~ Aria's POV ~"You're not by chance going to run away, are you? I'm your boyfriend now, and you once promised you wouldn’t," he reminded me.Back then, I had been confident when I told him I wouldn’t run anymore. But now, with the full moon only minutes away, fear began crawling under my skin. Soon, he would no longer stand before me as my boyfriend, but as a wolf."Is it really necessary for you to transform?" I whispered, my voice trembling as I tried to mask the fear lacing it."Why? Are you scared?" he asked."Me? Of course not!" I laughed far too loudly, as though the sound could drown the terror twisting in my stomach.He smirked knowingly. "You sure about that?"I swallowed hard and nodded. Thorne chuckled, the sound low and amused. "It’s obvious you’re scared. But you don’t have to be—I won’t hurt you.""Are you sure about that? Won’t your wolf… eat me when he sees me?" I blurted, finally voicing the fear gnawing at me.Thorne playfully flicked my forehead. "Why would I eat y
~ Aria's POV ~A small smile tugged at my lips as I placed the stuffed rabbit carefully on my bed. Lucian and I had just returned to the academy, and he had gone off to spend time with his incubi friends.My smile widened as I brushed my fingers along the rabbit’s floppy ears. Lucian had been right—just seeing the little thing reminded me of him. I couldn’t help but recall how hard he had fought to win it for me, the determination in his eyes, the way his voice softened when he placed it in my hands. My chest warmed, and my smile deepened."Someone looks happy," Sloane teased as she finally stepped out of the bathroom, her damp hair clinging to her neck. It felt like a miracle she’d decided to bathe at all. She always seemed covered in paint, as though she wore colors instead of clothes."Did he give you that?" Her gaze fell on the stuffed rabbit."Do I need to answer your question?" I returned."Yeah. I want to know what’s going on between you and him," she asked delightedly."Nothin
~ Aria's POV ~The amusement park was pure magic. I laughed until my stomach hurt, riding everything I could—rollercoasters, drop towers, all of it. The rollercoaster and the drop tower didn't scare me like how people often claimed they were scary.But who was I kidding, I had almost ripped off Lucian's shirt during the ride, but still, it was so much fun. I got the opportunity to press my whole body on him."You had fun?" he asked as we strolled slowly through the park. I was happily licking the ice cream he bought me.He didn't buy one for himself because he claimed he doesn't eat ice cream."Yes, I did. I had so much fun, thanks to you," I grinned, eating the ice cream, and it stained part of my lips."Silly you," Lucian chuckled, leaning in to wipe the stain off with his thumb."Thanks," I blushed furiously. "Are you sure you don’t want a bite? Mint chocolate is amazing.""Really?" he asked, halting in his tracks, and I did the same."Yes. You should have a taste of it," I offered
~ Aria's POV ~"What are you staring at?" Raven asked, leaning his head out of the window to follow my gaze. My heart froze, terrified he would spot Lucian. But just before Raven’s eyes could find him, Straven suddenly tugged me into an alley.I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that they indeed had powers to shield their conversation. If not, Lucian would have really heard Raven's voice when he asked who I was staring at."Skylight," he called my name, and my eyes went to him, trying to hide the guilt in them."You okay? You looked a bit tense. Who were you even looking at? I can't find anyone here." His glance swept around from where he was standing.I forced out a smile. "I wasn't staring at anything. I only remembered something, that's all. I have to go now, the monsters here can't see us together. We're keeping our relationship a secret, remember?" I said, my voice barely audible.Raven nodded with a smile. I waved at him and went out of the school's premises. The school's gate
~ Aria's POV ~I gulped hard as Lucian made his way toward me. What if he believed Isolde? What if he really thought her words were true? Would that mean losing him?"Lucian, about what Isolde..." I began, but he cut me short by hugging me. His jaw rested on my shoulder, and his hands were all over my back."Lucian," I whispered his name.He didn’t say a word, he just hugged me, as his hands continued moving around my back, almost touching the strap of my bra."I miss you," he whispered as he pulled away from the hug, his blue eyes on me. I missed seeing those enchanting blue eyes of his."If you miss them, then why have you been avoiding me?" he asked."Huh?" I blinked.Lucian pressed his thin lips together before offering me a smile. "What I meant to say was, why have you been avoiding me when you know I’d miss you like crazy?" he said.This wasn’t what he said just now. He had twisted his words. The feeling of Lucian being able to hear my thoughts lingered in my mind."Did you hear
~ Aria's POV ~After a few seconds of being in his arms, I pulled away, his eyes on me."You should also talk to the monsters here," I said, guilt still gnawing at my chest."Why? Did they do something wrong?" he asked, concern lacing his tone."Not really. They happen to see me banging on your door and calling your name. I don't want them spreading rumours about it," I muttered, scared that if the monsters spread how I had come to Raven's room, it'd get to the hearing of both Lucian and Thorne."Is that what you want?" he asked softly, cupping my face in his cold, steady hands.My eyes reached for his, and I nodded my head."Alright. I will be right back. Once I talk to them, they won't say a word."With that, he went out of his room. With just one word from him, every monster on the fifth floor came out from their various rooms.Somewhere were vampires, ghouls, and somewhere dragons. I stood by the door, listening to the conversation he was having with them.I could hear him, becaus