Page 11

Chapter 10

Nazriel

I stand frozen in the dining hall, the chaos of students buzzing around me. My eyes are locked on her. Gabriella. As she walks past me, her eyes meet mine for a brief moment and she fucking smirks at me before dipping her head. My fists clench at my sides. I do the same in return.

She had to have followed me here. There’s no other explanation. I won’t let her ruin everything. Her name alone twists inside my chest, settling there like a thorn.

Her hair, a thick, endless spill of black, moves as if it’s alive, like it’s part of the darkness itself, swallowing the light surrounding her. It tumbles over her shoulders in waves, framing her face, drawing my eyes to those kohl smeared lids, her eyes are sharp, knowing, and infuriatingly smug, but hold a mystery that hooks me even as I grit my teeth against it.

She’s dressed in the academy uniform, and she wears it better than anyone here. The fabric clings to her curves, hugging her like a second skin. It’s maddening. She’s maddening. I hate how my eyes trace the line of her waist, how they follow the way her hips sway with every step.

The tavern that night was supposed to be nothing more than a brief detour, a nameless stop on my way to something far more important. The old building leaned heavily to one side, its warped wooden planks groaning beneath the weight of the night’s patrons. The air inside was thick with smoke and the sour tang of spilled ale, the dim light flickering as if it, too, was struggling to stay alive. It was the kind of place you walked into and left without a second thought.

At least, that’s what I believed, until she quite literally fell into my arms moments after I stepped inside.

It happened so fast, her curvy frame colliding with mine, her hood slipping just enough for me to catch a glimpse of her face. Her dark eyes snapped to mine, wide with surprise, and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to tilt on its axis. Her scent, something like vanilla and peony, wrapped around me, cutting through the staleness of the room. She mumbled a thanks, brushing herself off, but I barely heard her. From that moment on, she consumed me, stealing every thought, every breath, as if the very air between us had been altered.

I didn’t plan to stay, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Not with her sitting across from me, that sharp tongue of hers laced with humor and defiance, her every move magnetic. By the time the night blurred into dawn, I’d given her hours I didn’t have, hours I couldn’t spare.

Even now, I can still feel the heat of her skin against mine, the way her touch lingered long after it was gone. The memory burns; I didn’t want to walk away from her that night. Gods help me, I still don’t.

The first class of the day is Magical Theory. All first years are required to take it, regardless of their species. I make my way to the classroom, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling of seeing Gabriella again. The room is already half full when I arrive. It’s an auditorium to fit all of the students. I take a seat near the back, hoping to observe without being noticed.

That’s when Gabriella walks in. I knew it was too good to be true. She sits near the middle and to the right.

The professor, an elderly mage named Professor Thalor, stands at the front of the room. He has a long silver beard and piercing blue eyes that seem to see right through you. He has everyone stand up to introduce themselves, saying their first name, their species, and gift, if they have one. “Let’s start with the back and work our way up,” he states.

Great.

“Nazriel, water mage,” I say. My eyes going back to Gabriella to see her reaction. But her face is a blank mask, giving away nothing.

“Matheus, dragon nagual,” the Tepetl prince says. His eyes looking down, a blank mask on.

“Kaelion, demonio, incubus,” the Metztli prince spits out, glaring at me and everyone around him.

“Evaline, air witch,” a voice seems to purr, I look up and it’s the same girl from last night who knocked on my door to say, “If there’s anything you need, please let me know, and I mean anything .” She’s giving me those same “fuck me” eyes as she did last night.

I glance over at Gabriella and she’s glaring. I smirk. Good. Make her hate me. I can’t have her getting in the way of what I need to do. She’s a distraction. So maybe I suck it up and let Evaline be a solution.

It’s time for Gabriella to speak. She looks up at me before turning to the professor. “Selestina, human.”

I scoff, but can’t help from smirking. I guess we both were keeping secrets.

