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Chapter 159
~Valerie’s POV~
My eyes went wide as several gasps echoed around . Whispers turned to silence, and even the air paused.
"What?" Gasped followed, and Titania blinked.
"And mine. She is my precious mate," Kai added in a firm voice, stepping to my other side, clenching his fist as all the guys surrounded , blocking our classmates from advancing.
"Mine too," Xade stated coldly, glaring down at every girl who dared speak against .
"She’s my mate as well," Axel growled, stepping forward, the edge in his voice sharper than steel.
Ash ca next. "And ours. Bound by fate," he said, flanked by Ace, whose crimson eyes were lit like fire.
"She belongs to us," Ace declared, softer, but the weight of his voice silenced everyone.
Titania’s mouth opened... and stayed that way. She fell to her knees, unable to process the truth she’d just heard. "No.... no way. I... I should have known."
Brielle let out a tiny choking sound.
"Valerie Nightshade is mated to us all, blessed by the moon goddess," Dristan declared. "And I swear, henceforth, disrespecting her is an equal disrespect to us all. And let it be known that I intend to find the culprits who slandered my mate."
Kai continued, his voice rising, "whoever slandered her na—online or in person—will face the full wrath of the Heirs of PSA."
"There will be no escape," Axel added, his fists clenched. "We will press charges," he stated, his eyes trained on a few cowering students near the back.
"And I’ll enjoy punishing every last one of you," Xade declared, his voice low and lethal.
"To the point you’d wish you were never born," Ace completed as his eyes glinted evilly.
"Because, Valerie Nightshade is ours and not a whore," Ash chid to let everyone know.
Astra practically preened in my head.
But ... I stood there, heart thudding wildly, surrounded by six blazing auras, and every single eye now trained on like I was the moon itself.
I did the only thing I could think of. I turned and ran.
But then, the world around blurred.
I wasn’t crying, but I wasn’t breathing either. I had to get away before I broke in front of everyone.
But I didn’t get far because a hand gripped my wrist gently but firmly.
I looked up to see Xander staring at .
He hadn’t spoken and hadn’t stepped in earlier. But now, as the storm behind still rolled in growls and murmurs, he stepped forward and blocked my path.
"Valerie."
My na from his lips was a whisper and a thunderclap.
I froze because sothing inside clicked, and all I wanted to do was stay protected in his arms or evade him and run too.
While my mind still processed what was happening, Dristan was there in a breath’s air. His arms wrapped around my waist. He didn’t give ti to run again as his fingers slid up my side, then cradled my head, lifting up my face to look at him.
"You all want a show?" Dristan muttered. I swallowed, unsure of what he wanted to do, and then he kissed .
Right there. In front of everyone.
His mouth crashed into mine—hungry, possessive, desperate. My body jolted like a live wire.
The noise faded. My heartbeat roared in my ears, and for a second, I forgot the stares.
Then he pulled back, barely an inch, his breath warm against my lips.
"I love you," he said with a softness that far superseded anything I had ever known and just as certain, like he’d known it all along.
My lips tingled. My heart rattled in its cage. He looked at like I was his anchor—like the storm inside him would settle if I just said sothing.
But I didn’t.
Not because I didn’t feel it.
But because everything was too much—the crowd, the eyes, the weight of being kissed like a prize, right after being treated like a scandal.
"Dristan..." I whispered. "This isn’t how I want it."
He blinked, and a flicker of pain appeared in his eyes, but he nodded. "I don’t plan on giving you up either."
I didn’t even have ti to respond before Kai stepped forward and Drsitan stepped aside, letting Kai take his place.
Kai brushed a strand of hair behind my ear as his other hand reached for mine. I didn’t pull away, but I noticed a flicker of hesitation or a nervous glance in his face.
His fingers lingered, gently, as his eyes searched mine.
Kai was brave, feisty, naughty, loving, caring, and possessive, but he still looked all too... adorable.
"You’re mine," he whispered, "my heartbeat, Val..." his voice was softer than the wind. "Do you believe , Val...?"
I barely nodded—
"Oh goddess, does she let all of them say that?" soone muttered off to the side.
My stomach tightened. The mont cracked. I should’ve turned away, but I didn’t. I leaned in anyway, chasing a second of calm inside the storm.
Instead, I looked at Kai, really looked. Kai wasn’t pushing. He was asking. I exhaled, my fingers tightening slightly around his. "Yes," I breathed.
And when he leaned in, I t him halfway.
His kiss was softer, but no less real. There were no sparks this ti—there was steady heat and want grounding to him. And I let myself have it—just for a second.
"She’s seriously kissing another one?" soone hissed, not even trying to whisper.
My cheeks flad. The air thickened, and suddenly, I wasn’t just kissing him. I was on display. Judged, picked apart.
I stepped back, breathless, and before I could speak—
"I told you, she’s playing them all," Brielle’s hushed voice spat from the sidelines.
My heart thudded louder than before—not from the kiss.
I turned toward her, but Xade stepped between us. His growl shut the rest of the field up. But the damage had already threaded through my skin.
Xade’s voice followed next, pulling toward him. "Ignore trash talks," he smiled. "I’ve been aching for this mont, Val... I need to know what your lips feel like when you’re not confused."
"Xade..."
Astra purred in my mind, happily encouraging to kiss him.
"Kiss him," Astra humd, claws curling in my chest. "You know you want to."
"However, not here. Not like this. I’ll wait until it’s real, just between you and , it’ll feel like a dream."
Xade’s lips brushed over mine, ignoring everyone’s stares. I was beginning to lt, my heart, Asta. The matebond was starting to take effect, and I found myself leaning in and wanting them.
"Why now?"
Ash’s hand caught mine. "You didn’t think you’d escape us, did you?"
And Ace, ever gentle and cute, took the other side. "I want you too, mi amore," he said softly, eyes full of fire.
"And don’t think of leaving out, sweetheart," Axel voiced...
My head swooned, and I tried to pull away. I couldn’t kiss all of them out here. That would only make the rumours look true, but the noise around us returned.
Sowhere, I heard soone mutter, "Of course she lets them all kiss her..."
My face burned. The whispers. The eyes. The heat in my chest was turning to ash.
"Enough," I said sharply, raising my chin before Axel could take another step.
"Val—" he started.
"No," I cut in. "You don’t all get to decide for now." A breathless silence settled, the kind that cos after a slap.
I stepped back, brushing a stray curl behind my ear. "If you want , an it. But I won’t be kissed just to prove a point and not in front of your wannabe fans."
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