CHAPTER 86: THE DATE?

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Chapter 86

~Spring’s POV~

As quickly, Storm’s gaze locked onto mine. "We had plans."

Jace looked just as determined and not ready to back down. "But I asked, too." Furthermore, some of them knew Jace and I kissed, after Storm and I did.

Kael smirked. "Should we let her draw lots?"

Tyrion added smoothly, "Or duel."

Rhys choked on his coffee. Eryx sat on the armrest, clearly entertained. "I like this one. Let’s make them fight for her."

"Stop," I moaned. "Stop giving them ideas!"

Kaius narrowed his eyes at the four of them again. "You’re all so eager. What exactly do you want from my sister?"

Jace’s smile softened as he looked at me. "Time."

Storm answered next. "A chance to be with her, know her and make her mine."

Kael tilted his head slightly. "Moments."

Tyrion’s voice came last. "Her."

Complete and total silence followed.

Then Kaius blinked and turned to Rhys. "We need more security at the house."

I flopped face-down into the couch and muffled my voice into the cushion.

"Someone dig a hole. I’m climbing in and never coming out."

I was still trying to breathe normally when Eryx clapped his hands together with too much excitement for my liking.

"Well, since we’re all gathered here and my sister apparently has the entire cast of a romance drama lined up in our living room, let’s make this fair."

"Fair?" I lifted my head from the couch cushion, already dreading the sparkle in his eyes.

"A quiz," Eryx declared, grinning. "Winner gets the date."

My jaw dropped. "You can’t be serious."

Kaius stood, folding his arms. "I second it."

"I third," Rhys added with a shrug. "Let’s see who actually knows Spring. No cheating, no charm, just knowledge."

Jace groaned. "A pop quiz? Seriously?"

Storm cracked his knuckles, unfazed. "I don’t mind it. It’s for my... umm for Spring. Let’s play."

Tyrion arched a brow. "I like challenges."

Kael smirked. "Bring it on."

They were enjoying this way too much.

Eryx pulled out his phone and opened a notes app. "Alright, first question. What’s Spring’s least favourite fruit?"

Jace immediately answered, "Apples."

"Wrong," Rhys said flatly.

Storm answered calmly, "Bananas."

Ding.

"Correct," Eryx said smugly. "She can’t stand the texture."

Jace blinked at me. "You never said that."

"I didn’t think it would ever come up in conversation!"

"Next," Kaius announced. "What subject did Spring fail once in middle school?"

"Chemistry," Kael guessed.

"Biology," Tyrion said.

"Math," Jace offered.

Storm didn’t hesitate. "History. She missed a major essay because she refused to write about a war led by corrupt rulers."

I blinked. I didn’t even know that about myself... I mean about Spring.

"...Ding ding," Rhys murmured with a smirk.

Eryx whistled. "Someone did his homework."

Storm met my gaze, eyes glinting slightly. "I listened and cared enough to know."

I knew at once that meant he went digging into my past... was it truly to know me, or for another reason?

"Third question," Kaius announced again.

"What animal did Spring once try to keep as a secret pet in her room?"

Jace brightened. "A stray kitten!"

"Too obvious," Kael muttered. "It was a crow, wasn’t it?"

Storm tilted his head. "A hedgehog. She found it by the garden fence and tried to keep it in a shoebox for three days before her Mum found out."

Even I had to blink at that when the memory flashed into my mind. How the hell did he know that? Spring had only told a friend she had in her first school before all hell broke loose with Rose’s coming, and her life wasn’t sweet anyway.

Which meant, his research went deep.

"...That was true," I mumbled, impressed despite myself.

Tyrion chuckled. "He really does know."

Kael groaned dramatically. "How is he sweeping this?"

"Maybe because he actually asks me things instead of stealing my fries during lunch?" I teased, but then I swept a glance at Storm, and he gave me a small smile.

"Okay," Kaius said, holding up a hand. "Final question. A big one."

The room fell quiet.

Kaius’s tone turned sharp. "Who took Spring’s first kiss?"

I felt the colour drain from my face. "Don’t."

Storm didn’t flinch. His hand rose slowly.

Kaius raised an eyebrow. "Storm?"

"She kissed me," Storm said simply.

I sank further into the couch. "I didn’t kiss you. You kissed me."

"Well, technically, if he is referring to the kiss that day after the love letter to Lucien, then... She kissed him," Jaece explained.

I paled a little bit, but then Storm shifted. "We kissed," he corrected smoothly.

The room went still again, and my brothers stared at him.

Rhys looked thoughtful before speaking. "Well. That answers that."

"Storm wins," Kaius declared.

"What?" Jace burst out. "How does that mean he wins the date?"

"Simple," Eryx said, shrugging. "If he already has the kiss, the date is just the follow-up."

Kael crossed his arms. "Agreed."

Jace grumbled and sank into the armrest beside me. "This is rigged."

Tyrion chuckled. "It was fair. You had your chance. We all did, and we flopped. Storm knows her better."

"Well, since you’re all so dramatic," I said, exasperated, "why don’t we all go out together? At least for today?"

Storm’s gaze flicked to me, and for a moment, I thought he’d protest, but he surprised me.

He smiled slowly. "Fine. Let them come."

"Wait—what?" Jace blinked. "We’re all going on the date together?"

"You’re the one who wanted a chance," Tyrion said mildly. "Here it is."

"I’m only doing this because you all clearly won’t leave me alone otherwise," I muttered under my breath.

Kaius clapped me on the back. "We’ll be watching."

Storm stood and brushed imaginary lint off his shirt. "Enjoy your group date, boys. Because after our assessments, Spring’s mine. I’m taking her out again."

Tyrion and Kael were about to speak when he cut them short. "Alone."

His voice was final. No one dared fight him for it, and I was both awed by his boldness and a bit sad at their acceptance.

Who wouldn’t want to be fought for, as tiring as it may be, though?

I swallowed hard, just thinking about one name... Rael.

"Don’t let him bother your thoughts, Solstice. You were given these mates for a reason. I’ll say enjoy them to the max... because I can’t wait to have them all."

"You’re bad, Jade, you’re bad. And so are you."