After 15 minutes...

  He pulled back, stood up straight, and glared at me like I owed him rent and answers. Which I did. Kind of.

  “And then? Cat got your tongue?” he asked, brows raised.

  I rolled my eyes dramatically. “I’m exhausted, please?” I said, flopping onto the nearest thing that could hold my body weight, be it bed, chair, or emotional regret.

  He nodded slowly. “Right. You need to learn how to respect me, Aliana. I’m not your mate, and I’ll never be.” Ouch. “You need to focus on what you came here to do. And in order to do that, you need me. So do us both a favor, keep this childish behavior of yours at bay… if not away.”

  He turned to his closet like he didn’t just verbally spank me. “Freshen up. Bushida wants to see us within thirty minutes.”

  Then it happened.

  He pulled his shirt off. In front of me.

  Like... wow. Just casually peeled it off like it wasn’t a whole cinematic moment for me. My oh my. I was attracted to Donavon in a way that even I couldn’t lie about anymore. I stared. Couldn’t help it. The abs? The arms? The way his skin glowed like he moisturized with ancient dragon oil?

  Then he stripped off his jeans. And listen, I swallowed. Loudly. It was involuntary, okay? He noticed. His eyes flicked up to mine and he squinted at me with a suspicious little frown, like he was trying to figure out if I was human or just a malfunctioning sprinkler system. “Did you just,”

  “No,” I said quickly.

  He raised a brow like he didn’t believe me for a second. Then…then he stripped his underwear off. And I swear, I forgot how to breathe. Like my lungs just filed for leave. I sat there staring at his manhood like it was the holy grail. Because it was. At least in that lighting, which I’m convinced came straight from heaven itself.

  He noticed that too. His face twisted into a scowl, clearly annoyed, and he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist like he was protecting classified information.

  “Stop drooling,” he snapped. “It’s not like you’re seeing it for the first time, remember?” I blinked slowly. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I muttered. But he had already turned away, storming off into the bathroom like he hadn’t just ruined my entire nervous system. The door slammed, leaving the room quiet again.

  Was I ashamed of myself?

  No. No, I wasn’t.

  After a while, I got dressed in a cream halter-neck, sleeveless mini fringe cocktail dress, paired with high heels. My makeup was on point, hair styled to perfection. I looked gorgeous, as always. I mean, I’m a Tricagon. The only one. Looking stunning is basically my birthright.

  I walked out of my room and into Donavon’s. The moment he saw me, I swear his jaw nearly hit the floor. Okay, not literally. But the look in his eyes? Priceless.

  “Let’s go,” he said, trying to play it cool. I grabbed his hand to stop him. “You look handsome tonight,” I said softly, tilting my head a little as I looked up at him.

  He glanced at me, his eyes scanning my face like he was trying to decide if I was serious or just being annoying again. Then he pulled his hand away.

  “I know,” he said simply, already turning to walk off.

  I blinked at his back. “Wow. Humility really is your strongest trait.”

  He didn’t even slow down.

  I rolled my eyes and followed him. Typical Donavon.

  We stepped into the hall, and it was like walking into a glowing fantasy. The air buzzed with laughter, music, and that electric feeling of something exciting about to happen. Twinkling lights wrapped around the walls and ceiling, giving the whole place a golden glow. A massive disco ball spun above us, throwing glittery stars across the floor.

  There was a stage in one corner, a snack table loaded with treats and drinks beside it, and at the front of it all, a huge DJ setup blasting bass through the room. The vibe was already insane.

  But what really made it come alive? The people. Everyone was dressed to impress, dancing, laughing, mingling, it felt like magic.

  I spotted Andrea and Annelly across the room, so I gave Donavon a quick nod and made my way over to them. Andrea caught sight of me and instantly bit her lower lip.

  “Hey gurl, you looking pretty,” I said to Annelly.

  She grinned. “Talk about yourself. You look amazing!”

  I smirked and turned to Andrea. “Andrea is drooling.”

  Andrea tilted her head with a slow grin. “Oi, I must admit, you look proper gorgeous tonight, Aliana,” she said in her flirty British drawl making me blush a little. “So do you. Black suits you so much.”

