Miles held my hand as we followed Samael into the sitting room. Beckett and Aphellion were already there waiting in the love seat. Samael walked to one of the empty armchairs and sat down, patiently waiting for Miles and me to sit down.
"You can have the armchair; I'll grab a chair from the kitchen table," I told Miles.
"Don't be silly, Darling," Beckett said, smiling from the couch. "You can sit with one of us.
Miles growled, like actually growled, and it was hard not to laugh; I covered my mouth with my hand, faking a cough, trying to stifle my laughter. Miles stomped over to the armchair, with me in tow. He sat down and pulled me into his lap, pulling my body flush against his as he wrapped his arm around my waist. Samael rolled his eyes at Miles.
"So Katrina, what questions do you have?" Samael asked.
I had so many questions, but there was one that I found to be the most important out of them all, "What does fated mean?" I blurt out.
Beckett, taking a sip of frothy beer out of his mug, choked, spraying the beer from his mouth.
Aphelion chuckled, "Starting with the big questions, I see."
Miles shifted uncomfortably underneath me, and Samael's face was void of any emotion.
"So what does fated mean?" I asked the men again. '
"Aphelion, since you think this is so funny, why don't you answer this one," Samael stated, looking at Aphelion, a gleam of wickedness showing in his eyes.
Aphelion's eyes flashed with a lightning spark, "Can we skip this question and come back to it?" He asked, turning his head towards me.
"No," I said, shaking my head. The guys found this question uncomfortable since they were trying to avoid the subject entirely.
Aphelion let out a heavy sigh, "I didn't think you would." He was quiet for a moment studying my face. "I don't want to scare you away, princess." He finally said, vulnerability showing in his eyes.
"The events from yesterday and today haven't scared me away yet; I'm sure whatever you tell me won't be as bad as having my entire world turned upside down." I smiled softly at him.
He stared into my eyes once more as if trying to look into my soul before beginning. "Fated is short for fated mates, and I believe they're known as soul mates or twin flames in the human world. A fated mate is someone who is your perfect match; your fated was created to mold perfectly to you, two halves to a whole. In our case, however, it's a four to one ratio. You were created for us, and we were created for you."
My arms crossed, I stood up from Miles's lap and started to pace in front of the fireplace. I stopped in front of Aphelion, trying to determine if he was messing with me or not; from the serious look in his eyes, I could tell that he wasn't. "How do you know that I am your fated?" I ask.
This time it is Beckett who answers. "Don't you feel the pull towards all of us, the need to constantly touch us, the need to be close, like the universe doesn't want us to be apart?"
I felt that connection with all four of them; while the pull was stronger with Miles, it was there with the other three. I thought it was because all four of them were insanely hot, and I hadn't had sex in a while, but now I wonder if maybe it was something more.
"The moment I saw you in line at my club, I knew you were the one," Miles said, causing my attention to switch back to him, my heart fluttering at him. "When I saw you, your aura shined so bright, calling to me, wanting me to claim you as mine. It's why I invited you into the club with me. I wanted to mark you as mine right then and there, but the longer I was around you, the quicker I learned that you didn't feel the same pull towards me as I did towards you; I realized then that you hadn't grown up in our realm, and that you didn't know much if anything at all about our community, which I found odd. If you had divine blood in you, you should know about us, and you should have known who I was."
"I felt the pull the minute you walked through the door with Miles," said Beckett, pulling my attention back to him. "I could smell Miles's scent all over you, and I became insanely jealous; I wanted to rip you out of his arms and claim you as mine."
"I became enraged when I first saw you." Samael spoke up, "I couldn't believe that a human was our fated mate. How could someone so weak be the mates to the heirs of the four heavenly kingdoms? When I felt the pull towards you, I thought it was fate playing a cruel joke; how could a powerless human unite the four kingdoms."
I felt my heart tighten at Samael's words of rejection.
"But still, I felt drawn to you, with the insane need to protect and shelter you from this world. When I let my divine flames cover my body, and the sight of me made you faint, I felt terrified. I was afraid I had hurt you or that you would be frightened by the sight of me when you woke."
