Chapter 7: Katrina

Walking into the cafeteria holding Miles’ hand, I couldn’t help but notice the silence in the room. Every table in the cafeteria was full except one. Before they had entered the room, the noise had been loud and cheerful, full of students discussing their upcoming classes, but the moment they had entered the room, all was silent. I squeezed Miles’ hand nervously, and he answered my squeeze by bringing my hand up to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on it. Beckett and Aphelion walked in the right behind us, and I still hadn’t seen Samael this morning, not that I was looking for him.

“Aphelion!” Came the hysteric cry of a black-haired green-eyed girl, she looked to be in her early twenties, and she had black raven-colored hair and eyes the color of ivy. Her eyes were heavily lined with black liner, and her lips were painted a blood red. She came running at Aphelion with her arms widespread and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She leaned in for a kiss, but Aphelion turned his head to the left, causing her lips to plant on his cheek. In unison, it seemed like the entire cafeteria gasped.

“Ah, Hilda, Hi.” Aphelion said, placing the girl on the ground. She gave him a look of confusion but didn’t say anything as she watched him skeptically.

“This is Katrina.” Aphelion said, grabbing me from Miles and introducing me to Hilda.

Hilda looked me up and down and seemed unimpressed, but she still was courteous enough to introduce herself to me.

“Hilda, House of Lightning, Demigod, Daughter of Thor.” Then she sneered at me as she wrapped her hands around Aphelion’s arms, “Betrothed to Aphelion, Heir to the Sky Kingdom.”

I couldn’t help but snort at her possessive nature, even though my insides rumbled with jealousy.

“Uh, Hilda…” Aphelion started to say, rubbing the back of his head, but I interrupted him. This was my first face-off in front of the school. I wanted them to know that I wasn’t someone you could fuck with.

“Nice to meet you, Hilda,” I said, plastering the fakest smile I could muster on my face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Katrina; as you already know, ughh House Unknown, God status Unknown, Parental status yet again unknown. Mate to Aphelion.” I stuck my hand out as if waiting for her to shake it.

“Mate,” I heard the crowd whispering. “When did this happen?” “Where did they find her?” “How can her house be unknown? Don’t you have to exhibit power to come to Divine Academy?”

“Listen, Katrina,” Hilda said, glaring at me while placing her hand on her hip, her attitude clearly showing her snotty persona now, “You may be Aphelion’s newest playmate, but you’ll never be his fated mate. A God can’t be destined to have a nobody as a mate.”

Aphelion once again tried to step in, I hadn’t known him long, but I could see the lightning swirling in his green eyes, giving away his built-up rage.

“Listen, Helga,” I said, intentionally slaughtering her name, “You may be Aphelion’s “Betrothed,” but we will see who’s bed he’s warming tonight.”

I watched as the rage simmered down on Aphelion’s face, replaced by a cheesy ass grin. I couldn’t help but quietly laugh at his reaction; it was like I had just given a dog a bone. I turned away from Katrina and began walking towards the middle table, my men following me, leaving Hilda with her mouth wide open.

“Well, that was entertaining.” Beckett said, “Nothing like breakfast and a show.”

I rolled my eyes at him, leaving it to Beckett to diffuse the situation. Even though I had only known the guys for less than a day, not counting Miles, they were already starting to grow on me, and I enjoyed their personalities.

“So, are there any more betrothed or angry girlfriends I will have to deal with today?” I asked no one in particular.

Miles choked on the coffee he was currently drinking, and Beckett burst out laughing while Aphelion’s cheeks turned red.

“It’ll be Miles’ girls you have to worry about.” Beckett finally said once he finally stopped laughing. He was something of a playboy. I only had two genuine serious relationships, and they both found their fated. Poor Aphelion’s been stuck with Hilda since her birth, and they’ve been on again off again.”

“Playboy, Huh?” I asked, turning towards Miles.

He chuckled awkwardly in response. “I wouldn’t say playboy exactly.”