  She winked. “Well, I did try... you’re making it really hard to keep my hands to myself, though.”

  “Oh, cut it, you two,” Annelly said, rolling her eyes, but smiling.

  Right then, Emily burst in, panting like she’d just run a marathon. She stomped over.

  “Andre-Andrea! I told you not to leave me behind, but you did anyway! Why? Huh? I told you, like a hundred times!”

  Andrea sipped her drink calmly. “Emily, babes… breathe.”

  Just then, Mrs. Bushida entered the hall, and everyone quieted down like magic.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” she began, her voice strong and elegant. “Esteemed faculty, staff, and our beloved students, welcome to the grand opening of our annual Welcome Bash here at JDC School of the Supernatural!”

  Applause rippled through the crowd.

  “It’s with great joy that I stand before you tonight. And my, oh my, each of you looks absolutely stunning, like characters straight out of a fairytale or a spellbinding fantasy novel.”

  A few people chuckled softly.

  “To our new students, welcome to our extraordinary community. Your presence enriches us all. Tonight is about celebration, about connecting and enjoying each other’s company. Let’s make memories that’ll last forever. And who knows?” she smiled “maybe someone’s powers will surprise us before the night ends.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “Thank you to everyone who helped make this event happen. And now… let the festivities begin!”

  She smiled, waved, and left the stage.

  And just like that, the party really started.

  Just then, Donavon slid his hand around my waist and leaned in close to my ear. “I’ll be at the bar if you need me. Don’t go far. Clear?” he said, his voice low and firm.

  The second his hand touched me, my heart started racing. The warmth of his breath on my ear sent shivers down my spine. My whole body tensed, craving this closeness like it was the only thing I’d ever wanted.

  I turned to look up at him, hoping to catch his eyes, but as always, he looked away. “Did you get it?” he asked.

  I swallowed hard. I could see his lips moving, but I barely heard a thing. My mind, my body, my soul…everything was locked in on the way his hand fit so perfectly on my waist, how close he was standing. Did he even know what he was doing to me?

  He frowned slightly. “Aliana?” he said, a bit sharper.

  “Y-Yeah,” I managed to answer, nodding quickly. “I’ll be over there if you need me. Don’t go far,” he repeated, more slowly this time.

  I nodded again.

  “Good,” he said, letting go of me and walking away.

  I just stood there, breath catching in my throat.

  Then suddenly, Andrea darted behind me like she was dodging bullets. I frowned. “What’s going on?”

  “Shh, it’s my wise one, innit? She’s dead set on dragging me to the dance floor. I swear she’s on the hunt, like I’m some rare bloody unicorn,” Andrea whispered dramatically.

  I glanced around. Sure enough, Emily was weaving through the crowd, eyes scanning left and right, neck turning from one direction to the other, it looked almost painful.

  “She’s heading this way,” I whispered urgently.

  “I’m telling you, mate, she’s completely off her rocker,” Andrea muttered, crouching behind me like I was a human shield. I giggled. “She just really loves you, okay? Weird but love, Alright, cold room. Same time. Same pace. Let’s go.”

  Andrea nodded. “Smart. Okay.”

  We turned and snuck off like two spies on a mission,and we made it into the cold room. Andrea exhaled dramatically and smiled. “Cheers.”

  I chuckled. “Anytime.”

  Then she went quiet.

  She stared at me for a moment, her eyes softening. She stepped closer and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

  “You’re seriously gorgeous, Aliana,” she said, voice barely above a whisper. I smiled. “So are you.”

  She stepped in again, and my back lightly touched the cold door. Her hand pressed against it beside my head.

  “Now… wouldn’t this be a splendid moment to, you know, sneak in a cheeky kiss? Or am I totally off base here?” she asked with that crooked grin.

  “Maybe ask that in a kinder tone? And I might consider it…” I said, teasing.

  She smirked. “My oh my…”

  I nodded, smiling, and wrapped my arms around her back, pulling her closer. I could feel her heartbeat pounding like a drum against my chest. Gazing into her eyes, I whispered, “Calm down. I won’t bite.”

