Chapter 3

CHARLOTTE

I’ve been cursed.

There’s no further explanation for it.

One year. One whole year of torture, torment, the most bitter form of mental exertion brought upon me by the same three boys the moon goddess has now destined to be my… fated mates?

My life companions?

My other halves?

All three of them?

My mouth runs dry, and it’s suddenly difficult to swallow through the turmoil pooling like lava in my chest. It just can’t be.

It’s not possible.

But even as I reject the notion with every atom of my being, there’s only so much denial my heart can take. Especially when it’s pounding in my chest with more vigour than it ever has. I can’t tear my eyes off them, despite the fact that our shared moment is drawing the attention of almost everyone one in the room.

“Caeson?” King Auric presses, tilting his head when his son doesn’t react to his name. He doesn’t react to anything. His face brews like a storm cloud, and all that venom in his gaze is focused right at me. I lift my chin, refusing to wither under the intensity of his stare.

But goddess it takes so much effort not to give a physical reaction.

It’s like I’m being pulled apart with every touch of their gazes.

Just Caeson’s is intense enough, but paired with both his siblings watching me with that unparalleled level of interest, it feels like I’ve been stripped bare before everyone here.

“The succession has been decided,” Caeson’s voice suddenly booms through the entire room, the force of it intensified, wrapping around me like fresh silk, “The last six months we spent away were hard on us, we would have loved to experience the rest of our Junior year with the rest of our class, but none of that is relevant now. Good fruits were brought forth, and that’s all that truly matters/”

King Auric nods from the side lines. And the rest of the crowd erupts in applauds.

I hadn't even heard a word he said, my mind too jumbled to process anything other than the simple act of breathing right now. My eyes shift from Reigh, to Madeline standing beside him. Standing next to her brothers, she dwarfs in comparison. What, five-foot nothing compared to their six-foot crazy? She shoots me the brightest smile, so oblivious to what’s going on between her brothers and I, as she waves rapidly.

Something about the absolute glee in her face centers me enough to get myself together.

Okay, Charlotte. This isn’t the end of the world, don’t panic.

The boys dismount from the stage one by one. They’re each wearing solid black suits, tailored expertly to fit them like an expensive layer of second skin.

Seeing them break the dress code all the time in their uniforms is one thing, but watching them dressed to the nines, prim and proper, like the most gentlemanly set of triplets to ever step into the realm gives me a whiplash.

Nothing about either of them could ever be termed proper.

But they rock it unapologetic ally.

And I mentally smack myself, because this new turn of events is no goddessdamned reason for me to start drooling over those demons like every other girl here. With every step they take into the seating area, the vice around my neck squeezes tighter and tighter.

Madeline skips right up to me, wrapping her arms over my shoulders, “Oh my goddess, Char! I’ve missed you so much!”

“Hey, Mads.” I return her embrace, shoving us into the only two free chairs on the row. I keep my back ramrod straight as the boys walk by my aisle slowly, each individual pair of eyes digging into the side of my skull like a metaphoric power drill.

“Seems like this semester might just be as rough as the first two, huh?” Madeline speaks under her breath, glaring at Taide as he walks by, “I wish they would leave you the hell alone.”

I can barely whisper out the words, “You and me both.”

-x-

“Goddess, is it just me, or did Vance get hotter over the summer?” Madeline fans herself as she leans against the stone brick of the main entrance, drooling over a senior like she’s never seen him before.

“Yeah, but he’s one of them.” I shoot her a look, “All Deviltree members are red flags, remember?”

“But he’s just so tall, and-”

“Dad wants to say goodbye, Mads.”

It takes everything in me not to jump at the sound of his voice. Peeking over my shoulder, I spot Taide leaning against the wall right behind me, hands crossed over his chest. Reigh steps up right beside him, his eyes giving me a slow once over before finally settling on my face.

A tingle runs down my spine.

“Don’t keep him waiting.” Reigh adds.

“Lets go, then.” Madeline reaches for my arm, but Taide grabs her wrist gently, pulling her away, “I think Charlotte here can find her way around all by herself. You go tend to what you need to.”

Madeline tries to tug her arm away, “I want her to come with me.”

“Why?” Reigh questions, “You her protector now?”

“No, but-”

“I think Charlotte would be more than happy to say hello for a short minute while you give Dad a goodbye kiss. Personally, I think we might have some unfinished business we need to discuss,” He lets his words slide out playfully, but his eyes are hard, “Don’t you, Charlotte?”

