Chapter 0208
**Josie’s POV **
The next two hours are gruelling. Raff tests our gifts to the limit. He started small, having us pick up tyres using telekinesis and making small cracks in the ground using molecular manipulation. Then it quickly progressed to opening up large caverns in the ground and working as a team to trap a rolling tyre in the cavern whilst using our telepathy to communicate, all whilst shielding ourselves from foam darts that Raff’s team fired at us. It had been quite fun at first but once we had got the hang of it, it had become repetitive and seemed like a waste of energy.
“Good. Again,” Raff calls and I groan.
“I’m so tired,” I complain.
“Do you think your enemy is going to agree to take a break because you’re tired?” Raff shouts and I have to bite my tongue.
I am not one of his damn soldiers, and I’d like to see him do this whilst pregnant and after not enough sleep.
“We should take a break, Josie needs to eat,” Mason says.
“She can eat when we are done here,” Raff dismisses.
“With all due respect, our bond is currently growing an entire person and needs to rest and eat regularly. Otherwise, we will have to start sharing our energy with her, leaving us all needing extra recovery time. Something we don’t have time for. I think we can all agree that that energy is better saved for tomorrow,” Deacon explains.
I’m about to sit on the dirty floor when Axel lifts me into his arms, my arms around his neck and legs wrapping around his waist. I rest my head on his shoulder, welcoming his strong arms taking the weight off my poor, throbbing feet for a while.
“Fine, we can take a thirty–minute lunch break, but there’s one last thing I need to see you do here, the rest is less physical and can be done back at the academy,” Raff sighs.
“Make it an hour,” Deacon says.
Raff huffs and teleports out without another word.
“Do you think that was a yes or…” Theo says but his words cut off when the soldiers he was asking disappear too, “oh, okay, see you later then,” he rolls his eyes.
“Let’s get out of here. There should be food being served in the dining hall, and I’m sure we can find some cheese. there too,” Deacon says and I perk up at the mention of cheese, lifting my head to smile at him.
“Ah crap, this may have been a bad idea,” Theo says quietly when we arrive in the dining hall.
“Why? What’s wrong?” ask, lifting my head from Axel’s shoulder to take a look around.
The dining hall is filled with people but they’re not the usual students. A lot are much older. These must be some
of the volunteers.
“My parents and siblings are here, they are going to start fussing, especially when they notice you’re pregnant,” Theo grimaces.
“Mine too,” Luke nods towards a group in line for the food. I notice that Alice is there with them.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0208
“Mine are here, they probably won’t care though,” Axel says. His eyes hard and focused on a group eating at the table next to our usual one.
“Okay, let’s try to leave without being noticed, otherwise we aren’t going to get much of a lunch break,” Theo whispers and everyone nods in agreement.
“Theo!” a voice shouts excitedly and Theo turns away from the voice and closes his eyes muttering something before he plasters a smile on his face and turns back to face his unum as she approaches with one of her bonds, Wesley.
“Mum, Dad, how nice to see you here, at my school,” Theo says, trying to act cheerful but his forced smile is giving away his annoyance.
“Oh, we are so proud of you. When we heard your group needed assistance we dropped everything to be here, even your brothers came. Sophie wanted to come but she has the little ones to care for,” Maria explains as she pulls Theo into a hug.
Wesley hugs him next, repeating how proud he is to have him as his son and then their attention shifts to me. “You are looking much better since the last time I saw you,” Maria smiles at me.
“Thank you. It’s lovely to see you again,” I smile and try to wriggle out of Axel’s arms but he tightens his grip. “They can’t see you’re pregnant like this,” Axel says into the mind link and I relax in his hold. If we can somehow hide my pregnancy for now then we might get five minutes of peace so we can eat. I don’t like hiding this from them but there are so many parents and siblings that will no doubt be excited and it feels unfair for them to find out this way and then be told to leave us alone whilst we rest.
“I’m sorry Mum, but Josie has hurt her ankle, we were just headed to the healer,” Theo lies.
“Oh no, I’m sure there’s plenty of healers in the room,” she says sympathetically and turns to call out for help. Theo launches at her, his hand quickly covering her mouth.
“I lied, she is fine, please don’t draw attention to us right now,” he pleads.
“Too late, incoming,” Mason grumbles.
“Luke,” Alice squeals excitedly as she runs at her brother. She launches herself into his arms and he hugs her. I can’t help but smile at the reunion, even if the timing is not ideal.
Chapter 0209
