, usually I would wait until an Assembly, but unfortunately, I have to leave for a few weeks, so I will do it now while you are all in attendance. So, why wait?” His eyes cut to Shane, and a sneer is firmly on his face. Shane, however, is smiling. “Shane will no longer be attending the Academy. Once the year ends, he’ll be gone. Therefore, he will be replaced by Thallon, someone who understands the way a Harkwright is supposed to behave within the Academy. He will not be participating with the Academy until the final year commences, but he will be here for tonight.” He pauses for a moment, as his eyes sweep the crowd, and stop on me.
Tucker tightens his grip on my hips, and his reaction is worrying me.
“The final matter is that Jake has relinquished his claim on number Fourteen, with immediate effect. No one will be able to claim her for twenty-four hours, and Maddox has claimed Daria Lewiston. As this is not her first claiming, I will not explain the rules again. Welcome to the family, Daria, for now. That is all for this evening. Enjoy your ball and good luck on your finals.”
He leaves the stage, and the music starts back up, but no one is dancing anymore. Tucker is still holding onto me with a death grip, and I’m not even trying to fight it.
“Miss Carter, may I have a moment of your time?” Sir asks, and I’m taken aback by the fact he’s even asking. Again, I can’t refuse, so I nod and follow him out to the hallway.
I wish Tucker would follow us, but I know he won’t, not without an invitation from Sir himself.
“I heard what happened during your meeting, and it is unfortunate how Mrs. Masters treated you. I will not tolerate that behavior, and I have dealt with her. I hope her words have not put you off your future endeavors.” He rests his hand on my bare shoulder, and my stomach rolls.
“No, Sir, I am more determined than ever.”
“I am glad to hear it. Although I may suggest you find a way to increase your number. You will have a greater chance if you have more collateral to fall back on.”
“I understand, Sir, I am just waiting to earn my chance. I’m not going to ask or expect it to be handed to me, I just need to prove myself.” I have no idea if I’m saying the right thing, but his eyes are sparkling, nevertheless.
“What a mature reasoning you have. Good luck, Miss Carter. I’m sure I’ll be seeing a lot more of you once the new year begins.” He takes my hand between both of his, before releasing me and leaving me alone.
Why would I see more of him? Please, please tell me that was nothing more than idle words. I shake myself off before rejoining Tucker. He keeps staring at me, but I’m not going to say anything. Not now, and certainly not here.
Thallon is circling the ballroom, and I doubt many are immune to him. With his dark, soulful eyes, short, black hair and stubble lining his strong jaw. He has that broody look down to perfection, and just the right amount of muscles. He’s wearing a leather jacket and dark, stain-washed jeans, with a pair of biker boots, and a chain dangling across the side of his thigh.
“It had to be Thallon,” Aeron says, as he drops down beside me, and I can’t even hide my surprise.
“Did you expect anyone else? I bet he’ll be a much better soldier than Shane ever was. He has more to prove after all,” Tucker says flippantly, and both D and myself keeping looking between them.
“Be careful what you say,” Aeron says in a singsong voice, as he stares at me, then D.
He’s got pot leaking from his pores, and his eyes are hooded and clouded over. I doubt he’ll stay for much longer, not without causing some kind of scene.
“Is he okay?” I ask quietly.
“He will be,” Tucker replies, before placing his hand on my thigh.
“No need to piss on your territory. I’m just trying to avoid One. She’s like a damn dog with a bone, and she will not leave me the fuck alone. It would be so much easier if I were gay.” The whole table goes quiet, and I can’t stop myself from glancing at Maddox.
His hands are clenched tight on the table, and his face is ashen as he glares daggers into him.
“Maddox, could you make sure Luna gets back okay? I’m going to get Aeron back to his room.” He pulls Aeron to his feet. Tucker doesn’t even move out of the way when Aeron slams his fist into the side of his face. He doesn’t react at all. “I’ll join you once I’ve got him sorted out,” he says to me, and I watch them disappear through the doors.
“I’m sorry about Aeron,” I say to Maddox and he just shakes his head.
“It isn’t your fault. He never knows when to shut his mouth. Are you ladies okay if we leave now? I don’t think I can take much more of this.”
Me and D share a look before we climb to our feet and move to stand beside him. If he needs to leave, then we’ll leave. It’s as simple as that.
The rest of the weekend goes by slowly, but now, we only have one month until our final exams, and I think nearly everyone is feeling the pressure. From the dancers trying to perfect their routines for the showcase, to the science majors, and the arty types who have to complete whatever they’ve chosen to create.
My baking one doesn’t worry me at all, well, at least not unnecessarily, but the others? Damn, how can you know if you’re ready or not? All I can do is revise, and oh yeah, revise.
I’ve barely got time to see D or Maddox, and even Tucker has taken to bringing his material to my room so he can focus on it. I don’t know if he’s doing it because he wants to spend time with me, or to stop anyone else from turning up.
I’m ratty, and temperamental, and I have no idea if my attitude can get any worse.
“Calm down, Five. You’ve still got a month before the exams. It will be fine,” Tucker says, as he sits reading through one of his module books.
“That’s easy for you to say, you don’t suck at everything,” I snap, and now I feel guilty.
“Go and lie down, now,” he orders, and I swallow hard as I walk into my room and lie down.
“On your front, Five.” I flip over and I feel as he pulls my skirt up.
“That wasn’t nice, Five, and I feel like you need to be punished.” My stomach drops, and I don’t know what to expect.
I jump as his hand connects with my ass, and then he rubs the pain away before he does it again. This should be horrible, maybe even degrading, but my panties are already getting soaked. I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would.
His hand slides between my legs and slides beneath my panties. He slides them through my wetness, and I cry out and forget all the stress I was feeling moments ago. My panties are ripped off my body and I feel them snap against my skin. The pain only lasts for a few seconds before he’s lining himself up with me. One quick thrust, and he’s buried deep inside. My teeth bite down onto my fist as he pulls out and then slams himself home. Repeatedly, until I can’t tell which way is up or down.
“Maybe I should be naughty more often,” I grind out through my groans.