  She looked down at my lips, then back into my eyes. Her arms slid around my neck. “I’d really fancy kissing you right now... and sticking my tongue…” she smirked “into your wet… mouth.”

  I chuckled. “You’re so perverted.” She grinned. “Maybe just a tad, you know?”

  I laughed. “A tad? Nah. A lot!”

  We both giggled.

  “Andrea… are you aware that I’m, well, not like you?”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Duh.”

  “Then why are you always like this with me?” I asked, curiously.

  She stared right into my eyes, voice honest now. “Because you’re a right stunner. And I fancy you. You’re like… that forbidden fruit. And let’s be honest, I’ve got a soft spot for things I shouldn’t have.”

  I smiled gently. “I see… but you’re okay with us being friends, right?”

  “Fair enough. I’m alright with the whole ‘just friends’ deal,” she said with a cheeky glint. “But let’s not kid ourselves, I'll still be laying on the charm and sneaking in those stolen kisses whenever I can.”

  I laughed. “You’re really funny.”

  Meanwhile, Becky spotted Donavon at the bar and, of course, didn’t miss the chance to strut over.

  “Hey there,” she said, flashing a polished smile as she leaned casually against the counter.

  “Hi, Becky,” he replied flatly, clearly not in the mood for conversation.

  She glanced around the room before tilting her head. “So, I see you’re not with your disrespectful dog tonight. Honestly, that thing should be kept on a leash, if you ask me.”

  “Aliana, you mean?” he asked, tone dry.

  “Oh,” she smirked, swirling the drink she’d just poured herself, “you named it.”

  Donavon exhaled slowly, already tired of the conversation. “Becky, please… let her be.”

  “Where’s the fun in that?” she replied lightly, taking a sip. She leaned a little closer over the counter then, placing her hand casually over his like it belonged there. “You look handsome, by the way.” He gave her a brief side glance but didn’t respond.

  “You know,” she continued, voice lowering slightly, “it’s been a while since we…”

  “Yeah,” he cut in, unimpressed. “And?”

  She smiled faintly, undeterred. “So… wanna step out for a few minutes?”

  Donavon exhaled sharply and scanned the crowd, his eyes moving through the party as he searched for me, but I was nowhere in sight. He hesitated for a moment.

  Becky pouted slightly. “We promised, remember? If either of us ever asked…”

  He sighed, the sound heavy with regret, then gave a small nod.

  Becky’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. Taking his hand, she led him away from the party.

  Andrea and I stepped out of the cold room, both giggling, the warm noise of the party immediately washing over us again. “I think she’s gone,” I said, glancing around the room just to make sure Emily wasn’t lurking somewhere nearby.

  Andrea leaned slightly to peek past me, scanning the crowd with exaggerated seriousness. “Good,” she said with a pleased smile. “Fancy a tipple yourself? What can I fetch for you?”

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Whatever you’re having,” I replied, leaning my elbows on the bar. She raised a brow, teasing already. “Ooh, you sure? I’m a tough cookie.”

  “So am I,” I smirked, flipping my hair as I sat down.

  Andrea chuckled softly then turned toward the bar to grab the drinks. As she moved away, the music thumped louder around me and the lights flickered across the room. That’s when Mark wandered over, his eyes lighting up the second he spotted me.

  “Well, well,” he said under his breath, clearly pleased. “You look…” he paused, his eyes slowly scanning me,“…so beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” I said kindly. He stepped a little closer, resting his hand lightly on the counter beside me. “So… you waiting for someone?” I smiled and gave a slow nod. He chuckled softly. “Well, that’s too bad then,” he said, not taking his eyes off me.

  “Yeah… too bad,” I murmured, my lips curling slightly. For a moment he just looked at me, like he was debating something. Then his gaze dipped to my lips before meeting my eyes again. “Tomorrow?

  I leaned in slightly and whispered, “Tomorrow sounds great,” before giving him a playful peck on the cheek. He froze for half a second, clearly not expecting that, then broke into a wide grin.

  “Tomorrow it is,” he said, backing away. He grinned and walked off.

  I watched him disappear into the crowd, shaking my head a little.

