Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 82

Lia

“I’m doing it,” I said firmly. “I’m getting my magical license.”

Silence. Four pairs of eyes stared at me.

I wish they would say something. They staring at me was making me nervous.

“You’re sure?” Colby asked, arms crossed.

My eyes locked with his and I nodded firmly.

There was no going back now.

“Yes,” I replied. “My teacher says I’m ready.’

“You are,” a new voice chimed in. I turned to see my teacher standing in the doorway, watching me with approval. “You’ve trained hard. You’ve earned this.”

Colby let out a low whistle. “Damn. Didn’t think we’d get here this soon.”

“You doubted me?” I shot him a look.

He grinned. “Nah, I just figured you’d take longer to admit how powerful you are.”

“You do hesitate sometimes,” Matt added. “It’s good to see you finally stepping up.”

Jesse nodded. “It’s the right move.”

“You think so?” I asked, glancing at Rain.

“

He scoffed. “Of course. You supported me through my vampire trial, remember? I was a wreck, Lia. I doubted myself at every turn, and you—” He exhaled sharply. “You never let me give up. So, yes, I support you. Like you supported me.”

“You were amazing during that,” I said softly. “I just reminded you of what you were capable of.”

“Exactly,” Rain said. “And now we’re reminding you.”

Colby leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “So, what happens next? Big test? Some kind of trial by fire?”

I hesitated. “Something like that.”

Matt raised an eyebrow. “Details, Lia.”

I sighed. “It’s a magical proficiency exam. Combat, spell work, control, endurance—everything I’ve learned.”

Jesse tilted his head. “And if you fail?”

I swallowed hard. “I won’t.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Good answer.”

“We’ll be there,” Colby said. “Obviously.”

I frowned. “I don’t think you guys can be. It’s a closed test.”

“Doesn’t mean we won’t be waiting,” Matt said. “You think we’re just gonna sit at home while you do this?”

Rain scoffed. “Please. You couldn’t get rid of us if you tried.”

Jesse nodded. “And if they don’t let us watch, we’ll find a way.”

I sighed. “You’re all ridiculous.”

Colby grinned. “And you love it.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips.

“Thank you,” I murmured. “All of you.”

Rain squeezed my hand. “Always, Lia.”

Matt leaned back, crossing his arms. “So, when’s this happening?”

“Two days from now,” I said.

Colby whistled again. “That soon, huh? No pressure or anything.”

Jesse nodded. “You’ll pass.”

I exhaled slowly. “I hope so.”

Rain nudged my shoulder. “You will.”

Matt smirked. “And if you don’t, we’ll break in and redo the test until you do.”

“Put me down!” Lia shrieked, kicking her legs, and hitting my back with her fists. “I need to practice, Jesse!”

Her shouting did draw attention from the others in the house. Even Gabi and Michael poked their heads out of the room to see what all the fuss was about.

“What’s going on?” Gabi asked, her hand holding her swollen belly.

Michael came up behind her, wrapping an am protectively around her middle.

“It looks like she’s putting up a fuss and I’m sure Jesse has a perfectly good reason for it too, don’t you, Jesse?”

My eyes softened whenever I see Gabi now. It took a lot to get to me, but seeing her so shaken up all the time was enough to get me to show emotion I usually didn’t show.

“Your sister is insisting on practicing even when her body is ready to collapse,” I told him, ignoring the sounds of Lia’s cries of frustration. “So I decided that if she wasn’t going to rest I was going to make her rest, hence why I’m carrying her up to her room.’

“

Michael rolled his eyes. “Lia, are you serious?”

“He needs to put me down! I am not a child!”

“Then stop acting like one,” Gabi said softly. “Just accept that he wants you at your best and your best is not when your body is ready to give out, Lia.”

Gabi’s words seemed to do the trick. She slumped in my hold, eventually giving up fighting entirely. I flashed Gabi a toothy grin and took Lia the rest of the way to her room.

“Let’s play together until you fall asleep,” I told Lia, dropping her onto her bed.

Before she could scramble off and make a run for the door, I threw an arm around her waist to pin her in place.

“Jesse, when my magic has returned to me and I am well rested, I’m going to turn you into a fucking toad,” she warned.

I rolled my shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “I’m confident that you love me enough to not turn me into a toad.”

“Bold of you to say I love you that much,” she warned.

She tried to fight the exhaustion but Lia couldn’t fight it for longer than fifteen minutes. Lia fell into a deep sleep, her chest rising and falling with each steady breath she took.

“At least she’s finally fallen asleep,” I muttered to myself, not willing to tangle myself from her body and leave the room.

Lia needed the rest. If I had to lay here and wait until she fell into a deep enough sleep to not wake up then I would do it. Lia was worth it.