Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 30

“Oookay. Servitude to what, exactly?”“I don’t know. But it could be referring to your servitude to the moon goddess. If I had to guess.”“Technically, we are already under her servitude, so—?” That’s according to what I’ve learned in class. “So why does no one else have that mark? Why me?”“I wish I could answer that.” He pulls his hand away, leaving a warm sensation that slowly crawls up my neck. “We should be able to understand what it’s referring to exactly once we figure out what the other symbols mean,” he continues. “I’m starting to worry we might not find all of them in the Book of the Divine.”“How come?”“I’m almost at the end of the book, and I’ve only found one.”“Oh.” I frown. “But what—”“Eli!” Valerie’s voice cuts through the air like an ice shard. My face scrunches up, and Elijah’s expression mimics mine as he stares over me.His lips draw thin. “Valerie.”“I can’t believe you’re actually coming to my party,” she rattles on, squeezing past me and latching onto his arm.

After grabbing some food, Celeste and I make ourselves comfortable near the roaring bonfire, perching on a rough, weathered log. Each of us holds a hot dog in one hand and a soda in the other, admiring the crackling fire. The mammoth flames send sparks into the cool night air, casting flickering shadows across the faces of the gathered crowd.I insist on another beer, my eyes scanning the vicinity for a sign of someone with a cooler, but Celeste firmly refuses. She gives me a stern look, her eyebrows knitting together in that familiar way that tells me not to push my luck. With a resigned sigh, I take a sip of my soda. It’s supposed to be cherry-flavored, but the taste is flat and stale, with an unpleasantly sour aftertaste. I grimace, feeling the fizz bubble offensively on my tongue.Disgusted, I turn my head and chug the rest of the soda onto the sand beside me. The crimson liquid splatters against the grainy surface, spraying my leg and the leg of a girl sitting nearby. She’s in th

I wake abruptly to the sound of the alarm blaring. “What now?” I groan, burying my face in Elijah’s shoulder. We’ve moved from Ariah’s bed to mine and fallen asleep there. Despite a lot of kissing, nothing more is happening, though I want things to head in that direction. Elijah is the one who decides we should take our time.Sigh.Elijah mutters a curse, gently nudging me off him. “It’s something serious.”“How do you know?” I pop my eyes open.“If the alarm rings three times consecutively, it’s something important but not life-threatening. Six times, it’s a serious and potential danger, like with the convict on the grounds.”“How many times did it ring?” I sit up beside him.“Twelve.” He gets off the bed and straightens his shirt. He pivots around, holding out his hand to me.“What does twelve mean?” I take his hand and let him pull me onto my feet.“They rang it twelve times the day my sister was found dead.” The pain in Elijah’s voice cuts through me like a knife.My stomach sinks

Two hours drag by, and we’re still trapped in Mrs. Humphrey’s office. My friends come and go, each recounting their version of that night. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve cried, but Elijah and Luca have remained stone-faced since Elijah’s enraged outburst about his sister’s murder.The witness statements aren’t painting a good picture for him.The door clicks open, drawing everyone’s attention as a man glides inside. Dressed in a sharp, tailored suit that emphasizes his broad shoulders and strong build, he exudes authority. His gaze sweeps the room with hardened resolve; his silver hair, slicked back, gleams under the flickering candlelight.Mrs. Humphrey slides out from behind her desk and kneels on the floor in front of him. “Alpha, what an honor.”“On your feet, Selene. It’s no night for formalities.” The man’s familiar butterscotch eyes flick toward me, but they are piercing, ridden with coldness, unlike the eyes I’ve grown accustomed to. His jaw sets in a firm line as he a

It doesn’t surprise me that Sally is a no-show. Mr. Ledger, as expected, doesn’t take the news well and immediately blames me for it. It appears that if the king doesn’t get his way, he turns from cordial to sour—real fast. He criticizes my appearance in front of everyone, again, pointing out flaws that I don’t even know exist. He then tells me, in no uncertain terms, that if I don’t get my act together, I’m not worthy of his son.Every ounce of sympathy I felt earlier for him evaporates, morphing into contempt.Honestly, I never imagined I’d end up entangled with a prince. If that’s even what I can call it. Not that I’m sure where I now stand with Elijah, as I haven’t heard from him in days—that is, if he has any control over it.And he acted odd in Mrs. Humphrey’s office toward me.A part of me hopes it is because of the headmistress herself, but another part of me has doubts.It’s not until Mr. Ledger leaves the academy that Elijah finally comes back to my room. His knock is soft,