First Test

Seraphina POV

I barely slept and every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kael standing in front of me asking me to report to the first-year training grounds at dawn and he hadn't explained why but I knew, he wanted to test me and I had no intention of disappointing him.

By the time the first bell rang, I was already awake.

I dressed quickly, tied my hair back, and slipped my mother's knife beneath my belt.

My stomach twisted as I stepped outside because the training grounds were already crowded and gundreds of students were gathered around the massive arena but I ignored all of them.

My eyes searched the crowd then I saw him, Kael stood on the raised platform with several instructors and he looked completely at ease.

Soon his eyes found mine almost immediately and I hated that my heart reacted. "That's the new girl."

A voice came from beside me and I turned to see a blonde girl was staring at me. "Selene, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm Mira."

She smiled and unlike most people I'd met since arriving, she didn't look like she was judging me.

"You're the one who fought Marcus yesterday."

I sighed. "Apparently, that's already my reputation."

She laughed. "Don't worry. Marcus has been punched by almost everyone here."

"That makes me feel better."

"It should."

A horn suddenly sounded and everyone fell silent as an instructor stepped forward. "Today, first-year students will undergo their initial combat assessment."

My stomach tightened.."Students will be divided into pairs."

Names began being called and one after another, students stepped forward then I heard mine. "Selene Arden."

I walked forward and the instructor looked at his list. "Against Darius Kane."

The crowd erupted and Mira's smile disappeared.."Oh, no."

I looked at her. "What?"

"Darius."

She lowered her voice. "He's one of the strongest first-years."

I glanced toward the opposite side of the arena and a very tall male stepped forward, he was muscular and surrounded by several friends.

His eyes landed on me and he smiled.."Her?"

A few students laughed as Darius walked toward me. "You sure they didn't make a mistake?"

I shrugged. "Maybe."

He laughed. "This won't take long."

The instructor raised his hand. "Rules are simple. No killing or permanent injuries, the first person to submit loses."

Darius cracked his neck. "You hear that?"

I tightened my fists. "Unfortunately."

The horn sounded and he attacked immediately and I barely moved in time as his fist grazed my cheek and I stumbled backward, the crowd shouted and Darius smiled. "That all you've got?"

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and my heart was pounding even my wolf pushed against me. "Let me out."

I couldn't rely on my wolf anymore, I had to fight with what I had but then Darius lunged again and his time, I didn't retreat.

I stepped inside his reach, he swung and I ducked.

My elbow slammed into his ribs and he grunted as I struck his throat and he stumbled back.

The crowd went quiet and Darius touched his neck then his expression changed. "You."

He charged and I waited, at the last second, I moved aside and he crashed past me.

I grabbed his arm and twisted hard, he dropped to one knee and I drove my knee into his back causing him to roar.

I pulled harder and shouted. "Submit."

He laughed through clenched teeth. "Never."

I tightened my grip. "Your choice."

He suddenly shifted and his bones cracked, fur exploded across his skin and a massive brown wolf stood where Darius had been.

The crowd screamed and my stomach dropped because I couldn't shift.

So I rolled aside as claws ripped into the ground where I'd been standing, I scrambled up and he came again.

I ran toward the arena wall and at the last second, I jumped and my foot hit the wall.

I pushed off then landed on his back.

My arms wrapped around his neck and he bucked violently but I held on. "Get off!"

I refused and he slammed against the ground, pain exploded through my ribs and I nearly let go but then I remembered my father words and Celeste mockery ."You are not a warrior."

So I tightened my grip and drove my elbow into the side of his neck, he collapsed and the arena went silent as Darius shifted back.

He lay on the ground, breathing heavily and I stood over him. "Submit."

He looked up at me and for a moment, his pride fought with his exhaustion but then he shouted. "I submit."

The horn sounded and the crowd exploded as I stood frozen, I actually won then I heard slow applause and everyone turned.

Kael was clapping, his eyes were fixed on me then he stepped down from the platform. "Interesting."

I swallowed as he stopped in front of me. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"My mother."

It slipped out before I could stop it and his expression changed.."Your mother?"

I nodded. "She was a warrior."

"Was?"

I looked away. "She's dead."

For a moment, something softened in his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

I looked at him. "Thank you."

He nodded toward the arena. "You're stronger than you look."

"I hear that a lot."

His lips curved.."Don't let it make you arrogant."

Before I could answer, a sudden scream came from the far side of the training grounds and everyone turned, a student had collapsed and vlood poured from his nose.

An instructor rushed toward him. "What's happening?"

The student convulsed and his eyes turned black, the entire arena erupted into chaos. "Move!"

"Get back!"

"What's wrong with him?"

Kael's expression immediately hardened. "Everyone out of the arena!"

Students began running but I remained frozen because the scent blood hit me but I had smelled before and my mother's old journals had mentioned it. "Forbidden magic."

My eyes snapped toward the unconscious student, someone had done this to him and whoever it was still inside the Academy.

Kael grabbed my arm. "Move."

I looked at him. "Someone did this."

I shook my head.."It not an accident."

His eyes narrowed.."You recognize it?"

Before I could answer, the student suddenly screamed and his body lifted off the ground, black veins spread across his neck then he whispered one word. "Seraphina."

My blood turned to ice and Kael stared at me but I couldn't breathe.

The student collapsed again and Kael slowly turned toward me. "Who is Seraphina?"

My heart hammered against my ribs, I had spent days running from my old identity but on my first morning at the Academy...

Someone had spoken it aloud. I forced myself to meet Kael's gaze. "I don't know."

Someone knew I was here and they weren't trying to find me, they were sending me a warning.