Violet“Violet…”I blinked my eyes as I looked around, trying to find the male voice whispering my name. Everything was unclear, white, and I didn’t know which way to go.The voice called out to me again. “Violet…”This time I started walking, feeling my bare feet pressing against the cold ground. I spun in every direction, trying to find where the voice was coming from, yet…nothing. I was trapped inside my dream, one I couldn’t escape from.Then, I saw it.A huge black wolf with red eyes staring back at me. Its eyes burned into mine, and my heart pounded in my chest as my legs froze, not sure whether to run or step closer.The wolf didn’t move. It just kept looking at me with those bloody red, piercing eyes.Slowly, I took a step toward it, then another. I swallowed my breath as the wolf let out a soft growl. Not too loud, but one enough to make me hesitate.Yet, something inside me pulled me forward, and before I knew it, I stood in front of the furry creature.“Violet,” the wolf lo
VioletWith a lump in my throat, I stared at the guy who always seemed to walk like he owned the place. His hair was in a bun, his black shirt hugged every line of muscle, and he looked so good in those pants.Too fucking good, and I despised myself for noticing.While Kylan didn’t give me any time of the day, Dylan, who was right beside him, shot me a smile which I had returned.Since when did those two get so close anyway?And where was Nate?I didn’t have to wonder long. The door opened, and Nate walked in, immediately locking his eyes onto mine. He looked handsome as always, with that friendly, approachable smile that never seemed to vanish.My heart skipped a beat, and I wasn’t sure if it was from relief or nerves. After days of no contact, seeing him brought a confusing rush of emotions.What had changed his mind, and how could he casually smile at me as if he hadn’t just agreed to taking my virginity?I gave him a smile in return, although my lips slightly trembled. My expressi
Violet“W-Wha…” I widened my eyes, his words startling me right before I lost my balance. My body dropped sideways, but before I could hit the ground, my hands found his shoulders.Making the situation ten times more embarrassing than it already was, I somehow ended up straddling him, my legs on either side of his torso as I hovered over him.Our faces were close, too close, and I froze, feeling the heat of his body beneath mine.Nate showed his dimple, moving one hand to my waist while the other gently brushed a loose strand from my ponytail.“The text,” he said, casually. “Are we still on, beautiful?”There was no shame, nothing.I gulped, still on top of him. “Yes,” I whispered.“Okay, okay,” he nodded, smirking. My body tensed as his hand rubbing slow circles on my waist. “Do you want to do it here?” he glanced down at the space between us.Shocked, I looked down, realizing I was still on top of him. “I’m so sorry!” I gasped, my face heating up as I quickly scrambled off him and s
Kylan"Fuck, Kylan, just like that," Chrystal panted, her voice breathless with each thrust.I clenched my jaw, gripping her hair in one hand as I slammed into her from behind. Her voice irritated me, and my name leaving her mouth pissed me off even more.It only did something to me when Violet said my name. That night it slipped past her lips, I wanted her so badly—I held back every urge possible not to take her then and there. Fuck!Why was I even thinking about her in this moment.I gritted my teeth, trying to concentrate. Every time I tried to forget about her, she would somehow find her way back inside my head. It made me sick. I had been avoiding her on purpose, keeping my distance, even at Elite Training—but I just couldn’t escape her.Why couldn’t I?"Don’t stop, baby!" Chrystal cried out, her voice breaking through my thoughts. “Fuck, Ky!”I realized how much more aggressively I was moving as her moans grew louder, until she finally reached her peak.My grip tightened as I p
KylanFamily day….Just the thought of it made my chest tighten. It was a day where all families would visit, pretend everything was perfect like all of our lives weren’t filled with secrets and lies.For me, it was even worse. I’d have to see the king again—the man who had never truly forgiven me for what I did to my brother.Shaking the thoughts away, I decided to take a quick shower. Although it didn’t do much to ease the tension, it had at least cleared my mind for a moment. Once I was done, I stepped out of the bathroom, only to see Chrystal still lying on the bed, undressed.“Mind if I shower here and get ready?” she asked, although it sounded more like a statement. “Our dads will be here in an hour.”Without a word, she got up, grabbing her things from her bag like she had planned it all along, and headed straight to the bathroom.“Have you already made up with my brother?” she called out, closing the door behind her. “You know, he never said what happened between you two.”I g
VioletWith fumbling hands, I stood in the grand hall with Dylan and Trinity as we waited for our parents. The room was filled with students everywhere reuniting with their families, receiving warm hugs as laughter filler the air.I didn’t really know what to feel.It was strange to see people have normal bonds with their families, while I had whatever the hell I had going on.Trinity squeezed Dylan’s hand, looking every bit of nervous. “I’m so scared to meet them,” she admitted, biting her lip.Dylan puffed out dramatically, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead. “You’re nervous? I’m the one who should be sweating.”“No, you don’t,” Trinity giggled, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “My parents will love you just as much as I love you.”She wiped off the lipgloss she’d left behind, patting his cheek while Dylan smiled like a fool. They were always so sweet with each other to the point I couldn’t help but smile at their little moments.“Trinity!” A woman’s voice suddenly called out.Tr