I hold Taide’s stare. He’s baiting me.

Fight or flight.

It’s never a question.

I’ll never turn tail to these bastards.

“I’m fine, Mads, come on.” I say, thanking the goddess for keeping my voice steady, “I’ll wait right here and we can go sign you in to the dorms when you get back. It’s nothing.”

She looks hellbent on putting up a fight, but I shake my head, “You literally don’t have to worry about me.”

Reigh’s low breath of amusement sounds beside me.

“You’re sure?”

“Thousand percent.” I say.

“Okay!” She nods, pulling away, “I’ll be right back.” She points a finger at both boys, darting back and forth in warning, “Don’t do anything funny, or not funny, or just… just be nice, okay?”

Her back hits someone walking towards us, and the person stops her with a hand to her side, his deep voice permeating the air like gust of cold wind, “When have we ever not been nice?”

The sight of Caeson makes me swallow. Hard.

Now I’m not so sure I want to be left alone with them.

The front gate is cleared up already, most of the students either seeing their folks who showed up off or settling into their schedules for the term. We’re the only ones in the hallway now.

Taide watches Madeline turn the corner over his shoulder before he turns to face me.

His eyes narrow.

“Take a picture,” I say, “It’ll last longer.”

His slow grin deepens the dimple on his left cheek, “Your mouth’s gotten smarter.” He drawls, “I wonder if sharp words are the only skills they’ve managed to pick up.” His gaze drops to my lips then, and I fight to urge to cover then with my hands.

You can’t let him see that he’s getting to you.

“Who knows?” I arch a brow, “I’ve got one answer though, you’re on the short list of those who’ll never find out.”

“How short is that list?”

I level him with a cool gaze, “It’s only got three names.”

“Tell me I didn’t make that cut.” Reigh presses himself against the wall on my other side, so I’m sandwiched between the two of them.

Goddess, every inhale feels like heaven. Have they always smelled so good?

“Why? Six months of gruesome life training and now you’re not so disgusted by me? Gee, I’m touched.”

“Oh, you know that’s more than the reason why.”

I swallow.

Fake it till you make it. “I don’t know what you mean by that.”

Taide’s hand slowly lowers down on my chest, pressing right over my heart. “Then why don’t you ask your bloody heart running a marathon beneath that ribcage of yours, huh? Seems to me like it knows exactly what it is I’m talking about.”

His hand slowly glides up to the base of my throat, his eyes following the movement carefully.

“You guys know we can fix this problem right here, right now, right?”

Taide’s eyes flash, “What problem?”

I take in a sharp breath, before blurting out, “I, Charlotte Warner, reject-”

His hand closes around my mouth so fast, cutting me off mid-sentence. My eyes widen as he shakes his head slowly, “Ah ah. Did we say you could do that?”

My forehead creases. Is he fucking crazy?

This is what we all want right now, so why won’t he let me get it over with.

He takes in my expression, and that’s when the glee bleeds into his features. He leans in, so close the tip of his nose grazes mine. “You see, this is something… something we didn’t expect.” He’s quiet, keeping me pressed against the wall with his scent seeping into my pores and his eyes boring into mine like I’m the only thing he’s ever cared to look at, before he speaks again, “But you see, now that it’s happened, I’m not so sure I’m willing to let this go to waste.”

My teeth dig into the palm of his hand, and a shiver runs through me as his eyes darken. He presses his mouth right by my ear, “Now though… the fun has only just begun.”

He shoves away from me. He shares a glance with Reigh, a grin, and then both boys turn to leave.

But there’s another presence here that just as loud as theirs.

I spin on my heel, trying to act unfazed by what just happened as I walk passed Caeson down the path Madeline went.

I keep my chin high and my back straight. Just a couple more steps, just a couple more steps.

Just as I’m about to round the corner, a strong grip closes around my upper arm.

Goddess, save my soul.

How did he get to me so fast, without making a single sound?

I toss a bored look at our point of contact, my heart pounding in my chest. “Your grip’s tight.”

But Caeson didn’t stop me to play games.

He looks fucking enraged.

“That bitch upstairs made a mistake.” He snarls.

“Then let’s rectify it.” I breathe, literally breathless.

He lets go of me, wiping his palm on the front his slacks. He does it almost unconsciously, and it stings in ways that it really fucking shouldn’t.

“If you know me at all,” He bites, “Then you know that intend to.”