Page 21

Chapter 20

Selestina

N ight surrounds the academy as I sit at the edge of the courtyard with my back pressed against the cool stone wall. The sky is darkening, with the stars barely visible through the thick canopy of trees. Most students have already retreated to their rooms or are lingering in the dining hall, laughing, talking, being normal.

Normal.

I scoff under my breath. Normal is a luxury I’ll never have. Even here, surrounded by people my age, students eager to prove themselves, I can’t be like them. My mind is always elsewhere, always on edge, waiting for the inevitable. Waiting for him .

Alexander.

It’s been quiet since I arrived at Obsidian Academy, too quiet. They are going to come any time now, orders from him. The silence gnaws at me, a constant reminder that he's always watching and always ready to pull the strings. I can never know when he is sending the next mission, but I know it’s coming. He never lets me rest for long .

I really can't even remember my life before Alexander, before The Citadel. It's like some sort of blur, flashes of laughter, of warmth, something good that I just cannot grasp no matter how hard I try. It slips through my fingers like sand. I don't know who I was, where I came from, or what led me to his door. All I know is that the second he claimed me, any notion of a normal life died.

I shut my eyes, attempting to force the memories out, but they seep into my mind anyway, the sharp sting of a whip, the branding iron searing into my skin, coldly clinical, and the ways he taught me to kill. How he'd smile when I succeeded, but there was never any warmth in it, just satisfaction, like a collector admiring his prized possession.

The princes would kill me if they knew. Matheus, Tomas, Kaelion, Rhyker, Nazriel. They all hate each other, but their hatred for me would be unmatched if they ever found out the truth. I’ve killed people close to them: family members, trusted friends, loyal allies. They don’t know it was me, of course. The Shadow Reaper doesn’t leave traces, not ones that can be easily followed. But if they knew…

Gods above, if they knew, they would not hesitate to bury me alive.

I turn to Matheus, who sits alone with a book in his hands, the flame of his red hair lit by the last light of day.

I let out a slow breath, trying to calm the rising panic. There's no use in worrying about what ifs. I just need to keep my head down, blend in, pretend like I'm just another student trying to survive. No one suspects me. Not yet. And I need to keep it that way.

I lean my head back against the stone wall, closing my eyes. Why can’t I just be a girl attending Obsidian Academy, worrying about tests and combat drills and—gods forbid— boys like everyone else? Why does my life have to be this constant dance of survival and secrecy?

I’m lost in my thoughts when something strange catches my attention. My backpack, which I’d left zipped up tight, is now slightly open. My heart skips a beat as I reach over, slowly pulling the flap back. Tucked inside, between my books, is a small piece of parchment.

A chill runs down my spine. I didn’t put this here. I glance around, but no one is paying attention to me. Whoever placed it did so without me noticing. Definitely magic.

I unfold the note with trembling fingers. The parchment is rough, the ink dark and smudged, but the words are clear.

South. 50 meters into the forest. Midnight tonight.

That’s all it says. No signature, no explanation. But I know who it’s from.

Alexander.

My stomach twists, my hands shaking as I fold the note back up and shove it into my pocket.

I swallow hard, dread creeping into my chest.

The moonlight filters through the trees as I step into the clearing, my heart pounding with anticipation, but my face is a mask of calm. I meet Alexander’s gaze, and as always, it’s like staring into an abyss. He stands there, tall and commanding, every inch the man who’s controlled my life for as long as I can remember.

I stop a few feet away, keeping my posture straight and ready. “You called,” I say, my voice steady, betraying nothing of the unease lurking beneath the surface.

Alexander smirks, his dark eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “And, as always, you came,” he replies, taking a step closer. He doesn’t have to be near me to make me feel the suffocating weight of his presence. He never does.

His fingers twine through strands of my hair, curling them lazily as if he has all the time in the world. He leans in closer, his breath warm against my skin, inhaling my scent like it’s something he wants to memorize.

I don’t flinch. Fear is a weakness I can’t afford to show. “What’s the mission?” I ask, keeping my voice neutral and businesslike.

“Straight to the point, as always,” he says with a chuckle, though there’s no warmth in it. “I’ve missed that about you, Sel.”

I keep silent. I know he didn’t summon me for small talk.

His smirk widens. “I have a new assignment for you. Eztli Moreno, the Night Kingdom’s general in training. I need you to get close to him.”

My mind races, piecing together the information I already know about Eztli. A rising star, strategic, ruthless, and loyal to his kingdom. The guy who flirts with anything that walks and attends every party in his proximity.

I give a short nod. “How close?”

“As close as you can get,” Alexander replies, his tone smooth and commanding. “I want to know everything. His routine, his weaknesses, and his secrets. You’ll observe and follow, but don’t make yourself known. When the time comes, you’ll be ready to strike. Until then, you gather intel. Understood?”

“I understand.”

No hesitation. No questioning. This is who I am—what I was made to do.

“Good.” Alexander’s eyes narrow, watching me carefully, as if expecting some sign of resistance, but I give him nothing. I never do. “Eztli Moreno is important,” he continues, his voice low and threatening. “He’s more than just a general in training. He’s key to the Night Kingdom’s future. And that makes him key to my plans. You can see why this is critical.”

“Of course,” I reply. My voice is steady, but inside, I’m already thinking ahead. I’ve taken down people more powerful than Eztli before. This isn’t new. It’s just another assignment. Another move on the board.

Alexander steps closer, his eyes locking onto mine. “And don’t forget, Selestina. I expect perfection. You’ve served me well for years. Don’t make me question your loyalty now. Especially after the Teptl incidents.”

There it is. The reminder of who holds the leash. But I don’t need the warning. Alexander’s control over me is absolute. He knows that. I know that.

“I won’t fail.”

He watches me for a moment, as if testing the sincerity in my words, then nods, seemingly satisfied. “I’ll be in touch. You know the consequences of failure.”

I nod again. “I do.”

With that, Alexander steps back, the shadows seeming to swallow him as he disappears into the trees. Diego is somewhere near ready to shadow walk him back to whichever kingdom he's working in at the moment. The cold night air settles around me, but I don’t move. I stand still for a moment longer, letting the tension roll off my shoulders.

There’s no fear now. No doubt. I’m The Shadow Reaper, and this is just another job. I’ve infiltrated the lives of kings and generals, learned their secrets, and ripped them apart from the inside. Eztli Moreno is no different.

I turn and head back to the academy, the weight of Alexander’s orders pressing against my chest. The fear I once felt is long gone, replaced by cold efficiency.

Whatever Eztli Moreno’s secrets are, I’ll know them soon enough.