Immediately, all three of her familiars wrapped her in their arms, soothing her with soft noises and promises of safety and devotion. Trent’s continuous apologies louder than the other two combined.
“It’s okay, I’m okay.” She looked up at Trent and caressed his cheek. “We’re okay. I’m sorry I snapped. I know you didn’t mean it like that. I’m tired and afraid. It’s going to come out in a bit of snark.”
“Feel up to another challenge then? The more of us you have, the safer you are,” Ryan asked her, and Melody blanched.
“Uh, no, actually. I think I um, I need to get used to having three of you first. It’s quite different to having one. Each of them are pulling me, it’s alright while you’re close, but when Asher went into his room, it felt like there was a hook inside me tugging me to him, and two more holding me on the couch,” she shuddered. “That’s going to take a while to get over. It wasn’t as strong with the two of them, but it seems that adding more familiars only emphasises it.”
“Then it’s more likely to be generated by those three idiots than the bond,” Mrs Hardinger said tartly, entering the room. “And if I’m not mistaken, it’ll be something to do with their cocks. It always is for the males.”
Melody snorted, and then she giggled. “Well, I’ll uh, let you know how that pans out. Maybe I should bond some strong females.”
Immediately the three of them growled at her, and she flinched. “Or maybe not.”
Oz had barely held in a snarl from his own beast. No, Melody wouldn’t be bonding any more shifters, not unless it was one of the four who were eagerly waiting for her signal. She belonged to them, the seven of them. It wasn’t a number that he’d ever considered, five had been a big enough leap for his wolf to accept, but with the addition of the asswipe and Trent, the sense of pack that he’d used to encourage his wolf had expanded. She was theirs, and nobody else was going to interfere with that!
21. Melody
None of them wanted to go back to their dorms that evening, but Mrs Hardinger had been adamant, insisting that Melody and her familiars needed time alone to adjust to the change in dynamics. She told them that they would get the same treatment when it was their turn, and asked them how they could deny their future bondmates such a luxury.
It worked. Melody hadn’t expected it to, but it had, the two dragons and two wolves left soon after, grumbling quietly and giving her doleful glances over their shoulders. Melody almost laughed aloud, it was all an act and most of it was their beasts, sulking. She wouldn’t, however, damage their human pride even if she was amused.
Trent wouldn’t let her go, even when she made a move for the bedroom. Dean growled at the fox shifter, but pushed past him to grab his pyjamas and pillow before lugging them out of the room.
Melody watched in surprise as he stomped across the living space and into Asher’s room. The arrogant wolf watching warily but saying nothing. Trent’s fox heaved a sigh of relief, even as Trent followed her into the room and closed the door behind them.
“Just for tonight,” Dean called out through the closed door.
She could hear his voice and Asher’s rumbling in the other room, probably arguing over who slept on which side of the bed. The thought nearly made her giggle, but the fatigue coursing through her swept it from her lips before it could escape.
Trent crawled onto the bed, still clutching her hand as he crossed it to the side where Dean normally slept. There was no pillow there now, so Melody smiled and shoved hers to the center so they could share it. A moment later, however, the door swung open and Dean stood there with the blanket and pillow that Trent normally curled up with in front of the fireplace. Without saying a word, he dropped them at the foot of the bed before spinning around and closing the door behind him as he left.
“Is he… okay?” she asked, tired and hesitant.
Trent shrugged. “Seems to be. Pretty sure he could kick my ass out of here if he wanted to. I think … Neither of them got the bonding experience with you that all shifters dream of. That moment of connection where our beasts are first touched by your magic. It’s supposed to be a joy, a relief, a moment of oneness. Instead, they had Shawna’s shit and your injuries and spending their first days as yours, wondering if you were going to live. I think they’re still grieving that.”
Oh goddess! Was there anything her aunt hadn’t destroyed in her life? But Trent’s next words dispelled her fears.
“Then they see me. We’re bonded, and okay, that asshole was here, but I was able to be with you immediately. They’re giving this to me, this moment to connect with you, to start our bond off the way it's meant to be. Dean laid beside you while you were injured. Asher hasn’t had as much one on one time with you. But they’re allowing us this moment to achieve what they weren’t able to, and they’re not being assholes about it.”
“But it’s still hurting them,” she whispered.
“No, sweetheart,” Trent said gently, stroking her face. “They’re grieving what was lost, and enjoying what I’m experiencing. This isn’t hurting them. I’m just
