[Valerie] “Is Rudra strict?” I ask Elias while having breakfast. Viola has already left since she has been absent for quite a long while. The other day Moran informed me how other mages have left and the winners except for Viola have already begun training. I felt slightly guilty after hearing that. Thankfully, she wasn’t around when Moran informed me. On top of that, I slept fitfully, too busy answering messages and taking calls from family members. None of my friends, the only two who had stuck around until a few days ago, called. The reason behind my restless night was Kenneth’s confession and Clyde. The latter seemed to have carved a space in my mind which is irritating. I need to find a way to end this stupid bond permanently. He will be someone else’s in the near future anyway. “Don’t worry. He is very amicable,” he replies, ceasing my thoughts as he cuts a perfect portion of the scrambled egg and puts it in his mouth like the perfect aristocrat that he is. “You say that. I

[Valerie] Moran hands me a letter wordlessly the next morning when I am on my way to meet Rudra again. Elias is walking in front of us, hands buried in his trench coat pockets. I look at Moran questioningly. He shrugs. “Dragon Lord asked me to hand it to you. He said you are not to throw it until you have read its contents.” The mere mention of him makes my anger flare anew. His actions had hurt me and angered me in a way I had not imagined. “Like I care what he thinks,” I mutter blithely, stuffing the envelope in my jeans pocket, crumpling it a little in the process. “Going by the pink ears tips, yes you certainly do,” Moran says with a wink. I glare at him. “There’s nothing I need to be flustered about. I don’t really care and can we please stop talking about him.” Moran's playful look vanishes. The look is enough to warn me about his questions so I jog towards Elias, leaving him behind. The last day was mentally exhausting for me. I don’t want to ruin the day by talking abo

[Clyde] What am I doing? I acted like an eccentric jerk back there. I curl my hands into fists, walking back to my office. Valerie’s startled and slightly wary expression surfaces back in my mind and I halt midway to just gather my composure. What the hell was I thinking? I won’t say I was not angry when she barged in and shouted and berated me for writing a letter to her. She doesn’t even know that I have never tried to write a letter and apologised to no one? “Is she ignorant or actually stupid?” I ask aloud. I drag my palm across my face, unable to shirk the hateful words she hurled at me earlier. Will she even want to get back or even give me a chance after this? I doubt it. ~~~~ “Clyde!” I hear Fionna before I see her bounding towards me, a gleeful expression on her face as she throws her arms around me and hugs me tightly. “Not that I am happy to see you this delighted, but what's the matter?” I ask as I return the enthusiastic hug. “Brian could summon his dragon. He t

[Valerie] I won’t say that kissing Clyde hadn’t ever crossed my mind, that would be hypocritical. It was just a mere passing thought while we traversed the cliffs of Verglas, a few days ago, or that day when he eavesdropped on my conversation with Ken. However, the kiss is nothing like I had imagined my first kiss to be. It’s all-consuming and messy. I can feel my insecurities begin to creep out from the deep recesses of my heart as I sloppily reciprocate. His lips are soft, almost silken. I can feel his breath tickle. Warmth blooms in my chest as I give into the heady sensation. The kiss deepens as he pulls me impossibly closer. My fingers caress the hair on his nape. I push back any other thought that tries to breach the forefront and it evaporates almost completely when his tongue swipes my bottom lip. A noise bubbles out from my lips. His tongue slips into my mouth and that brings me back to reality. My hold slackens and I begin to draw away. He feels the change and pulls ba

[Valerie] My lips tingle when we finally pull away and yet we let our lips brush against each other. My eyes flutter closed again. “Don’t worry about anything. I will handle everything,” he murmurs against my lips. His hand squeezes my hip while the other caresses my head. I open my eyes and gaze at him. “What if you can’t? You are not Almighty.” My voice comes out petulant. When he gives me a pointed look, I sigh and instead of pulling away, I wrap my arms around his midriff and hug him. He stiffens visibly, probably not expecting this, but then he goes on to reciprocate the embrace and just like that my heart flutters. “Don’t get so used to this. I am only appeasing my wolf,” I lie, earning a growl from Ruelle and a chuckle from Clyde. “Whatever you say.” The truth is yet again at the tip of my tongue. “Can you please keep me updated from now on?” I request instead. “Is this hug a form of bribery?” he counters. I tip my head back to look at him. His blue eyes are laced