  I don’t know what he takes me for, but whatever it is, I’m totally willing to entertain him with it.

  A moment later Andrea returned with the drinks, sliding one toward me.

  “What did I miss?” she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.

  “Nothing,” I said innocently, lifting the glass.She stared at me for a second longer before smirking. “Mm. I don’t believe you.”

  The evening rolled on from there… music loud, lights flickering, and laughter bouncing off every wall.

  We had fun.

  Real fun.

  The next day… 3 a.m.

  The academy looked dead at that hour. It was 3 a.m., freezing, and fog hung low over the courtyard like the place was trying to be dramatic. Most of the buildings were dark, lights still off, like the rest of the school had the common sense to stay asleep.

  Unfortunately, we didn’t.

  Students were scattered across the training field looking half alive. Some were rubbing their eyes, some were shivering, and a few looked like they were seriously questioning their life choices right about now. Breath fogged out of our mouths into the cold air. Boots scraped the ground. Someone behind me yawned like they were about to collapse. Honestly, same.

  Then the yelling started.

  “THIS LIFE ISN’T EASY! IT’S A KILL OR BE KILLED TYPA LIFE!” Alexus bellowed, and I swear, the fog practically jumped at her.

  A few people flinched. Me included, but don’t tell anyone.

  Her voice carried across the whole training field, slapping off the old academy walls like it was personal. Even the sleepy ones sat up straighter, probably regretting their life choices.

  “But always remember, smart is greater than or equal to all.” A light wind whipped through the courtyard, tugging at her coat. She stood there like some terrifying morning alarm nobody asked for, smirk planted perfectly on her face.

  Her eyes slowly scanned the group, like she was measuring everyone and already picking who was doomed and who might survive.

  Somewhere to my left, someone muttered, “Why are we alive at three in the morning?”

  “Because she enjoys suffering,” came another voice. Honestly? Yeah, that sounded about right. The fog rolled around our feet, and Alexus just stood there, grinning like she’d already won some invisible game none of us knew we were playing. This was only the beginning.

  “So for today’s training, I’ve gathered some of the best students behind you all.” We all turned to look. Becky was among them. Just great.

  “You’ll have to circle the forest… as if your life depended on it. They’ll chase you. And if needed… they will injure you,” Alexus said flatly, eyes scanning the group.

  Andrea raised her hand.“Yes?” Alexus nodded. “Pardon me, Alexus, but can we give them a run for their own medicine?” Andrea asked with a grin, clearly already buzzing with excitement.

  “Of course. Fight back. Do everything in your power to get away, the same way they’ll do everything in their power to stop you. Keep in mind, you’re all going to be blinded. Ash will cast a spell on you.”

  A girl piped up, “Just us or those guys too?”

  “Just you,” Alexus responded, without even blinking. Grumbling rippled through the group. “That’s not fair…” someone muttered.

  “LIFE ISN’T FAIR!” Alexus snapped, voice sharp enough to make me flinch. “One day, it’ll be you against the world’s most dangerous creature. It won’t care about your age, or if you’re single, or if your mascara’s smudged! If it wants you, it wants you. So quit the nagging.”

  She straightened, and somehow looked even taller than usual. “Your wise men should’ve prepped you yesterday. No excuses. Line up. Ash, you’re up.”

  I couldn’t help but glance at Becky, who was smirking like she already knew she was going to make us all miserable. She really thinks she runs this show…too bad, there’s a new queen in town… her majesty me.

  Andrea elbowed me lightly. “Ready for a little chaos?” she whispered, eyes sparkling. “Yeah,” I muttered, trying to sound calm. My stomach, however, had other ideas.

  The forest loomed behind us, dark and silent as Ash spread her arms and began chanting, her hands swirling through the air with rhythm and power. I could feel her energy, pulsing, sharp, ancient.

  “IYAZIKIYAZ!” she shouted.

  In an instant, we all went blind.

  “Good. It’s done. Now… RUN!”

  Alexus gave the green light and chaos broke loose.

  We ran, Branches whipped past, leaves slapped my face, and I sprinted without really knowing where I was going. Screams and yelps echoed through the trees, mixed with the pounding of boots and claws tearing through brush..

