TEYA'S POVThe crowd didn’t move at first. Even when the heads showed up yelling and pushing students back, most stuck around—pretending to tie their shoes, whispering, trying to steal glances at us. They'd seen enough. The damage was done.A guard lightly touched my shoulder, saying the heads wanted to see me later. I just nodded; my throat was parched, and all I could hear was my heart pounding. Arya’s words echoed in my mind: “I didn’t think you’d do this.” Ugh, that line would haunt me.Lucien was saying something to one of the heads, then pulled Arya aside, and I thought maybe he’d finally say what needed to be said. But I didn’t stick around to see.I walked away fast, not even registering how I got to my room or closed the door. But once inside, the heavy silence hit me. I slid down against the door, feeling alone. Again.By morning, it felt like everyone suddenly knew my name, but not in a good way. “She seduced him,” someone said. “She’s always been trouble,” another chim
TEYA'S POVI held on to Kael’s words like they were a protective shield."You matter to me."Maybe it was just one of those things people say. Who knows if he meant it as deeply as I took it? But I clung to it anyway, because it was the only thing I’d heard lately that didn’t feel like it was cutting me open.So, I started to move again.I wouldn’t say I was back to normal. Let's not kid ourselves that I suddenly felt amazing. But I got out of bed, washed my face, and even braided my hair like Reya used to. I even managed to smile at a guard, who looked at me like I was nuts.That was progress.But what I didn’t do? Talk to Lucien.Not once.I dodged him like my life depended on it—because maybe it did.Anytime I sensed him in a hallway, I’d go the other way. If I heard his voice? I was out of there. Spot him near Arya? My heart would feel like it was caving in, and I’d have to act like I could breathe.I didn’t trust myself around him.Because if he asked me if I was okay, I’d spill
Kael's POVThe hallways buzzed with an energy that was louder and more charged than usual, like the air was crackling with static electricity. It felt like the entire place had been set ablaze by rumors, each one igniting a wave of chatter that echoed off the stone walls. Whispers danced around the corners, winding through the crowded spaces like tendrils of smoke rising from a fire. Everyone had a piece of the latest scoop, and everyone seemed desperate to share it. The focal point of this gossip storm? Lucien and Arya. I couldn't escape it. It was the hot topic buzzing around the training grounds, spilling over into the mess hall, and even seeping into the serene corners of the garden where people often went to escape the chaos. Some folks were already claiming that they were bonded, while others just shrugged and muttered it was only a matter of time before the sparks flew. But for me, the only thing weighing on my mind was the girl who had disappeared from sight for three long
Lucien's POVIt all began with a knock—a lazy, almost rhythmic tapping that grated on my nerves more than it piqued my curiosity. Honestly, I was so uninterested in getting up that I didn’t even bother to respond at first. I was sprawled across my leather couch, one arm tossed carelessly over my eyes like a makeshift shield against the world, and above all, her. Arya. The mere thought of her sent a jolt of irritation through me. I hadn’t seen Teya properly since that fateful day in the studio; the day Arya had confronted me about everything. I hadn’t been avoiding her calls on purpose. It was just… complicated, you know? How do you explain something so tangled, so messy? Another knock sounded, but this time it was louder—more forceful, more demanding.I let out an exasperated sigh.“Lucien?” Arya called out sweetly, her voice chiming through the closed door.Oh great, just what I needed.Still, I didn’t budge.“Lucien, I know you’re in there,” she continued, her tone shifting to a
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