Writing On The Wall

Seraphina POV

My fingers were slipping and Kael's hand was the only thing keeping me from falling into the darkness beneath the broken floor, and every second he held me, the muscles in his arm trembled harder. "Hold on!"

"I'm trying!"

My palm was slick with sweat even my injured ribs burned every time I moved.

Above us, the corridor was still filled with shouting as the masked men were coming closer. "Kael," I gasped. "You need to let me go."

His eyes flashed with disbelief. "Are you insane?"

"If they reach you, they'll pull you down too."

"I said I'm not letting you fall."

"Then you're going to fall with me."

"Enough!"

Kael adjusted his grip then braced one knee against the broken stone, and pulled with everything he had nothing happened at first but then my body jerked upward.

I crashed against the edge of the floor, and Kael caught my waist before I could slide back, he dragged me onto solid ground and I collapsed onto my hands and knees, coughing violently.

Kael crouched beside me. "Are you hurt?"

I tried to answer, but my lungs refused to cooperate but he waited.

When I finally managed to breathe, I whispered, "I'm fine."

Kael expression hardened. "You really need to stop saying that."

"I'm alive and that what matters right now."

"That isn't the same thing."

I looked down at my hands and they were shaking badly, I hated that he could see.

"You're scared."

"I'm not made of stone." I answered not knowing why I was snapping at him when he actually saved me.

For a moment, he said nothing then he stood and offered me his hand then he pulled me to my feet.

The moment I stood, his eyes met mine. "Now we're going to talk."

My stomach tightened. "About what?"

"You know exactly what."

I looked away. "Kael....."

"Who is Seraphina Vale?"

I forced myself to meet his eyes. "I don't know."

His expression didn't change. "You expect me to believe that?"

"I don't care what you believe."

I pulled my hand away. "You barely know me."

"That's exactly why I'm asking."

Kael voice remained calm, but there was something dangerous beneath it. "I don't know who you are, Selene and I don't know where you're from. I don't know why men broke into the Academy and started asking for Alpha Lucian's daughter then an injured student says the exact name of a missing Alpha heir while staring directly at you."

My heart hammered because he knew too much, I couldn't let him get any closer. "You think I'm her?"

"I think you're hiding something."

I swallowed. "So are you."

Kael eyebrows lifted.."What am I hiding?"

"You're the Alpha King's son and I'm sure there are things you don't tell everyone."

A faint smile appeared. "Nice attempt."

"Are you afraid of something?"

I hated how easily he saw through me. "I'm not afraid of you."

"I didn't say you were."

He stepped closer. "You're afraid of whoever said that name."

I didn't answer, Kael studied my face for several seconds then the Academy alarm sounded again.

Kael turned as acommanding voice echoed through the Academy.

"All students are to remain in their assigned quarters. No one leaves the premises without authorization."

I felt my stomach drop as Kael looked at me again. "You're coming with me."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not finished asking questions."

"I have nothing else to say."

"Then you won't mind staying where I can see you."

I almost laughed. "You can't just order me around."

"I can."

Kael gaze held mine. "I want to know why you keep acting like someone is trying to kill you."

My mouth went dry and before I could answer, two guards appeared at the end of the corridor. "Prince Kael."

Kael turned. "What happened again?"

"The student from the training grounds is missing."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

The guard continued, "The healers were treating him when the room lost power and when they restored it, he was gone."

Kael's face darkened. "Was he conscious?"

"No."

"Then how did he leave?"

"We don't know."

The second guard looked nervous. "There's something else."

Kael waited. "The room was locked from the inside."

My skin prickled and Kael glanced at me. I didn't know what he saw on my face, but his expression changed. "Take me there."

The guards led us away and I followed, I knew I should have stayed behind or return to my dormitory but something inside me needed to know what had happened.

The moment we entered the medical wing, the smell of blood hit me, the healer stood beside the bed, pale and shaking.."I've never seen anything like it."

Kael walked closer. "Where was he when you left?"

"Here."

"You were alone with him?"

"Yes."

"And nobody entered?"

"Nobody."

Kael looked around the room and his eyes stopped on the window but then I noticed something under the bed.

A small black object, I crouched and reached for it. "Don't."

Kael's hand closed around my wrist and I looked up. "What?"

"Don't touch anything here."

I pulled my hand away, he crouched instead and picked it up using a cloth.

It was a piece of black crystal and the moment I saw it, something inside me twisted because I knew that symbol.

It was a crescent surrounding a wolf's eye, I'd seen it once before in my grandfather's study, years ago.

I stared at it and Kael noticed. "You recognize it."

I forced myself to look away. "No."

His eyes narrowed.."You're lying again."

"I'm not."

He stood. "Then why did you stop breathing when you saw it?"

I had no answer but the healer suddenly cried out. "Prince Kael!"

We both turned, she was pointing toward the wall because something was appearing on it, everyone in the room backed away. SHE SHOULD HAVE STAYED AWAY.

My heart pounded then another line appeared beneath it. THE BLOOD OF ELARA WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

My knees nearly gave out, that my mother's name.

Kael turned toward me and I couldn't move or breathe.

Someone knew about my mother and not just me.

Kael stepped closer. "Who is Elara?"