All Chapters of Eclipse Academy: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Xavier’s POV We already took our seats. The first class was already about to start. I had Angela’s hand in mine, her fingers laced through my own, and that was all that mattered. It was a small, simple connection, but it felt more than that. I’d spent half the night staring at my ceiling, replaying every moment, every touch, every word. The weight of the journal, the mention of a choice, the damning cost of a cure. It all pressed down on me, but here, with her hand in mine, I could breathe. I glanced at her. She was staring at the front of the room, but her attention wasn’t really there. Her expression was thoughtful, a little distant, and I knew she was wrestling with the same things I was. The weight on her was heavier. It always was. Silas sat on her other side, a silent, brooding presence. He hadn’t said much since we left the dance, but his gaze kept flickering toward Darius’s empty seat. We all felt it. The balance was shifting, and none of us knew what it meant. Steph

Xavier’s POV The bell finally rang. The sharp sound echoed through the classroom, snapping everyone out of Mr. Wilson’s lecture about the Goblin Accords. Chairs scraped across the floor as students hurried to gather their books, eager to escape to their next class. I didn’t move right away. My eyes stayed fixed on the back of Darius’s neck. The mark was still there. It hadn’t disappeared. The delicate Fae wings were unmistakable. Three savage claw marks tore through the center of them, as though a Lycan had claimed the magic itself. Blaze paced restlessly inside my mind. “Another one.” I tightened my grip around Angela’s hand beneath the desk. She squeezed my fingers in return. The small gesture grounded me enough to finally stand. Mr. Wilson had already disappeared into his office, leaving the classroom to empty around us. Good. I wasn’t ready to face him. Not yet. I slipped my bag over my shoulder before looking down at Angela. “Come on.” She searched my face for a moment be

Xavier’s POV The rest of the day passed faster than it should have. After breakfast, none of us had any intention of walking into Mr. Wilson’s classroom. If he wanted to be irritated with us, that was his problem. Mine was making sure Angela had one normal day after everything that had happened. We spent the afternoon together, talking about anything except the crests. Steph somehow managed to turn an ordinary conversation into an argument over whether dragons would make better teachers than witches. Silas claimed dragons didn’t have the patience. Steph insisted patience was overrated. Angela laughed so hard she had to wipe tears from the corners of her eyes. Hearing her laugh made the weight on my shoulders feel lighter. For a few hours, we forgot. Forgot about impossible crests. Forgot about journals. Forgot about fate. Forgot about the questions none of us could answer. By the time dinner rolled around, I almost believed we could keep pretending for another day. Blaze wasn’t

Silas’s POV The cafeteria had settled, but it would never be the same. Conversations had started again, quieter than before. Every few seconds, another student glanced toward our table before pretending they hadn’t. Whispers spread from one end of the room to the other like wildfire, but I ignored them. I had more important things to deal with. Darius still sat where Angela had left him. Lia remained comfortably perched across his lap, one arm looped around his shoulders as though nothing had happened. Betty and Lira exchanged amused glances, clearly pleased with themselves. Steph stopped beside me. “So…” she muttered. “We’re really doing this?” I didn’t answer. I simply stepped more towards the table. Lia looked up first, her smile widening. “What?” “Leave.” I ordered. She blinked her eyes rapidly like she didn’t hear what I said. “I’m sorry?” “I said leave.” I repeated myself without even raising my voice. Her smile disappeared. Darius leaned back in his chair, annoyance

Xavier’s POV The room was quiet. Not the kind of silence that felt empty. This one felt fragile, as though even the walls understood that speaking too loudly might shatter what little strength Angela had left. She hadn’t said much since I’d carried her here, but she didn’t have to. The way she’d curled against my chest when I first picked her up had told me everything words couldn’t. I’d held her for what felt like hours, letting her cry until there were no tears left. Even then, I hadn’t let go. Blaze had remained unusually quiet. For once, even my dragon understood she didn’t need advice. She just needed someone to stay. I brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she sat on the edge of my bed, wrapped in one of my hoodies. It practically swallowed her, the sleeves hanging over her hands. “You’ve been staring at the floor for ten minutes,” I said softly. She blinked, lifting tired eyes toward me as though surfacing from somewhere far away. “I have?” I nodded my head. “