Four Mates & A Tribrid

Chapter 44

I wake up far too early, squinting at the blinding light pouring in through the window. My gaze tracks over the room, noticing everyone else was still asleep. Colt and Caspian left late last night after our conversation. They would have stayed, but these bunk beds were not made for more than one person each, and I couldn't exactly see Colt cuddling up next to Daxon or Harley.

My body felt tired and my mind felt drained. Olivia had explained what else she knew about the freaky cult, but there wasn't much to tell. She was still gaining their trust, and I had exposed her loyalties to me a little sooner than she would have liked.

So now, we're still trying to figure out the best plan of action. My parents had told us to wait on them for backup, but I don't know how much longer we have. I'll need to call and update them later, while also somehow figuring out how to unblock the connection from my phone in the process.

My mind turns towards the book Olivia mentioned. I hadn't really looked through it, mainly out of embarrassment that the guys would see it. It's not exactly subtle. I reach down from the bunk, snagging my bookbag and retrieving the book from inside.

The intimate and borderline pornographic cover greeted me as I leaned back against the wall and studied it. I don't quite understand why Olivia mentioned the book or why it has any relevance at the moment, but I opened it all the same. The content in the book was mainly a ritual used in tight-knit bonds. It didn't necessarily have to be with mates, but most supernaturals don't trust one another enough to participate.

The cover was almost mocking me with the female vampire surrounded by a group of men, all in an intimate embrace. The act was sensual and powerful all at once. This was one part of an act of power-sharing that I needed to read more on if it has any chance of helping us.

So despite the slight blush consuming my cheeks, I skimmed through the pages and pages of orgies and spells, trying to decipher the information that I needed. My eyes continued scanning the lines and lines of text, but finding no real value in the words.

What was on the page was essentially a mating and marking ceremony, which didn't help in the overall sense of the situation. I mean, if anything, this would make things worse for us. If we went through with this, yes, we would be more powerful as a unit. However, we would be tied together for life. This was much more than marking one another as mates. This would ensure that our lives were combined as one. The thought made me shiver in fear.

I wouldn't put the safety of my mates in my hands. If I died, I didn't want to bring them down with me. And with that thought, I shut the book and shoved it back into my bag. There was no way in hell I was going to be sharing that information with the guys.

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"Morning, Sunshine," Daxon said with a bright smile as he elbows past Colt and into his dorm.

Colt glares at Daxon's retreating back before hissing. "Get the hell out of my room, Charizard."

Daxon waves his hand before hopping up onto Colt's bed. "Ahh, don't be so grumpy. We got things to talk about, Colty."

Colt opens his mouth to argue before I lean up and kiss his lips. His words cut off as he grabs me by the waist and pulls me into the room, shutting the door behind us. I gasp as Colt runs his lengthened fangs across my bottom lip.

"Miss me?" I whisper as his eyes devour me on the spot.

"Yes, actually," he responds, the words bursting out before his eyes widened, almost as if he didn't mean to say them.