  I could hear Becky already catching up to people and hurting them. Screams, yelps, the pounding of footsteps through brush.

  Like Donavon said, focus on the wind…

  A vampire came at me fast. I ran my arse off, but he was quicker. He caught up, grabbed me, and slammed me against a banyan tree.

  “Oh my… a pretty one,” he smirked.

  But he underestimated me. I twisted us around, pinning him against the bark.

  “Oh my… a weak one,” I said, smirking.

  Swiftly I lifted him up, tied him in the hanging roots by his ankles, his head dangling down. Then I snapped off a thick branch and stabbed it deep into his thigh. He screamed in agony as I stormed off.

  Eventually, I caught up to Annelly, Andrea, and, “Wait! Ace?” I gasped.

  “We’re as surprised as you, cherry!” Andrea yelled.

  “SMART EQUALS ALL!” Ace shouted like a man on fire as we sprinted, running with the wind. But Annelly was struggling, after all, she’s a banshee. Speed wasn’t exactly her strongest suit. Her steps faltered, as she tried to push forward.

  “Annelly? Need help?” I called out. She was gasping. “I’m… I’m,” but her words were lost in the pounding of our footsteps and the snap of branches under our boots. Before she could finish, she collapsed, hitting the ground hard. A muffled groan escaped her lips, and I barely managed to catch her before she fell flat.

  “Shit,” Andrea cursed and stopped. So did we all.

  Tracking her heartbeat and scent, we found her limp body.

  “She’s out cold,” Ace confirmed.

  I glanced back toward the woods.

  “Becky is coming,” I whispered.

  “Oh, blimey! I swear I can’t stand that woman,” Andrea groaned.

  “The hexagon?” Ace asked.

  “Yes, the hexagon. And she’s coming in fast. We need a plan.”

  I wanted to signal Andrea, but I didn’t know how without letting Ace find out I’m the Tricagon.

  “Yes,” Andrea’s voice echoed inside my head.

  My eyes widened, though no sigh.

  “Guys, let’s come up with a plan,” Ace said, buying us time.

  “Aliana? I felt you wanted to communicate, tell me.” Andrea’s voice echoed again in my mind.

  Whoa… um, okay, here’s the plan.

  I explained it all silently, There were three paths to the school grounds. We’d each take one. I’d spread my scent across all of them, that would confuse Becky.

  “But you don’t know how magic works yet,” Andrea worried.

  “I do. I saw Ash doing it… and I connected to her.”

  She nodded.

  We gave Ace a half-truth, just enough to get his help, but not enough to risk Becky intercepting. Andrea carefully lifted Annelly onto her back. Then she and Ace vanished down their paths.

  Becky’s presence loomed, she was close. Really close.

  I took a deep breath and shut my eyes. I reached inside, focused on the wind, the leaves, the energy pulsing through the earth. I summoned a wave of scent from myself and sent it flowing across all three paths.

  Then I bolted.

  Becky arrived at the three-way junction and paused, clearly confused. “How is this possible?” she muttered, fuming.

  One path held a far stronger scent than the others, thanks to Andrea and Annelly’s overlapping trails. So she darted off after the wrong trail.

  We reached the school grounds before her, breathless, torn clothes but safe.

  And the moment our feet touched the campus dirt…Our vision returned.

  The entire school stood waiting for us, and as we arrived, they erupted into cheers. Donavon looked genuinely shocked that I made it.

  Alexus, on the other hand, looked impressed. She approached us slowly, eyes sharp but smiling.

  “Congratulations, students…” she began, then noticed Annelly. “The four of you have done great today.”

  Becky scoffed, grabbing a bottle of water and shooting daggers at us with her eyes.

  “I don’t know how Alexus, I’m sure I had them” she said, glaring at me. “Smart is greater than or equal to all Becky, have you learned nothing” I said, proudly, glaring right back at her. Alexus grinned. “Exactly,” she replied.

  She turned to address the rest of the crowd. “The rest of you, learn something from this. You four are dismissed. See you in gym.”

  She walked off without another word.

