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~Valerie's POV~
I sighed and nodded. "I had a bad dream. Axel was taking a walk when he sensed sothing through the bond. He just ca to check…"
Solstice raised a hand. "Cool. No one asked you to explain, guilty conscience."
I caught the small smile playing on her lips and my face heated. I had spoken too much.
I grabbed my towel and rushed into the bathroom before she could see the embarrassnt burning on my ears.
Of course, Solstice followed , leaning against the door fra with her arms crossed.
Seeing as I was late, I hurriedly put my toothpaste on my brush and brushed my teeth. Within a minute, I was done.
I turned the shower on, wetting my hair and body.
"Hey, Valerie," Solstice called in a suddenly too-soft tone, making turn off the shower to look at her. "Who's your best friend?"
I paused halfway through lathering my skin, then turned to face her. "You, obviously. Why?"
She shrugged one shoulder, eyes dropping. "Nothing. Just… seems like I'm not anymore. Like we've grown apart."
"That's nonsense," I muttered, rinsing off my arm.
"Is it?" Her voice sharpened. "Because for days now, you haven't told anything. Nothing. We used to be so close, closer than this."
"And we still are, darling."
"I know, but… You're my cousin. You're the girl I grew up with," she said more slowly now. "We share everything. And now it's like…" Her eyes glistened with frustration. "…like I'm looking at a stranger."
My chest tightened. Guilt stabbed sharp and deep.
I opened my mouth, but she stepped forward, foot stomping against the tile as those fierce eyes held down.
"Dealing with so much?" she snapped. "Sis, did you forget that you and I are one? We share pain, secrets, everything. We fix things together. How can you shoulder all of it alone?"
Her voice cracked at the end.
I bit my lower lip so hard I tasted blood. Solstice was right. And I hated how painfully right she was.
Solstice noticed the guilt in my expression, exhaled shakily, and looked away.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I didn't an to lash out at you. It's just… it's frustrating, you know Vi. Just like it was when you left for school and when Dad dragged back ho after he caught hiding in your school."
She huffed. "I hated being away from you. And now that I'm here… it feels like you're shutting out again."
I quickly washed my body with my sponge, rinsed the soap off in a hurry, then stepped out of the shower, water dripping down my skin.
Solstice instinctively looked away, but not before I caught the raw hurt still on her face.
"I'd hug you," I said softly, gesturing at my very naked, dripping, soapy body. "But, uh… You know."
That earned a tiny laugh.
I stepped closer, grabbed a towel around myself, and touched her arm lightly.
I knew I hadn't been fair to her or anyone while dealing with my shit, but this revenge was first mine before I roped her in.
How could I tell her about the dragon king and the fact that he knew about ?
How do I tell her, Xander knew who I was? Or that I was planning on telling my mates?"
I shut my eyes briefly, exhaled and then reopened them. "I love you, Solstice. You know that, right?"
Her throat bobbed. "Yeah. I love you too, Valerie, but please…" She t my eyes. "Talk to . Let help you with absolutely anything. We were a team. We still are, so please don't shut out. Be it Nightshade, Dad…"
I swallowed, and my voice ca out smaller than I expected.
"Including my powers?"
There was a long pause from both of us. Solstice looked like she knew exactly what she wanted to say, but at the sa ti, she had no idea.
I was about to turn towards my wardrobe and change my clothes when she spoke up. "Your power. What about it?"
"No, Solstice. Powers. I am not just the Southern heiress and wielder of the Earth elent. I inherited my dad's power and control over fire."
Her eyes widened like saucers. The truth might have upset her balance as she staggered back.
"No… you…" to say Solstice was confused was an understatent. She looked like this whole news changed everything. "...is that possible?"
"Aparently, youa re looking at a living proof. It is."
"Then what about Kai?"
"He is still the recognised heir and earth wielder. I just have double."
"Whoa. Valerie, this is huge. I bet Uncle and Storm do not know about this?"
"Considering they lied to and kept this a secret all these years, you bet I did not tell them."
"Good." She nodded, then stepped closer. "Valerie. I know things have been hard but, I am here for you. If it's too much, rember I am here. You do not have to do this on your own."
"True. Though after the whole nightshade's final mission, I just seed out of touch with everything, like I did not know who I was anymore."
"I do."
I blinked. Solstice had that look in her eyes that showed she was always sure of everything, even in tis when she wasn't or she was scared.
It was a silent gift she had that she had no idea she did.
"You are," she lowered her voice so much that even if soone was in the room with us, they wouldn't hear it, "Violet, Valerie, Sapphire Snow, daughter of Alpha King Snow and Luna Zara Zephyr, granddaughter of the Grand Alpha Storm and Luna Star. As well as the Alpha King and his Queen Gold."
I smiled when she called my grandparents' nas.
"Your lineage is special. You are special as such, you have beco an earth and fire elentalist, heir to the Southern Alpha Throne."
"Solstice…"
"No, do you need another representation of who you are or just why the Moon Goddess would favour you?"
I lowered my head. Honestly, I did not know. I didn't even know why I was special or why I had so many mates. Surely, there must be a reason, right?
"You are you, funny, naughty, vicious, strong, determined, and the best friend and sister a girl could ask for."
"Thank you, Solstice. It ans a lot."
Solstice pulled her hands from mine and gently cupped my cheek like an adult would to a child. "For you, I'd move mountains, sis. So, before we start with that, let's get you ready for school and then later you can empty your heart."
"Sure."
************
By the ti we arrived at school, the hallway was already buzzing. Solstice and Isla elbowed , gesturing towards the notice board before I got the chance to slip away.
"Girls, we'll be late for Prof. Draven's class before we make it through that crowd to get to the notice board," I explained, hoping they'd look away but they did not budge.
Erald held my hand and shook her head. "There's no escape. Just co and get it over with."
I wasn't scared I wouldn't make the list, but I did not want to see Serena's na on that list either.
"Co, I'll clear the path." Isla pushed.
Successfully, she wiggled our way through until we ca face-to-face with the board.
My eyes imdiately started scanning the nas from down… and just when I was nearing the first two nas of the loser's list, Isla's voice pulled out of my train of thought.
"Serena Dominic…" I froze, my eyes darting to her first, rather than the notice board. "She… she…"
"She failed," Solstice finished for Isla.
My eyes went wide.
My gaze finally snapped to the top of the list. There—bold, clean, unmistakable…
Valerie Nightshade Isla Storm
My heart skipped. Isla squealed and practically threw herself at , while Solstice grinned like she'd known it all along. Relief washed over , warm and steady, tugging a real smile out of for the first ti all morning.
"No Serena…" Isla whispered, still stunned.
"No, Serena," I repeated, tasting victory on my tongue.
We didn't linger by the notice boards anymore. The hallway was filling too quickly, and Prof. Draven was not the type to accept excuses, not even from finalists.
As we hurried toward class, a strange thrill buzzed through . For once… sothing was going right. I wasn't about to ruin that montum. Not today.
Before we stepped into the lecture hall, I pulled out my phone, thumb hovering only a second before I typed:
: Hey, good morning. Trust you are good.
I exhaled as my mind went over how to type the ssage.
: Can we et after school? All of you. There's sothing important I need to talk about.
I hit send before fear could talk out of it.
Today, I would stop running.
Isla's voice pulled out of my thoughts. "Hey Val, let's go."
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