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Chapter 102
~Valerie’s POV~
For so reason, I overheard girls discussing the new Alpha and how another new student was joining the sophomore class.
I also discovered he was taking all classes—elective, mandatory and core. But what surprised most was the fact that yesterday he barely showed up for all classes, but the burn of his eyes on my back was sothing else.
The notice board near the East Wing cafeteria had beco the unofficial battleground for announcents, event posters, and passive-aggressive notes about stolen potions.
This morning, it drew a crowd like moths to fla.
Astraea dragged forward, her grip tight on my wrist. "Co on! Move faster, Vee. There’s sothing new."
"I’m already regretting this," I muttered under my breath.
Isla was already standing at the front, arms crossed, lips pursed as she read aloud from the bold, red-lettered flyer pinned dead center.
BLOOD MOON MASQUERADE
Hosted by the Academy Student Council
The: Blood Moon
Masks Encouraged. Dress to Devour.
Location: Crescent Hall Ballroom
Ti: 8 p.m. till Moonset
Transport shuttles begin at 6.30 p.m.
Guest Perforrs. Open Magic Arena. Fireworks Finale.
At the bottom, in less elegant penmanship, soone had scribbled, Rumour has it the Alpha Kings are personally involved.
"Oh. My. Stars," Astraea gasped like she’d just been gifted a royal proposal. "This is going to be the party of the century!"
"I hope it involves fire-dancing fairies again," Erald said, her gaze glittering. "Last ti, one set a professor’s beard on fire. It was a masterpiece."
Isla turned to , beaming. "You have to co, Valerie. Especially if the Alphas are organizing it, that ans top-tier everything. Maybe even enchanted champagne, lol." She gave a wink.
I gave her a dry stare. "Pass. I don’t do fancy masks and magically enhanced hormones."
"But this could be fun," Isla nudged . "A little mystery, a little danger. Maybe even a dance or two. Co on, it’s practically tradition."
"I’ll think about it," I lied. I already knew where that thought was going—in a prison inside my mind.
Erald looped her arm around mine. "Nope. That’s code for ’yes, and I need a killer outfit.’ Let’s go shopping. Today."
I perked up at that. Shopping ant city access. City access ant detours. I’d been planning a stealthy return to the bar near Halebrook—a place I wasn’t supposed to step foot in again.
Perfect opportunity.
"Fine," I said boredly, trying to keep up my charade while hiding my insane delight at what I could do.
Finally, I will know more about the Emblem and no one could stop .
I was already picturing the dark alley behind the tavern’s back entrance.
They lifted their brows and I could tell they thought I was just delighted in shopping with the girls more, which wasn’t entirely a lie, but duh...
Classes went smoothly that day, and since evasiveness is my best technique, I did not have a kissing encounter today.
At the close of school, we got ready to leave after rushing back to our dorm to change.
"I’ll get myself there. You guys go ahead."
"Actually..." Isla looked sheepish. "I might’ve... already asked Dristan to drive us?"
I blinked. "You what?"
Astraea squealed. "He said yes! Well, eventually. After Isla told him you were coming." Astraea’s tone changed slightly, but I was too busy with what Isla had done to care.
My glare turned to Isla instantly.
She held up both hands. "In my defence, it worked."
"No," I said. "I’m still taking my cab."
Erald snorted as Astraea looked like she’d been personally betrayed. "You’d deprive us of a road trip with Dristan?"
"I’d deprive him of one with ," I corrected.
Before Isla could plead again, a deep voice cut across the courtyard.
"Fine."
Dristan stood a few steps away, car keys swinging in his hand. "If she won’t ride in my car, we’re not going in it. Let’s all hail a cab. Or better yet—public transport."
Astraea turned slowly, like a puppet string had been yanked. "Public what now?"
"I’m down," I said, far too cheerfully. "Public transport sounds amazing."
Erald burst into laughter while Isla groaned into her hands.
And Dristan, he just smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
I smirked inwardly. Let’s see him dodge his fangirls in that ss.
Truth be told, exactly that happened.
The mont we stepped off the transport shuttle in the city square, a small crowd had already ford—like vultures scenting royalty.
Dristan’s hood did little to hide the sharp lines of his face or the golden mark at the edge of his neck.
Girls whispered. One bold brunette even tried to pass him her number—on a levitating scroll.
Fae—I rolle dmy eyes and Astra growled in anger.
"Down girl."
"Valerie, he is ours."
"I don’t mind."
"Yeah, those words would co back to bite you, I tell you."
I shoved Astra to the back of my mind. anwhile, I slipped further down the aisle, found a quiet seat between a retired vampire couple and a grumpy cat shifter, and enjoyed the chaos from afar.
Dristan didn’t sit for the entire ride, though and I loved his despair.
The boutique Isla chose slled like roses and gold coins—sowhere between luxury and headache.
Glitter hung in the air like mist, and mannequins floated above us, rotating in shimring masks and gowns. It was all too much.
I kept to myself, pretending to browse, while just whiling away ti till the others were ready to go.
I figured I’d use that as an excuse to go shopping in a different store while convincing the girls to return.
After that, I simply take off to do my business.
That had been a perfect, foolproof plan until one of the attendants handed a dress.
Knee-length, backless, deep black with silver veins in the fabric like cracked obsidian, the neckline plunged low, and the straps were thin enough to disappear once worn. It looked dangerous, but it also looked perfect.
It also looked like soone had handpicked it.
"Who chose this?" I asked the girl.
She pointed toward the sitting area, where Dristan lounged like a king with too much ti. His smirk was already irritating, and his eyes locked with mine.
Without uttering any word to her, I marched straight over.
"You—"
He patted the space beside him. "Sit."
"I don’t take orders from—"
But his eyes narrowed just slightly, and I knew better than to finish my sentence.
"If you are going to speak to , do so like a civilised student and not like so junkie in search of drugs or a nagging mother or wife."
I sat—grudgingly.
"I’m not accepting this."
"At least you didn’t say you are not wearing it." Before I could retort, Dristan leaned in, his breath brushing my ear as he whispered, "If you don’t want telling your precious friends about our kiss—or the ones with Axel and Xade—you’ll take the dress. And wear it."
My blood turned to fire.
"You—were spying on ?"
"If you were doing such outside then it’s not called spying. You wanted the audience and i watched."
"Why you..." I gritted but Dristan didn’t answer. He just leaned back, smile still in place.
That infuriating, smug, punchable smile.
"Be wise, Nightshade," he said, standing like he hadn’t just blackmailed with a mouth full of velvet threat.
I stared at the dress.
Then cursed him under my breath a dozen different ways. And went to try it on bevause between him a devil and my friends, I wasn’t willing to give them that information just yet.
"Urgh."
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