  Andrea handed Annelly over to her wise man, and as she did, Emily came rushing over, throwing her arms around her. “I’m so, so, so proud of you!” she squealed.

  “Aliana… lil’ bit of aid?” Andrea’s voice rang in my head.

  I smiled walking off. “Nope.”

  Donavon walked over, face unreadable, his usual flawless facade. I smiled up at him, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “So… you were listening,” he said. “A little,” I replied.

  “Well done.”

  And with that, he turned and walked away. Becky brushed past me, her voice low and bitter. “You got lucky this time.”

  Then she disappeared into the crowd, luck? Nah, it wasn’t luck… I’m damn special woman!

  Ash walked up next, still looking confused. “Aliana, right?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Ash?”

  She nodded slowly. “Your scent… came from three directions. I’m guessing that’s what misled Becky?”

  “Yeah,” I confirmed with a short nod. “That was awesome. And what’s really impressive is… none of you are witches. None of you have abilities tied to that kind of magic. So how’d you guys pull it off?”

  I just shrugged and turned to walk away. She kept her eyes on me as I left, curiosity burning in her gaze. “It’s one of them,” she murmured to herself.

  History class…

  “Okay, for those of you who don’t know me, I’m Prof. Thaddeus Crowe, prof Thad and I’ll be teaching you history. Any questions?” he asked.

  Nobody said a word.

  “Great! Let’s start… so where would you guys like to begin?”

  “The Decagon!” some boy shouted. Prof smiled. “The Decagon, eh? Okay…”

  He leaned against his desk with a glint in his eye. “The Decagon goes by the name Prince Ali Zaid-Dio Diamandis Forbes, but now he just goes by Ali Forbes. Ali is known to be the strongest creature alive. He possesses powers at levels that shouldn’t even exist. It’s both incredible and unrealistic…

  Ali is originally king of a planet called Oath, the birthplace of all shapes, Jereda’s planet. Legend has it that the planet’s still out there, and life continues on it… but some argue that if it truly existed, Apollo would’ve gone back there instead of staying here.”

  “Well sir, if Oath exists, then Apollo can’t get in,” said a nerdy boy with big round glasses. “He took the wrong path when he got his powers, deceit and black magic. That’s why he was cast out. So it might still be there.”

  I was all ears, totally into this.

  Prof nodded, impressed. “Smart way of thinking. But if Apollo could gain powers and become something he was never meant to be, a shape, then I think he’s capable of finding a way back into Oath, too. Still, he’s more like a shadow now. If Ali ever spots him… he’s good as dead.”

  They kept talking about my dad, how he’s a warrior and all that. It was nice to hear.

  “Well… I don’t think he’s gonna stay a shadow for long,” the same boy added. “I feel like he’s plotting something. Something big. It doesn’t make sense that he’s hiding.”

  Prof raised a brow. “What’s your name, boy?” Everyone turned to look at him, and he looked like he was about to combust from anxiety.

  “Um… Adam,” he stuttered, adjusting his glasses nervously.

  “Adam,” Prof repeated, smiling. “I like your way of thinking. So, what do you think Apollo is up to?”

  “Ah… I’m not sure yet,” he mumbled. Prof nodded. “Right, I won’t pry today. Okay then, I’ll see you all tomorrow. There’s homework on the board, check it out and get it done.”

  He dismissed us.

  After what felt like forever, classes were finally over. Annelly had regained consciousness, and we sat in the hall for lunch.

  “That Adam boy is onto something,” Annelly said. “Yeah, he is,” I agreed, glancing in his direction. “He might be of some help… perhaps.”

  “Ah, I’d love to pass, ladies,” Andrea grumbled, sipping her drink. “I’ve acquainted and associated myself with plenty of nerds already. I can’t handle more. It’s simply torture.”

  She gave him a dramatic once-over. “And judging by the way he’s dressed, turtleneck, chunky jersey on top, high-waisted pants, oversized glasses, and that messy, overgrown hair with bangs falling into his eyes?” She sighed. “He’s giving full-on proper nerd. A total cliché.”

  I laughed and playfully hit her hand. “Hey! I’m offended.”

