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"Welcome back to the land of the living."

Those were the first words Violet heard as her eyes fluttered open. The familiar voice belonged to Adele, the ever-sarcastic healer who seemed to enjoy finding humor in Violet’s misfortunes.

"Where am I?" Violet groaned, her head pounding as her vision adjusted. She instinctively reached for the back of her head, wincing slightly at the residual pain.

"Did you also hit your brain in the fight?

" Adele quipped, her tone laced with dry humor. "Where do you think you are? If not the infirmary, or did you imagine I’d be treating you in the dormitory like last time? Do you know how expensive it is to hire me for home service? Girl, I’m a healer, and there are literally less than ten of my kind in the entire world. " She boasted.

Violet rolled her eyes and shot back, "And yet you choose to extend your honored services to a school full of angry and horny teenagers?"

Adele let out a laugh, unfazed by the jab.

"Ha! Nice one, Violet. But for your information, it was the Alpha King’s order.

He wanted me here to keep an eye on the cardinal alphas.

He wouldn’t want anything to happen to his heirs.

As we all know, he’s... well, let’s just say the throne can’t be left vacant anytime soon. "

Violet raised a brow, studying Adele. "So, in one word, you’re his spy?"

Adele froze mid-movement, her hand hovering just above Violet’s head. She let out a heavy sigh. "Sometimes I can’t decide if I hate you or love you," she muttered.

Violet smirked. "So, have you reported me to him as well?"

Adele rolled her eyes. "You give yourself far too much credit. You think the Alpha King cares about every girl that crosses paths with his heirs? Please. I’ve already told you who they’ll end up with in the end, and neither you nor Asher can change that."

She placed her glowing green hand on Violet’s head, the healing energy seeping in.

When the light receded, she nodded. "You’re perfectly healthy.

However, try to stay out of trouble this time.

I’m really getting tired of seeing your face here.

And you might not always have Alaric dragging you here.

I already told you, stay away from the hospital. "

"You think I did this on purpose to gain access into the hospital?" Violet was annoyed with her assumption.

"Weather you did it on purpose or not, you should be conscious of situations that would land you there! Fighting Asher was a stupid decision."

"I didn’t choose to fight him!" Violet snapped. "Asher picked me to humiliate me in front of everyone. What was I supposed to do? Roll over and let him do whatever he wanted?"

Adele pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something under her breath before responding. "I shouldn’t have agreed to keep an eye on you. You’re too much trouble."

Violet’s eyes widened. "Wait. Someone asked you to keep an eye on me? Who? Who asked you?"

Adele gave her a pointed look, unimpressed by her curiosity. "Who else? The one obsessed with your existence."

Violet’s heart skipped a beat. "Asher?" she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and irritation. "But... why would he—?"

Adele cut her off with a scoff. "You two are toxic for each other. But you know what? Do whatever you both want. I’m done playing referee."

Before Violet could press her further, Adele waved her off. "You’re good to go whenever you’re ready," she said dismissively, turning away.

Unbeknownst to Violet, Adele pulled out from her pocket the syringe of blood she had taken from Violet while she was unconscious. There was something strange about that girl and she intended to find out.

Left alone, Violet sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts spinning. Asher asked Adele to keep an eye on her? Was it out of genuine concern? Or was it just another way for him to maintain control?

Violet fell back onto the bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling as if it had all the answers she sought.

Almost immediately, the white curtain giving her privacy was pushed aside with a sharp snap, startling Violet out of her thoughts. She looked up, her heart nearly stopping when she recognized the figure standing in front of her.

Asher Fucking Nightshade.

For a moment, Violet forgot how to breathe.

Her gaze locked onto his, the tension in the air thick and suffocating.

Asher’s sharp features were as unreadable as ever, but his eyes burned with something she couldn’t decipher.

He wasn’t wearing his usual glasses, and there was a small bandage across the bridge of his nose.

Please don’t tell me I broke his nose, Violet thought, shuddering at the realization. She was alone with him in a confined space, and he had every opportunity to make her pay. Her heart thundered in her chest as she watched him step closer, each measured stride bringing him nearer.

"Asher...." she began, her voice shaky, but before she could say more, he was standing right in front of her.

Without warning, Asher reached out, grabbing a fistful of her hair. The sudden, sharp tug made her yelp in pain, but any further protest was silenced when his lips crashed against hers.

Holy Creator of the Universe.

The kiss left her stunned, her mind reeling. For a split second, she was frozen, unable to process what was happening. Then the reality hit her—Asher Nightshade just kissed her. Violet’s heart pounded like a drum, every nerve in her body sparking to life.

But even when he stopped, Asher didn’t move away. He stayed there, his face close enough with his intense eyes boring into hers as if silently asking a question... as if waiting for her permission.

She shouldn’t allow this. Violet knew she shouldn’t. This was wrong on so many levels. He was her tormentor, her nightmare in every waking moment. And yet...

Perhaps Adele was right. Perhaps they were toxic for each other because, instead of pushing him away, Violet grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him back.

The second their lips met again, it was no longer tentative or questioning. It was fiery, desperate, feverish. Asher’s tongue found hers, tangling together in a heated rhythm. Violet moaned softly, her fingers digging into his hair as she pulled him closer, their bodies pressing together.

The kiss was raw and explosive, as if they were releasing every ounce of frustration, anger, and tension they’d ever felt toward each other. It was a dance of emotions neither of them could name, the rage, passion, relief, and something deeper they didn’t dare acknowledge, all mingling together.

They didn’t stop. Asher and Violet couldn’t stop. It was as though they were trying to devour each other, to erase the memory of how close they’d come to killing each other on the training hall floor.

If this was Asher’s way of saying ’sorry’ then she might not so much hate it....