**************
Chapter 173
~Valerie’s POV~
My thoughts drifted to the day of the scandal and how one of the girls had yanked at my hair during training the other day, when the scandal was at its peak, was a risk I did not wish to take next ti.
So days, I did weak sewing or stitches to hold my hair in place tightly.
I sighed and leaned against the cold tile wall, letting the water run over . It washed down my face, neck, and shoulders, soaking my hair.
It should’ve felt peaceful. Cleansing. But I felt the weight instead.
Like all the things I never said were clinging to the edges of every drop.
I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, trying to ground myself.
The truth was, I missed Solstice, sneaking into my room at night and sharing a bed with when she felt alone or got scared of a thunderstorm.
How ironic that her favourite and only brother bore Storm.
I missed her loud laugh and annoying plans. I missed the way she always knew what I was about to say before I said it.
I sighed for the umpteenth ti. You have so much to do, Valerie.
For one, I needed to figure out that scroll Ash and I found in the library and why it reacted with my necklace.
Also, leave school with Solstice twice, once for Blue Willow and the other for the dye. And then focus on getting into Nightshade Thorn.
No more distractions or boys. No more blue eyes and broken confessions.
I turned off the shower and stood still for a mont, listening to the last few drops drip from the nozzle. Then I stepped out, grabbed my towel, and wrapped it tightly around myself.
My feet moved on autopilot back into the room. I paused by the vanity to do my facial routine when my eyes caught sight of the scroll.
My fingertips ran over the edge of the scroll tucked beneath my books, and then glanced at the mirror again.
I was tempted to pick it up and do so digging again but decided against it.
Tonight was for my brain to take a break.
I reached for my phone from the desk when the screen lit up with another ssage.
Storm:You may be a big sis to Solstice, but she is my sister, too. Always rember we need to do what’s best for her.
I tossed the phone onto my bed and rolled my eyes. Like I said, overprotective.
"And she’s my best friend, Storm," I muttered to myself as I applied my facial cleanser. "Her well-being is my top priority."
****************
~Titania’s POV~
The room was too quiet except for the sound of my pacing feet.
My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor of my dorm, each step harder than the last. The velvet curtains had been drawn, the lights dimd, but I felt no peace in the shadows.
None.
"Disgraceful," I hissed under my breath. "Humiliating. Mortifying!"
My magic trembled beneath my skin, barely contained. My hands clenched and unclenched, the air around pulsing with fury as a red aura seeped out from my body.
I should’ve been the one crowned with attention. I should’ve been praised. Adored. Not shoved to the bottom of every damn gossip thread while she—that mangy, moon-blessed mutt—walked around like so tragic heroine.
Valerie bloody Nightshade.
"I’ll kill her," I growled. "I swear I will pluck her na out of every mouth and burn it from every book in this academy if it’s the last thing I do."
A nervous shift sounded from the corner of the room. I turned sharply.
Marianne stood there, stiff as a pole.
"Marianne..." My voice was soft now, like velvet laced with poison. "You said you could help."
She swallowed and straightening quickly. "I—I did."
I arched a brow, slowly approaching her like a predator circling a wounded deer.
"Yet..." I drawled, "Do you call this helping?" I spat, gesturing wildly. "Do you call being sabotaged in front of the entire school—exposed—mocked—helping?!"
"I had no idea it would backfire," she said quickly, shrinking slightly. "She—she assured that the video wouldn’t be traced. That the whispers would stick and people would hate Valerie, including the alphas, and you’ll co out on top—"
"Silence!" I thundered. "Oh, I ca out on top alright, just in the worst way."
Marianne flinched. For the first ti, the bravado she always wore like a second skin cracked. Her chin dipped slightly as she looked up at , afraid to et my eyes.
My lips curled in disdain.
"You want to ride in my shadow, you want power, yes?" I asked, voice dropping low again. "Then prove your worth. Because if you can’t fix this, I will cut you from the equation and move on with my plans without you."
A tense silence followed.
Then Marianne’s mouth opened slowly. "There... there are other ways," she offered. "We could craft sothing else. Maybe... a fake love letter. Sothing from Valerie. We hack into her phone. Plant it. Send it to soone dangerous."
I narrowed my eyes, intrigued despite myself. "Go on."
Marianne’s eyes lit with new life. "How about Kieran Killian?" My mood soured imdiately. "No... better still, to the Vice President of the Student Council—Riven Alucard."
Now that got my attention.
"Riven..." I murmured. A slow, wicked smile crept across my lips. "Now that would be... delicious."
"They say he’s cold. Distant. Untouchable. It would spark every kind of rumour if Valerie were suddenly caught... ssaging him. Even more if we could arrange a et-up."
"Where her mates could catch her," I finished for her, a dangerous glint in my eyes.
Marianne nodded eagerly. "Exactly. Imagine what it would do to her already-shaky image. Her alphas would explode. People would believe anything at this point. We just need the right timing. The right evidence."
A slow hum built in my throat. "This is good. Very good."
Marianne’s shoulders relaxed but I wasn’t done.
"There’s one more thing I need you to do for ," I said, turning away and walking toward the window.
"Anything, Princess."
I looked back over my shoulder, my voice sweet like dripping honey.
"Use your father’s connections. Dig deep into Valerie Nightshade’s past."
Reviews
All reviews (0)