VioletMom and Dad shared a glance, probably confused by how close Dylan and I seemed. “Of course are,” Mom said softly, reaching for my hand before pressing a quick kiss to my cheek. “It’s nice to see the two of you getting along for once.”I glanced at Dad, not having any expectations—but to my surprise, a smile appeared on his lips. A real smile.A proud smile.“I heard you made the Elite Team within days,” he looked into my eyes. “As expected from you.”“Really?” Clarence looked impressed. “That’s quite something. You must be really proud of your children,” he added, full of admiration.Dad chuckled softly, glancing down with a smirk. “I’m always proud of my two children.”My heart melted at his words.Two children…For a moment, it felt like I was finally seen, acknowledged. The pride in his voice as those words left his mouth was something I had been craving for so long.Even though I walked into it with no expectations, the day started off great.After some more talking, it was
KylanMy grip tightened on the wheelchair as I looked back at Violet, who had just gave me the coldest stare in existence. That little puppy had some nerve.Of all the directions we could’ve gone, we had to pass by her family. Just perfect.They all had looked down at their feet, clearly making it a point not to look our way. My gaze met Dylan’s for a split second, and he greeted with a nod. I returned the gesture, acknowledging him.Surprisingly enough, out of all the Bloodroses, even Hastings, he was the only one I could somewhat respect. He had earned that respect.I didn’t know the other Hastings, but I wasn’t all that interested either. They were nothing, nobodies.As we passed by, the king glanced back at them, stopping in his steps. Everyone stopped, waiting for the king as he released a low chuckle. Then he continued his pace.What was so funny?Did he expect everyone to bow down, kiss the ground he walked on? Probably. He had a way of making everyone feel small with just the
VioletI sat with Kylan in the corner of the diner, a full tray of food right in front of me. Honestly, I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I started eating, and now I couldn’t stop.Kylan watched me, his arms crossed on the table. His eyes were warm, smile a bit too soft—so soft it almost scared me.“Are you not eating?” I nudged the food.“No,” Kylan said. “I just want you to eat.”Then he kept staring at me again with that same gaze. If I hadn’t known any better, I would’ve thought some spirit had taken over his body. This was not the Kylan from yesterday.“What?” I asked, a bit weirded out.He shook his head. “Just looking at you.”I narrowed my eyes. “And what’s going through your head as you’re looking at me?”His smile faltered a little, and I saw him swallow hard, like he didn’t know what to say.“You always tell me I’m the weird one,” I said, pointing my fork at him. “But you really got me beat today.”He let out a small, embarrassed laugh and sat up straighter in his ch
Violet“I see you’ve come back to your dorms,” Esther said, a fake smile plastered on her lips.“I have,” I answered shortly.“Good,” she squeezed her eyes together. “I won’t report you. You’ve already been through so much.”I felt something twist in my stomach. Seeing this woman smile in my face after all the things I knew about her bothered the crap out of me. Whether it was a real or fake smile, she didn’t have any right to laugh.“Thank you, ma’am. That’s kind of you.”I waited for her to leave, but at the same time, I knew she wouldn’t. She had clearly come here because she wanted something from me. However, it was still unclear what she wanted.She kept staring at me with that uncomfortable grin on her face, like she had practiced it beforehand.After some time, she took a small huff. “Do you really not want Starlight to expel those girls, sweetheart?”There it was again. She was trying to push me—wanted me to think about it and get angry, lose control so I could light up Starli
Violet“If that creepy woman bothers you again,” Trinity’s voice blasted through the empty cafeteria, “you better tell me!”She was clearly talking about Esther. I turned the other way, silently ignoring her words.Although I was back in my dorm, I had managed to escape her for the night, but I had run out of lock. I had Healing Class today, so there was that.“Dylan went downtown with the boys, and for some reason, it bothers me because it was supposed to be our thing,” Trinity complained. “Like, didn’t they already go yesterday?”I didn’t have to look at her face to figure she was most likely pouting. “Maybe it’s time for you to let him breathe a little,” I chuckled.Trinity gasped, holding her heart. “Let Dylan breathe?” she spoke in horror like I had said something awful. “The same way you let Kylan breathe?”Yes, that was definitely sarcastic.“Speaking of Kylan, have you heard anything from him today?”I smiled through the slight ache I felt in my heart, then shook my head. “No
