Next

"Are you ready to talk to Constance again?" James asked, "she'll fill you in on all the details."

I didn't want them to leave again, but I nodded my head, "Sure."

Constance came into the room a moment later, "Ready for the rundown?" she asked.

"I think so," I replied, not letting go of the boys.

I saw that she carried a large binder in her arms and she dropped it on the table with a "thunk."

"Okay," she said, turning it so I could see, "The first thing we need to do, before we can start classes or training or anything like that, is get permission from your mother to enroll."

Well that will put a screeching halt to everything, I thought.

"She will never agree," I said, not sure if I was sad or relieved.

Constance made a sound that she neither agreed nor disagreed, "The Academy works a little bit differently than normal schools. Because our curriculum is so broad, we require that you pretty much live and breathe Academy life. In order to do that, we need to get rid of outside distractions. In the first year, students don't have non-Academy jobs or play on non-Academy teams. It is easier for them to stay with their teams, much like these guys stay all together in James's house. Or students will stay with an Academy foster family. In order to do that, we have biological parents sign over temporary custody to their foster family. We have a number of bird/dog teams who take on that role. Though sometimes we have bird/bird teams for female students."

I tried to follow her, "Bird what teams?"

"Bird/Dog. They are teams made up of a man and a woman, usually a married couple, sometimes siblings, like Vaughn and Vivi, though they are part of a larger sibling team, and a bird/bird team is made up of two women."

"So I would live with a couple I didn't know?" I asked, my finger hovering over my lip. I didn't want to live with someone I didn't know, especially not a strange adult man.

"For a while," Constance answered, her eyes smiling at me, "I have actually offered to take you once the Academy gets your mother to waive her rights, and until you find a team that fits you."

"We want you on our team," James interjected.

I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face, "You do?" I squeaked.

"Obviously," Kell replied, "you're part of our family now."

I saw Constance frown slightly and pin James with a warning look, "You can choose your team, Lyric," she explained, finally looking away from James, "but you need to understand one bird with three dogs just doesn't happen. We don't have teams made up of more than one male and a female. The Academy will help you find your best match."

"We're her best match," Taylor argued, his hand tightening on mine.

"Guys," Constance said gently, "we're not trying to steal her away from you."

I looked around at the boys, noting their tension.

"We will do what is in Lyric's best interest, just like we did what was in your best interest," she tried to reassure them.

"I want to stay with them," I added, "I don't want to be with anyone else."

Constance sighed, "Lyric…" she started.

"Please," I interrupted, "they are my family now."

I don't know where I was getting my courage from, but hearing the boys say they wanted me as part of their team filled me with something I couldn't name. They wanted me. Me! When they could have anyone.

"Besides," I added quietly, leaning back into Kell's chest, "it's probably moot. My mother will never sign away her rights. Not even temporarily. She only has a few more years that she can use me for money, and she won't let me go."

"What do you mean?" James asked, his face suddenly serious as he moved closer to me.

"She gets food assistance, rental assistance, and a child subsidy for me," I said, "it all goes away when I'm eighteen."

James's shoulders relaxed slightly. I wonder what that was about, I thought, making a note to ask him later.

"She'll sign," Constance said, "we offer incentives to parents who may experience a financial or emotional hardship when their child starts school."

My mother certainly wouldn't experience an emotional hardship. If it wasn't for the money, I'm sure I would have been abandoned long ago. I felt a tiny sliver of hope. My mother was mercenary, and if the Academy could offer her more than the state, then she'd take it.

"I've made a formal request to adopt Lyric into our family," James told Constance.

"James," Constance breathed, shaking her head.

"Really?" I asked excited. I didn't know what he did, but I liked the sound of "formal" and "family."

"So I could stay with you?" I asked him, nearly bouncing in my seat. I heard Kell chuckle behind me, and Taylor smiled at me.

"I really really want to stay with them," I told Constance again.

"I understand," she answered, leaning back in her chair, "We'll take it under advisement. For now, go home. We'll be in touch."

The boys stood, and I stood with them. Constance stuck her hand out to me, and I shook it, "Thank you," I said, gratefully.

She smiled at me genuinely, "It was a pleasure to finally meet you Lyric. Boys," she said, nodding at the guys.

They dragged me out of the office and toward the elevator, pushing the button and herding me inside. They were all quiet, but each one was holding onto me; Kell had his hand against my back, while the other two guys held my hands.

When we got to the car, Kell opened the back door for me, and I slid inside. He slid in after me, quickly pulling me into his body and wrapping his arms around me. I felt his cheek against my head and I wrapped my arms around him, surprised to feel his body trembling.

"Kell," I said worriedly, trying to pull away to look at him.

I heard the doors slam and then we were driving away.

No one said anything until we got out of the parking garage and were on the road, "You didn't tell us she could join another team, James," Taylor said accusingly.

My eyes snapped forward and I saw Taylor leaning his back against the window with his arms crossed while he glared at James.

"I didn't know it was a possibility," he said through gritted teeth, "I made the request, I never thought they wouldn't approve."

Kell didn't say anything, but his arms tightened around me.

"We acted too fast, man," Taylor said, shaking his head, "I told you we needed a contingency plan."

"This is the contingency plan," James uttered tightly.

Taylor turned around and I heard him cracking his knuckles. I ran my fingers through Kell's hair, trying to soothe him. I could feel his body shiver every so often. Every time I tried to pull away to look at him, he would gather me closer, and I realized he didn't want me to see his face.

"It's okay," I whispered to him, the same thing he always told me, "You're safe. I'm not leaving you."

"Priya," he whispered on an exhalation.

"Damn right," Taylor said from the front seat, "you're not leaving us. You're ours and we're keeping you."

I smiled at Taylor, leaning my head against Kell's chest so I could listen to his heartbeat.

"Good," I replied, "then you're mine. And I'm not letting you go."

I saw James's eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror, his brows pulled down low. I could see he was overwhelmed with guilt and worry, "James," I said gently, "you did the right thing. We will figure this out. As long as we're together, we're okay."

He gave a tight nod, but I could see, he was still worried.