"So what?" I asked, folding my arms and glaring at Samael, "Once you learned of the immense amount of power I have, you decided that I would be an acceptable mate since you didn't want a pathetic weak human? If being fated means you're stuck with someone you have no desire to be with, it sounds more like a curse and less like a blessing."
"Katrina," Samael began.
"NO!" I roared, feeling my anger rise towards him; how dare he kiss me, how dare he flirt with me, how dare he only wants me now that he knows I am someone of significance. "You don't get to make excuses."
"Princess, you need to calm down," Aphelion whispered soothingly.
I turned towards him, ready to lash out, but I caught my reflection off the coffee table as I turned towards him. My blond hair was now intertwined with bright fiery flames; my light baby blue eyes were now pitch black as the bottom of an abyss.
Beckett and Miles gave each other worried looks as Aphelion stood up, cautiously walking towards me.
"What is going on, Aphelion?" I asked him, feeling a darkness in my body that was pushing to be released.
"It's okay, princess," Aphelion said in a calming voice, his just out of my reach, "We will figure out what's going on," Aphelion whispered as he wrapped me in a tight embrace cradling me in his arms.
I was worried about harming him, unsure what my fire would do to him, but he seemed unfazed. Aphelion's heartbeat loudly in my ear, his delectable scent engulfing me, sending calming waves throughout me. I felt the darkness being shoved deep down as I began to feel more like my usual self.
I pulled away from Aphelion and looked toward the others. Their face showed that they were just as surprised as I was by this sudden burst in power, and like they couldn't believe what they had just seen.
"That should be impossible," Samael muttered under his breath.
"You are incredible.' Beckett whispered.
"Incredible? How am I incredible? I looked like a fucking monster." I cry, tears creeping into my eyes.
"You shouldn't be able to exist." Miles stated, "But here you are in front of us."
"What is going on?" I asked, feeling frightened; just when I thought things couldn't get any weirder, I was an abnormality again.
"You are displaying both Archangel and Fallen Angel powers." Aphelion stated casually like this news hadn't shocked him.
"Those powers were believed to be long gone, along with the Angels who harnessed them," Miles said, now standing beside Aphelion and me, looking at me like I was one of the greatest wonders in the world.
"Great, so not only am I naive to all things going on in this school, but I am also a freak of nature," I replied, feeling anxious about the classes I would have to attend tomorrow.
"No one can know about this," Samael stated from his armchair, not bothering to close the distance between us.
"So not only were you ashamed of me for being human, but now you're ashamed of me for harnessing too much power," I replied, glaring at him.
"Let's get the facts straight, Sweetheart." Samael said snidely, my anger towards him fueling his wrath, "I am not ashamed of you, nor are you too powerful for me. I am one of the strongest Gods to walk this godforsaken wasteland. Nothing frightens me, include you Katrina." Samael stood from the armchair, walking towards the door, attending to leave the dorm, paused for a second, as if he wanted to say something more, before opening the door and slamming it loudly behind him.
"Don't be worried about him," Beckett says, rubbing my arm, trying to soothe me. "Samael hates being defied; he also hates the unknown. He realizes he fucked up with his first assumption of you, but he's too stubborn and prideful to apologize for judging you before he had the chance to meet you."
"And now that I am something that shouldn't exist?" I asked, my anger towards Samael not residing. "Does he want to get rid of me?"
Miles growled, "Even if he wanted, he wouldn't get the chance to touch you. I'll protect you always, kitten."
I smiled over at Miles, adoring his protective side.
"So, is there anything else you want to know tonight?" Beckett asked, wanting to resume our conversation from earlier.
"Why are there only four rooms on this floor? I thought we would be sharing living quarters with the rest of the students."
Becket smiled at me before answering my question. "The Headmaster thought it would be safer for everyone if you roomed away from the other students and faculty until you learn how to control your powers. And there are five rooms up here, four down the hall that you already saw, and one more just past the sitting room," He responded, pointing his hand towards a hallway I hadn't noticed.