KylanThe market was packed.As usual, people were talking loudly, laughing, and the air had a strong scent of the market food. It was everything I hated.Bright, colorful, loud.We had some time between classes, and Nate had begged us to go downtown again. He said he felt left out, that the three of us hadn’t done anything fun in weeks. So now here we were, Nate, Dylan, and me, walking through the same market where everything had changed.Where we met Aelius…Where Violet found out the truth…It felt strange being back here. Almost like walking into a memory I wasn’t ready to deal with.I couldn’t help but wonder what Violet was doing at this moment, just like I couldn’t help but wonder every damn second if she was doing okay.At least, knowing that Dylan and Trinity still stood by her side after everything she had told them, made me feel a bit better. We weren’t the only ones holding onto the secret anymore. It was out in the open, and seeing Violet look past her fears to tell them
Violet“Yes,” I clarified.“Who escaped?” Dylan asked.“I wish I could tell you, but I don’t know,” I replied.Aelius wouldn’t tell me, and I’m sure he has his reasons for that.“Wow, Violet,” Trinity spoke, in awe. “So you’re a child of blood, a highborn witch… and a princess?”“I wanted to tell you both because you’re important to me,” I said quietly. “I’ve been holding all of this in for so long, and I kept thinking… what if it pushes you away?”“Pushes me away?” Trinity spat, offended.I let out a nervous laugh. “Honestly, I thought your reactions would be worse.”My eyes flickered toward Dylan. “Especially yours… now that I’m not a Hastings anymore.”“Not a Hastings anymore?” Dylan chuckled softly. He leaned forward. “Violet, you will always be a Hastings,” he said. “And you are a Bloodrose. You and I are still family.”My voice cracked a bit. “Yes?”His words were strong, and I could tell he meant every word with his whole heart. He looked almost repulsed, even, that I could eve
VioletIt went silent.I was met with complete silence after I said the words. I looked at their faces, trying to figure out what they were thinking, but neither one of them reacted. They just stared at me with blank expressions.“I’m half witch,” I repeated, only to be met with the same silence.I knew it.This was a bad idea. They were shocked, disgusted, and couldn’t even find the words.Kylan and I glanced at each other, both confused, and then I continued speaking. “My real mom and dad…” I explained. “They weren’t Claire and Greg. Claire and Greg raised me, but they’re not my birth parents. My mom was a witch—a child of blood. That means I am too. And my dad was a prince, the Alpha prince.”Still, no one said a word.I was just about to fumble my hands, but Kylan grabbed my wrist before I could do so. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the two. “Say something,” he quietly demanded.Trinity and Dylan slowly turned their heads to look at each other, then they looked back at me. Dyla
VioletAfter a short day of classes, I found myself back in Kylan’s room. I leaned against his door, watching him with a weak smile as he played with Jumper, the squirrel he had sworn he didn’t want anything from but now pretty much treated like his daughter.My stance might’ve been calm, but my mind wasn’t. It had been around fifteen minutes, and I had barely spoken because I wasn’t sure how to start the conversation. I wasn’t sure how to tell him that I would not only go back to my dorm but would also tell the others about my true identity.Kylan patted Jumper over her back. “What is it?” he finally asked after a long moment of silence. “You’re still here, not handcuffed, so it can’t be your eyes.”I knew he wasn’t a mind reader, but I guess anyone could tell something was clearly going on. Hesitant, I looked down for a second.“I’m going back to my dorms today,” I said. “I don’t want Trinity to feel like I’m ignoring her or something.”Kylan paused for a second, his hand resting on
VioletI slowly pricked my fork into a piece of fruit, watching the two lovebirds in front of me.Dylan and I had met up with Trinity for lunch, and they were all over each other. Kissing, hugging—basically everything except for acknowledging my presence.A sigh left my lips as Dylan pressed his face into her neck. Trinity, giggled as she pushed him away. “Stop it!” she hissed. “Violet is getting sick of us.”“No, I’m not,” I smiled. “It’s okay.”It was so out of character for Dylan, and above all—a bit hard to get used to. He wasn’t the same grumpy, know-it-all I used to know—and while it was supposed to be something positive, I just couldn’t help but compare.I knew I shouldn’t, but deep down I couldn’t help but picture a scenario of Kylan being a little more like that.Open. Gentle. Warm…“You’re just so beautiful, I can’t help myself,” Dylan whispered, cupping her cheek. They deserved each other. In a way, the two reminded me of Claire and Greg. To be honest, that scared me becaus
VioletI stared down at the mat, sweat nearly dripping from my forehead as I did another push-up. One wouldn’t have guessed it, but Commander Jorn ran across the training hall, clapping his hands and yelling like always.Strangely enough, I could almost keep up with everyone today. Almost!If I wasn’t so sore and tired from yesterday, I probably could’ve given it my all. It was too bad my arms felt like jelly—and to make matters worse, my brain couldn’t focus with all his yelling.I know Adelaide would’ve pushed through, but I also knew that I definitely didn’t see the old Elite team do any of these exercises when I was in the Veil. The training days in the past were definitely easier than this.I changed the position of my hands, stumbling a bit—and then a soft fist suddenly connected with my back. It was Commander’s…of course.It was just a little touch, but it was enough to make me drop flat to the mat.“Ow!” I muttered, grabbing my nose as I managed to sit up. It hurt like crazy,