Chapter 118

Chapter 0223

When I wake up the next morning or, at least, I think it’s morning – it’s not like this weird mountainous hospital room has windows –

I smile, because I smell Jackson.

But then I frown, rubbing at my eyes, because…

I mean, I took a shower. His scent wouldn’t be all over me anymore, so why…

But then, when I follow my nose and peer over the side of my bed, I burst into a smile because I have my answer.

Jackson’s laying there, on a way–too–

small mattress of all things, dead asleep. I grin, looking at him, wondering how the hell he got here and why he’s not back at the Academy yet, but…

Well, also, I just look at him. Because he’s so damn handsome, even with his mouth hanging open and his arm splayed out to the side, and so

incredibly precious to me, even though we’ve only been bonded for less than two days.

Before I can stop myself, I crawl out of bed and drop down onto his mattress, curling up at his side with my head on his chest. Jackson jumps the mome

I laugh. “Good morning to you too.”

“Yeah yeah,” he mutters, and I can almost feel him rolling his eyes at my insistence on a greeting. “How are you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say, though my stomach instantly growls in response. “Starving, but fine.” Jackson frowns down at me and starts to sit up, like he’s going to g

My mate lays back down and exhales like he’s exhausted, but also like everything, in this moment, is…

completely fine. Which, honestly, is precisely how I feel.

After a few long minutes of just holding each other, our breathing slowly coming to match, our heartbeats synching up, I raise my chin to look up at him. “

He laughs a little. “I’m not at school because I refused to go.”

“What!?” I squeak, sitting up to stare at him. He tightens his arms, making me lay back down and relax.

“I wouldn’t go,” he says, as if it’s simple. “I wouldn’t leave without you. The professors got pissed, but what are they going to do, carry me? I’m bigger tha

“Jackson,” I breathe, staring at him. “One night with me in the hospital is not worth getting

kicked out of school

“I’m not getting kicked out,” he says, his voice completely unworried. “I’m just getting at demerit on my record.”

“What’s a demerit?” I ask, fascinated, worried.

“Who knows. Who cares.” He peers at me for a second. “Ari, I’m like…

very good at this military stuff. They’re not going to kick me out and lose everything I can offer just because I slept in the wrong facility one night. I haven

“I don’t like you arrogant,” I murmur, giving him a little smack on his chest that makes him laugh. “You have to follow the rules, Jacks you don’t get a free

–

“Oh, look who’s talking about rule breaking, little girl,” he mutters, his voice dry. And I go still but then burst out laughing.

“Okay, I’m properly shamed on that one,” I sigh, putting my head back on his chest. “But, where did you get the mattress?”

“Your mom did that,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “She found me curled up outside your locked door – ”

“Jackson!” I gasp. He just grins down at me.

“She pulled me to my feet and yelled at me a little-”

“Which you deserved –” I say, my brow furrowed.

“Yes, she looked just like that,” he murmurs, raising a hand–

to cup my cheek and making me grin. “But then, while she yelled at me, she dragged me off to where they keep the spare furniture and helped me carry