"Who's room is down there?" I asked, thinking of how territorial the men had been around me, acting like a space between us was a crime, well, all but one of them.
"Samael's," Aphelion answered. "He was raised in the underworld and is used to being alone, and he is having a hard time adjusting to the group atmosphere."
"That's not the only thing he needs to adjust to," I quietly grumble.
"Give him a chance, darling," Becket said, taking my hand and pulling me into his lap, causing me to smile as Aphelion grumbled about me being taken from him while Miles stood there looking like he wanted to combust. "He'll come around." Beckett finished.
"I could care less," I responded, still unhappy with Samael. "Why did the Headmaster allow the four of you to stay here with me?" I asked, wanting to change the subject from Samael.
"Because we're the strongest beings in this academy, while your power may permanently damage and possibly kill the other students, it will barely affect us," Miles responded, seeming to finally give up his jealously at the fact I was sitting on Beckett's lap and not his.
"Cocky much," I asked, teasing him.
"I'll show you cocky." He grumbled at me, his voice thick with sexual desire.
"He's not being cocky," Aphelion replied, "We are the strongest beings in this school. We are the heirs to the four kingdoms; we are direct descendants of the Gods themselves. It is why I could hold you while your hair was laced with hellfire without being burned."
I shivered at the reminder of the demonic beast I had turned into not so long ago. Beckett rubbed his hands up and down my arms to soothe me.
"Do you change like that when your emotions are strong?" I asked, wanting more answers on what was happening to me.
"No, we have never changed form. There is so much about you and your existence, princess, that we need to learn," Aphelion said, caressing my face, "But until we find more answers, try to stay calm and keep the darkness down. If the information were to fall into the wrong hands, you were also part fallen angel… I don't even want to imagine what the council would do,"
Great, how was I supposed to learn to control my emotions when so many new and unusual things surrounded me.
"Any other questions," Beckett asked, a giant yawn escaping.
I looked above the fireplace to the clock hanging above the mantle; it was already midnight, and we had class bright and early in the morning. I had so many more questions I wanted to ask, but I could tell they were all exhausted, and I didn't want to keep them awake any longer.
"No, that's all for the night," I replied, turning my head to kiss him gently on the cheek before standing from his lap.
I started to walk to my room, and Aphelion grabbed my hand, stopping me. "Everything will be okay, princess. I promise." He whispered gently to me, pulling me into his arms and placing a light soft kiss on my lips. "Sweet dreams, my little angel. I'll see you in the morning."
Beckett and Aphelion stayed in the sitting room, whispering amongst themselves, while Miles walked with me towards my room.
"Are you sure you still want me to stay the night?" He asked.
"Yes," I responded, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him in for a kiss. "I don't want to be alone, and you make me feel safe."
Miles pulled me back in for a more prolonged deeper kiss, taking the opportunity to push his tongue into my mouth as I let out a gasp of surprise, intensifying the kiss. I could feel tingles shoot through my body, everywhere he touched me. He expertly opened the door before me and pushed me inside, slamming it behind us as we continued kissing. He continued to kiss me, not breaking apart, walking me across the room towards the bed, before finally pulling away.
"Fuck, Katrina." Miles groaned, "You make me lose all of my control when I am around you."
"Miles," I looked up at him, my face tinging red with desire and some embarrassment. "Why did you say sex was off the table?"
Miles took a deep breath to calm his desires, "If we have sex, it will solidify our fated bond. You will truly become mine in every way; there would be no way to break it."
"Oh." I whispered, understanding why he was withholding sex, "Do you not want to be mated to me for eternity?" I asked.
"I would love nothing more than to solidify our bond right now. I wanted to complete our bond since I saw you standing in line at the club, but I don't want to rush you. I want you to be ready when we unite as one."
"Thank you, Miles," I whispered to him, giving him a soft kiss before pulling away. "You've always wanted nothing more than to protect me."
"Of course, Kitten," He smiled down at me, "Now, let us get to bed; you have a busy day tomorrow."