Teya's POVAlright, I’m pretty sure I was officially broken. I mean, here I was, holed up in my dorm room for three whole days, and honestly, I wasn’t even sure if that was a good thing or a bad one anymore. Honestly, even the thought of stepping outside felt like a monumental task. Letting myself think back to that moment—seeing Arya and Lucien together—my stomach twisted in a painful knot. They were so close, and the way they leaned into each other just screamed intimacy. It was as if they were weaving some kind of private tapestry that I could only watch from a distance, left out and invisible.And then, just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, the door swung wide open with a bang that felt like a personal attack. Arya, that witch who seemed made of nightmares and malice, sauntered in. Her eyes were instantly fixated on me like they’d been doing since this whole mess started—like she enjoyed my suffering or something. Every morning, those wicked eyes would find me curled up i
Lucien's POVThe door to the studio creaked open, slowly and quietly, almost hesitantly. You know the kind of sound that makes you hold your breath in anticipation? I didn’t even bother to glance over my shoulder because deep down, I was convinced it was her. It had to be her. Teya.Even now, I could vividly recall the way she had looked at me the last time we trained together. The intensity in her gaze was almost palpable, as if she was afraid that if she blinked, she’d lose something precious. It was a moment that lingered in my mind, her laughter, light and musical, echoed like a haunting melody long after she had departed. I couldn’t help but replay it over and over, wondering how something so seemingly airy could sit like a weight in my chest. And the way she felt, the warmth of her body pressed against mine, the way she responded, soft sounds escaping her lips as I explored the contours of her form, it all felt like a beautiful but dangerous dream I was terrified to wake up fr
Teya's POV.The dorm felt… tighter today. Like the walls were inching in just a bit, slow enough to pretend it wasn’t happening.Everything smelled like old ink and Ava’s perfume—that stubborn floral one that clung to our curtains no matter how many times I aired the place out. I was half-melted into my bed, legs tangled in my ugly soft blanket, the one with the frayed edges I refused to throw out. I had my com-pad open, the screen dimmed on some article about joint locks and close-quarters fighting, but I wasn’t really reading it.My brain was stuck on Lucien. His hand. That damn kiss. The kind that lives on your lips for hours after, even when he’s long gone and you're pretending to be busy. Hehe.Then the door opened with that faint click it always made—like it was trying to be polite about interrupting me. Ava came in first, all bounce and bright colors and chaos wrapped into one girl. Her scarf looked like a whole festival, she part of the LGBTQ thingy now?.I sat up.And then—s
Lucien’s PovTch.He always knew how to ruin a moment.Kael stood in the doorway like a storm, tall and coiled with something too close to rage. His eyes locked on Teya first—never me—and I hated how familiar that look was. Possessive. Like she belonged to him.“Teya,” he said, his voice dangerously calm. “Come with me. Now.”Teya straightened slowly, still breathing hard from the spar. Her sweat-slicked skin shimmered in the dim training hall light, strands of hair stuck to her cheeks. She looked powerful. Fierce.And she didn’t even flinch.“I’m not done,” she said.Kael blinked once, slow and sharp. “You’ve trained enough for today. We have more important matters to discuss.”I stepped forward before she could respond, inserting myself into the space between them. Not touching her—but close enough.“She said she’s not done,” I said evenly.His gaze finally shifted to me. “This doesn’t concern you, Lucien.”“It does when you show up barking orders during my session.”Teya’s voice cu
Teya’s POVMy fingers still ached from the night before—too many pages filled with plans and fury. I reached for my phone, my pulse steady now, cold with purpose. I dialed the first number. Kael.He answered on the second ring, his voice a low rumble that somehow managed to both soothe and unsettle me."Teya. To what do I owe the... early morning call?"There was a trace of amusement in his tone, but also curiosity—he knew this wasn’t casual."Professor Kael," I began, keeping my voice steady, though I wasn’t sure I felt it. "I need your help."A pause. "My help with what, exactly?""I want to gain a position of influence within the academy," I said plainly."Not just some student council role—I want something real. Something with power."I could practically hear him shifting, thinking. "That's... quite the ambition. What exactly are you aiming for?""I don’t know yet," I admitted. "But I need to be in a place where I can challenge the system from within. What happened to Reya, to
Teya's POVThe hallway was quiet, almost eerily so, as I made my way toward Kael’s office. My footsteps echoed off the stone floors, sounding far louder than they should have in the stillness. With every step, a new possibility unraveled in my mind. Why now? Why did he want to see me after everything? Why urgently?I didn’t bother to knock. I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering just over the doorknob, before finally pushing it open.Kael was seated behind his desk, staring intently at a thick folder open in front of him. His brows were furrowed in concentration, but the moment he saw me, he straightened, closing the folder with deliberate calm.“You came,” he said simply.“I heard you were looking for me,” I replied, trying to keep my voice neutral. My heart was already beating faster, every beat echoing with unease.He gestured to the seat across from him. I didn’t sit.“What is it?” I asked.Kael tilted his head, studying me. “You look tired.”“I am. It’s been a long week.”H