  “Ah, nah, you’re a bombshell, luv,” she said. “Unfortunately, for some other individuals… not so much.” I burst out laughing. Annelly rolled her eyes, clearly used to Andrea’s bullying.

  Just then, Ace joined us. “We were incredible today! But I’m still confused about how you guys came up with that plan.” While they kept chatting, I got up and made my way to the table where Adam sat, alone, surrounded by books. He was actually kind of cute… if only he didn’t dress so tragically, he makes fashion look, painful.

  I smiled and sat across from him. “Adam,” I said. He looked up from his book. Silent. Nervous. Definitely a guy who’s never sat this close to a girl, at least not one outside his family.

  “Hey,” I said kindly, still smiling. “H-Hello,” he replied.

  “I’m Aliana. Um… about what you said in class today, on Apollo. What do you think he’s trying to get at?”

  He blinked. “Oh… well, if Apollo is plotting, which I believe he is, then he’s aiming for someone who’s more powerful than Ali.”

  “But there’s no one more powerful than a Decagon… if I’m not mistaken,” I said. Of course there is, me. But I needed to know if this guy knew about me like Annelly did.

  “That’s what the world believes,” he said, pushing his glasses up. “But I beg to differ. I believe there’s another. Ali and Eliana’s offspring. I mean… they’ve got to have one.”

  “Whaaaat?” I scoffed, trying to sound casual. “That’s crazy talk.”

  He shook his head. “Not exactly. Come to my dorm tonight. I want to show you something. And since your name starts with an ‘A’… you’ll definitely want to hear this.”

  I smiled wide. “Okay… dorm number?”

  “J-55. Come before seven.”

  I nodded and stood to leave, but before I could go, he reached out and held my hand. I looked down at it. He instantly let go.

  “Don’t tell anyone what I just told you. Please. It’s not safe here,” he whispered. I frowned slightly, a little creeped out, and returned to the table.

  “What did he say?” Annelly asked. “Nothing much. I’ll fill you guys in later,” I said. They nodded, understanding my caution.

  Then I felt it. A stare. I turned to look, Ash, sitting far in a corner, eyes fixed on us. “Man, this place is starting to get creepy,” I muttered.

  “You feel her stare too?” Andrea asked. I nodded.

  “Me too,” Annelly added. “Definitely,” Annelly added again.

  “She probably wants to know how we made it out of the forest,” I sighed. Something was going on. I didn’t know what… but something told me Adam knew part of it. And now more than ever, I needed to unlock all my abilities.

  After lunch, we all headed back to our dorms to freshen up.

  I walked up to my dorm door, and just as I reached for the handle, I heard Donavon speaking on the phone.

  I couldn’t make out the words, but I could feel the tension. His voice was calm, low, but underneath, there was anger, boiling just beneath the surface. The person on the other end wasn’t holding back though. They were yelling, something about time running out and how he had to find her. Then the call cut off.

  I opened the door and stepped in.

  “You know… last night when I came here, there was Becky’s scent,” I said, arms crossed. “Did you sleep with her?”

  He didn’t even flinch.

  “I don’t owe you any explanations, Aliana,” he said flatly, tossing his phone onto his bed. “Change so we can train.”

  Wow. So now he’s acting all cold? Why is this man always so serious with me? Couldn’t he tell, hell, couldn’t he smell, how much I wanted him?

  Ugh. That bully Becky slept with my babyyy. That pissed me off.

  “Why are you grumpy all of a sudden?” I asked, rolling my eyes. “I’m not grumpy. I just want you to be aware of your limits.”

  I walked over to him, softening my tone. “I’m sorry,” I said gently, trying to meet his eyes, but he looked away.

  I bit my lip. Why was he like this sometimes? Distant. Guarded. It was about time I stopped ignoring it and started investigating.

  “It’s okay,” he finally said. “Just go change.”

  Then, he pulled off his shirt. My brain shut off, as always.

  He turned to his wardrobe, casually looking for something, like he hadn’t just hit me with his whole Greek god-level back. It was… beautiful. I don’t know how, but it was stupidly attractive. Like, illegal levels of hot.