“Oh, and what would you call yourself?” I ask him, leaning closer to him, a teasing smile on my face.

“Hmm.” He hummed, stroking his chin, “I guess you could call me an expertise lover.”

“Get out of here!” I said, shoving him playfully, before turning away and leaning across the table, my full attention now on Aphelion. “So tell me, Sparky, why are you and the Queen B betrothed?”

“Sparky?” Aphelion asked me, giving me a not amused look, “And the right question is why were you betrothed? The keyword were, as in past tense.”

“Hilda doesn’t seem to think so,” I said, staring at the angry female, from her table across the room, “If looks could kill, I would be dead thousand times over.”

“Let’s just say Hilda doesn’t play well with others, especially if she thinks someone is encroaching on her territory.” Aphelion replied, reaching his hand across the table to try and grab mine.

“And I am encroaching?” I ask Aphelion as I slide my hands off the table and into my lap.

“Princess, you could never. Your place is rightfully by my side. Just like I was made for you, you were made for me.” Aphelion said, his eyes pleading with me to forgive whatever just happened.

“Made for us,” Beckett said, chiming in.

“You don’t have to apologize for anything, Sparky; what happened in the past can stay in the past. All I would like to know is why the betrothal.”

Aphelion sighed as he rubbed his hand against his temple. “It’s a long explanation.” He mumbled.

I could tell he didn’t want to talk about it, but I couldn’t see myself pursuing a relationship with Aphelion until I knew more about this betrothal and the reason behind it.

“It’s not that long of a story,” Beckett said, shrugging his shoulders, “Aphelion’s dad wanted to strengthen his hold on the Sky Kingdom, while Zeus is currently the strongest God who harnesses the power of the Sky, Thor is close right behind him power-wise, and Baal right behind him. Baal also has a son, and Zeus was afraid that Thor and Baal would unite through their children’s marriage, so Zeus made a deal with Thor; thus, the betrothal comes into play.”

Aphelion grimaced. I could tell that this talk about his father was making him uncomfortable. “And if you don’t go through with the betrothal?” I asked Aphelion, reaching across the table and caressing the top of his hand, enjoying the sparks that raced up my arm as I touched him.

“As long as the reason is you, I’ll be fine. You’re my one true mate. No one, not even the High Gods themselves, can dispel a mate bond, besides the fact you would secure the throne to all four kingdoms uniting them as one.” Aphelion responded, capturing my hand in his.

“So no pressure, right?” I ask jokingly, trying to lighten the mood again.

A loud bell chimed, and all the men groaned simultaneously.

“Is it already time for the first class to start?” I ask, feeling nervous all over again.

“Yep,” Beckett replied, gathering my bags for me. “What’s your first class of the day?”

“Uhh... Angel and Demonic studies.” I replied as I grabbed my schedule out of my bag.

“Ah, looks like you’ll be seeing Samael today after all,” Beckett responded. “Aphelion and I will show you the way. It’s near our sparring class.”

I felt my stomach start to tighten, my nerves getting the best of me. Great, not only was I going to be attending my first class at Divine academy, but I would be doing so with the one mate who can’t seem to stand me.

“It’ll be okay,” Miles said, standing up from the seat beside me. “Samael isn’t used to affection. He grew up in the underworld.”

I rolled my eyes, “He sure seemed sweet, to begin with.”

“We are all affected by you in our own way,” Miles responded, leaning in and giving me a quick kiss. “Oh, and I’ll see you later in sparring.” He said, waggling his eyebrows at me as he walked out of the cafeteria towards his first class of the day.

“So,” Aphelion asks as we leave the cafeteria and make our way towards my first class of the day, “Were you just trying to riffle Hilda’s feathers, or were you being serious about me sleeping in your bed tonight?”

“Well, we will just have to see Sparky. If you’re a good boy or not.” I reply seductively as I walk ahead of him and alongside Beckett.