Selestina sits with her back straight, head slightly tilted as she listens to Professor Thalor drone on about ancient enchantments. The soft light from the candles above catches in her long black hair. She’s wearing those old lace-up boots again, the ones that are scuffed at the toes and look like they’ve seen better days. The same ones she wore the night we met in the tavern and got stupid drunk. They suit her. Rough around the edges, a little mysterious, just like she is.

Damn it.

I clench my jaw and tear my eyes from hers, forcing myself to focus on Professor Thalor's lecture. But it doesn't last long. I find myself looking again at her, and every time I look, the same frustration bubbles into my chest. What is it about her that does this? Why can't I shake this obsession?

My eyes scan the room and land on Matheus. He's seated a few rows back from Selestina, his jaw tight. There's that same sort of intensity in his expression again, that same sense of being fixed on his target. He's staring at her like he's trying to unravel her, dig into whatever secrets she's hiding. Just like me.

I clench my teeth as a sudden surge of anger fills my chest.

But it is not only Matheus. Across the aisle, Kaelion watches her, too; his dark eyes narrowed, his mouth twisted in that smug smile he always wears when he thinks he's one step ahead of everybody else. He leans back in his chair, arms crossed, but his gaze never leaves her. There's something almost predatory in the way he watches her, like he's just waiting for her to slip up, to make some kind of mistake.

I can feel my blood boiling. They're both staring at her like she's some kind of prize, and I just can't stand it. It makes me want to punch something or someone.

I glance around at her, my fists clenched under the desk. She's scribbling something in her notebook; no idea in the world that every single one of us is staring at her, like she was the only thing in this room worth an ounce of our focus.

I really need to get a grip. Need to put an end to that. Whatever hold she has on me, on us, is something I need to break.

Professor Thalor speaks in a booming voice, continuing his lecture on the very origin of magic and its basics.

Professor Thalor's voice fades into the background as my mind races. My father had finally allowed me to leave the kingdom and attend Obsidian Academy; it was the first time I was allowed to step outside the castle walls, to his knowledge, to experience the world beyond our domain. My sister and I were kept hidden, not even allowed to attend gatherings or social events. We were ghosts in our own home.

My father's words echo in my mind. He let me come here for one reason: to do his bidding. I glance again at Selestina, the anger inside me bubbling just below the surface. She has the potential to get in the way of that.

But I also can’t stop thinking of that night in the tavern.

Professor Thalor begins asking questions, and several students raise their hands eagerly. I notice Selestina doesn’t raise her hand. Instead, she writes something down in her notebook. I squint, trying to see what she’s writing. The professor calls on a student who gives the correct answer, and I see Selestina’s small nod of confirmation. She knew the answer all along.

The lecture continues, covering various magical theories and their applications. Professor Thalor’s passion for the subject is evident, his voice rising and falling with excitement. He describes the interplay of magical energies, the importance of intention and focus, and the historical figures who shaped the understanding of magic.

Selestina continues to take notes diligently, never raising her hand to answer a question. Each time the professor asks something, she writes the answer in her notebook, and each time, another student responds with the same answer she wrote. She’s right every single time. It’s uncanny.

Now, all I feel is suspicion and annoyance. I need to know why she’s here and what her intentions are.

All of a sudden, Thalor asks a question and he’s looking right at Selestina. “Care to summarize the properties of arcane crystals?” I can’t see her face, but I see her body tense, and I know her cheeks are as red as they were in that closet.

She responds correctly, and Thalor continues.

The lecture finally comes to an end, and students begin to gather their things. I stay seated, watching Selestina as she packs up her notebook. She stands, slinging her bag over her shoulder, and heads for the door. I follow her with my eyes until she disappears into the hallway.

I let out a slow breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside me. My father’s orders are clear, and I can’t afford any distractions. Selestina is a complication I didn’t anticipate .

My father kept my sister and me hidden for a reason. We were his secret weapons, his insurance against the world. Attending Obsidian Academy was supposed to be my chance to prove myself and secure our freedom.

I gather my things and leave the classroom, my mind still racing.

As I walk through the hallways, my thoughts drift back to my sister. My sister’s life depends on me following through. My freedom depends on it. I won’t let anyone stand in my way.