  He paused, sensing my stare. Then he turned to look at me, frowning, of course. Slowly, he started walking my way.

  Yes. Yes. Walk to me, baby, I thought. And then he walked right past me… and opened the wardrobe behind me.

  I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly fell over, then stormed into my room. I threw myself face-first onto the bed and screamed into my pillow.

  Next thing I knew, I’d accidentally drifted off.

  Donavon came into my room and saw me asleep. He sighed.

  “Aliana,” he called softly. “Aliana, wake up.”

  He gently stroked my hand, and instinctively, I grabbed it, and in a flash, I tossed him onto the bed. He landed on his back, panting, confused as hell.

  My hands flew to my mouth. “What the hell!” he shouted.

  “I’m so sorry!” I squeaked. He sat up, his brows furrowed hard. “Why are you sleeping? Are you sick?”

  “Um… yeah,” I said quickly, nodding. “Totally.”

  “Really?” He took a step closer, eyeing me suspiciously. “Yeah! So, so sick… I can’t even see,” I said, flailing a little for effect.

  “You do know I can hear your heartbeat, right?” he deadpanned.

  “...”

  “Get dressed. We’re training,” he said, turning to leave. “And don’t go back to sleep again!” he added from the hallway.

  “I hate my life!!!!!!!” I yelled into my pillow.

  After I got changed, we made our way to the training room. Since I couldn’t fully unlock my abilities in front of him, I was giving him a hard time, on purpose, obviously. But I was learning new stunts and moves, and to be honest, the only thing I liked was how close he kept getting. The way he’d touch my waist to correct my posture, or adjust my stance… I wasn’t complaining. I even purposely messed up sometimes, just so he could touch me again, don’t judge me.

  We moved from stunts to self-defense to throwing punches. Then we headed to the archery center, where I learned how to use a bow and arrows, and I’m actually pretty good at it. I mean, sure, I accidentally shot one of the instructors in the butt… but hey, nobody's perfect.

  After archery, we went to the shooting ranch. It was a bit of a drive from school but still within the surrounding grounds, so we drove there.

  As Donavon was helping me into my protective gear, Becky decided to show up.

  “Hey, baby,” she greeted him with that fake, angelic smile, like she wasn’t the devil’s stepdaughter. LOL.

  “Hey, Becks,” he replied.

  I tied my hair into a messy ponytail, threw on my goggles, and slid on the headset. “I’m ready,” I said to Donavon, ignoring the blonde succubus hovering nearby.

  “Okay, Becks, see you around,” he told her.

  “Do you have somewhere to be right now?” she asked with a sugary tone.

  Donavon frowned.

  “Oh,” she said, turning to me with a sneer, “I didn’t see your dog over there.”

  Then she had the audacity to just walk away.

  Ohhh no, sweetheart. You don’t get to insult me and walk off like that.

  I spotted a stone on the ground, picked it up, and launched it at her. It hit her square in the back. “Oops! Didn’t see you there. Thought we were playing fetch,” I said sweetly.

  She spun around, fuming, and was about to charge at me when Donavon stepped in between us.

  “You better keep it on a leash, Don, or I swear,” she growled before storming off.

  “What was all that for?” he asked, turning to me. I scoffed. “Wow, really? She calls me a dog and I was just supposed to what? Bark and lick her face?”

  His jaw tightened. “No, but you didn’t need to throw a stone at her either!”

  I laughed in disbelief, biting my lip. “You’re unbelievable. She insulted me and you just stood there. Oh, let me guess, is it because you two still bang each other?”

  His eyes darkened. “Don’t cross your limits, Aliana.”

  “No, you don’t cross yours, Donavon,” I snapped.

  “I don’t know about you, but where I’m from, being called a dog is a big insult. Especially when it’s coming from a bully like her. If you’re not going to defend me, then don’t you dare stop me from defending myself.”

  With that, I ripped off the headset and tossed it on the ground and walked off.

  “Aliana!” he called.

  But I didn’t stop. Oh no, I walked away. And not just any walk.

  It was THE walk.

  Confidence. Sass. Power. Head held high. A full runway strut fueled by rage and hot girl energy…

  :)