Twins

Liliana’s POV

I can process my shock later- because I don’t have a death wish, so I step away only to see the magician aiming for me again, fury embedded in his paces. My head keeps turning to make sure he isn’t close as I start running towards the right side of the massive hall, even though I have no destination in mind.

I just missed the very Xaden I am in this academy to kill. My pulse hums with fire under my skin, and it doesn’t even feel natural. This building must be fortified or something.

Only a few are paying attention, others are minding their business. No one intends to save me. I wasn’t warned.

I turn in time only to run into another body and stumble back. Hopefully, this one wouldn’t wedge a dagger through my chest because it seems they are all angry in this academy. But he doesn’t. Hands catch my arms to steady me, while I force air back into my lungs.

My vision snaps upward and I freeze. My heart skips terribly. Because the face staring down at me…

I veer my head towards the spot I left Xaden- He is no longer there. But he’s here- holding me, gaze piercing mine with what looks like intense curiosity. Only that he’s not threatening me with death this time around.

“You… you were just over there…” I was saying, pointing backward, trying to figure out how he moved that fast and got ahead of me without traces, but words die in my tongue when I notice his hair. It’s blonde. Not black like I’d seen earlier. Perhaps, my eyes are playing tricks at me.

And I’m sure as hell that the Xaden I just left has no tattoos slinging up his neck areas.

I feel dizzy.

He’s watching me closely. “Who are you?” His voice was the same voice that asked if I had a death wish earlier, but wait... This one isn’t as deep and cold. But I’m seeing the same face, the same body structure…

He just asked who I am and I think I’m now anxious to say I’m Hannah Wales. Because every time I say her name since I arrived here, they all get angry.

I don’t get to answer Blonde Xaden’s question as the furious magician approaches. My pulse stumbles.

“You can’t escape now, can you? Now, die.” He sneers then extends his hand at me, but Blonde Xaden surprisingly tucks me behind him with one easy move, stepping forward and placing himself between me and the angry magician.

“Retreat, Liam.” His voice growls along with the two words, and I shiver. No doubt he’s a wolf. And the magic boy is Liam.

“No. You retreat, Darian. Her mother killed my sister, and she will also die in my hands today.” There is raw pain in Liam’s voice, making me seriously wonder who Hannah mother is and why she killed his sister. But it’s too late to back off from this mission.

I didn’t miss that he just called the blonde Darian… Not Xaden. A lot is happening at once and it's making my head very fuzzy.

“I say step away from the girl.” Darian sharpens his warning, not bothering to look back at me. Liam seethes openly, “Just because you’re an heir doesn’t mean you control what happens here, wanna-be Alpha.”

Sounds personal.

Darian tilts his head to the side menacingly. “Correct yourself, Liam’ It’s Future Alpha.”

My confusion just worsens. Alpha Soren told me Xaden is the future Alpha. Why is Darian… Or is it really just one person with different names? And possibly bears powers that allow him to change his appearances whenever he wants?

Liam snorts arrogantly. “I will rather face a Null-born, than regard you as that.” I hear gasps, and murmurs around us, making me wonder what a Null-born is.

Before Darian can retort, a feminine authoritative voice pierces the air. “Enough, Dominions!”

The room suddenly goes silent. A middle-aged woman steps into the space between them, looking all sharp in her neat tightly-packed into bun blonde hair with the leathers and boots she has on.

I step away from Darian’s behind, so I can see better. The woman addresses the students first, “Stop gawking, and return to your dorms if you don’t have anything else to do here.” Almost all of them disperse. And I blink when I notice one disappears. I thought it was the stress dawning on me at first, then another girl vanished. My brows furrow.

They just turned into air. My breath hitches.

If there are witches in this academy then I think I’m damned. I remain rooted to a spot, not trusting to be alone right now.

The woman's gaze takes turns between the two oozing testosterones. “If it were the initiates doing this, I would have understood. But you both are third years. Dominions for goddess’ sake!” She scolds.

Liam seems to cower, but Darian only straightens and turns to the woman. “Then warn the wizard to stay away from me. Because it looks like his little new position as Storm weaver is messing with his head.” With that said, he casts one look at me. I meet it with my wide eyes then he strides off.

I suddenly feel naked.

My shield is gone. Liam bows again to the woman. His eyes find mine as he reaches my side, then he mouths silently, “Watch your back.” before he walks past me and leaves.

His tone was nothing short of promise. I believe him. I will definitely watch my back.

Just when I’m about to turn around as well, the woman’s voice stops me. “You.”

I give her my attention. Her gaze is mean and sharp as she scrutinizes me. Then, “Follow me.”

I hesitate for half a second, but she definitely doesn’t look like one who tolerates slowness, so I hurry after her long strides.

We get to her quiet office that smells of books, and scented…oils I guess. She then closes the door and settles into a high-backed blackfur-decorated chair, then looks up at me.

“Hannah Wales, correct?”

I nod carefully.

She studies me for a moment. Long enough to make my pulse rise again.

“Your mother has said a lot about you,” she says finally. “Especially about your temper and inability to summon your wolf easily.” Good. I don’t even have a wolf.

My brows twitch.

“But you have to know,” she continues. “Students here are far more dangerous than people in your pack. If you lose control, they won’t hesitate to kill you. And we elders are not allowed to interfere in most cases. We only need the strongest, ahead of the impending war with the Null-borns.”

My breath catches slightly at the awareness. It’s the second time I’m hearing of null-borns today. Alpha Soren didn’t tell me all these. Real fear starts to dawn on me as it starts to feel like this place could be deadlier than I expected.

“I understand,” I say quietly.

She nods once.

“Good. You’ll be placed in the fighters’ class. You will learn to use your temper for good purposes.”

My head lifts instantly. As much as I would have loved that-since I love to fight and train, Alpha Sorren told me to go into the cooking class.

That’s how I am supposed to find a way to serve Xaden’s food and poison him with the seed he gave me. The Pai seed.

This isn’t going like I thought at all.

“I—” I stop myself to think. The last thing I want is her suspecting me. Before I can find the right words to acknowledge her order, the door slams open.

I flinch as someone steps in. Darian again. His presence fills the room instantly.

My gaze falls to his neck tattoo before I jerk it away from him. He doesn’t seem to notice my presence.

“Karen is dead, mum,” he says, and my eyes sharply return to him.

My heart skips.

“According to what I learned, she forced herself on Xaden last night when he was feral.”

Everything inside me stills.

This woman with the general tag is his mother. And if he’s Xaden’s twin, that means their mother is the Luna of the wolf pack here that Soren told me about. Friends with Hannah’s mother.

My chest tightens sharply at everything. The realization, the news he just delivered…everything.

I look in time to see the Luna close her eyes briefly.

Then she exhales and opens them again, looking composed now.

“Take Hannah upstairs to Karen’s previous room. It’s her new room.” she says. “I’ll handle Xaden.”

My pulse quickens.

She turns to me.

“Classes begin tomorrow. There’s a welcoming event tomorrow night for initiates. Be present.” Her voice doesn’t even sound like she was just told someone is dead. The dead who she’s now handling over her room to me.

I nod, even though I feel like my head is about to explode.

She returns her attention to Darian.

“Keep an eye on her. She already has enemies. I don’t want her dead before she learns to control her wolf.”

The door opens and she exits.

I stand there for a second before slowly lifting my gaze to Darian, who by the way is already looking at me.