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Chapter 29

Selestina

C lasses are finally over for the day. My hangover is still present almost fourty-eight hours later, most likely due to that fucking demonio.

The day drags on like molasses, each minute stretching longer than the last, each task pulling me further into a haze of exhaustion and lingering anger. My plan has been set in stone since last night, since the moment that smug, insufferable incubus prince decided to flood me with his power, to teach me some twisted, weird lesson in control.

But even now, as I navigate the corridors, my mind keeps slipping back to last night, to the unexpected torment Kaelion inflicted. He left me there, doubled over outside the library, gasping for air, the force of his power still coursing through me, burning through every nerve. I could barely stand, every movement sending shocks of pain rippling through my body, my breaths ragged and shallow.

His words still lingering in my head.

You’re venom…A sickness infecting this place, twisting everyone you touch.

He isn’t wrong. Which makes me hate myself more than I already do. Under Alexander's control, I learned quickly that monsters are real. Not the monsters that hide beneath your bed or in the shadows, but those that hide in the depths of our souls. They live inside us, wrapped around our minds, speaking horrors we dare not speak. They wear faces of regret, shame, and rage, their claws raking through our brains, their teeth grinding on the edges of what we want to be. They don't creep up on us from the shadows; they're born of them, fed by the fissures in our hearts and the injuries we refuse to acknowledge. And the worst reality? We aren't their victims, we're their makers.

I never went inside the library. Instead, I stumbled back toward my dorm, fighting the urge to let the darkness swallow me whole.

The walk felt endless, the night air cool against my flushed skin, a sharp contrast to the searing heat Kaelion had poured into me.

By the time I reached my dorm, the pain had dulled to a throbbing ache, twisting through my core with every step. I pushed open the door, half expecting Nasarea to still be awake.

But she was already asleep, sprawled across her bed with a blanket tangled around her legs, a single bite taken out of a blueberry muffin left on her bedside table, a smutty book haphazardly thrown on her, forgotten in her exhaustion.

It’s an oddly endearing sight, one that, on any other night, might have softened the edges of my mood. But not tonight. I barely register it as I grab my things, driven by a single need, to find some way to rid myself of the lingering ache, the seething energy that Kaelion forced into me.

The bathroom is silent and dim, the hum of distant voices muted by the thick stone walls. I twist the tap, letting the water flow, filling the tub with a heat that almost mirrors the burn still coursing through me. I watch the steam rise, swirling into the air, wrapping around me like a blanket of mist.

As the tub fills, I peel off my clothes, each movement careful, the strain in my muscles reminding me of the power Kaelion unleashed, drowning me in a sea of dark, seductive energy that left its mark on every inch of my fucking body.

I step into the water slowly, feeling the scorching heat lick up my legs, a fierce contrast to the cold that settled in my bones. It’s almost too hot, biting into my skin, but I don’t stop. I lower myself into the tub, sinking into the heat, letting it consume me, hoping it will wash away the remnants of his power, the pulsing, unrelenting ache he left behind. As I move my hand down to release this insatiable need to be fucked, a prickling sensation runs up my spine, a feeling of being watched, of eyes tracing over my skin.

I freeze, my gaze snapping up as I scan the empty bathroom.

That’s when it hits me.

Rhkyer is here, somewhere.

Watching me.

The thought sends a shiver through me, my core tightening even more. The scent of leather and earth lingers in the air, barely noticeable, but unmistakable.

I know he’s here.

Before I can question it further, I slip fully into the water, letting it rise up to my neck, letting the heat saturate me, sinking deep into my muscles. My hand drifts beneath the surface, trailing over my stomach, feeling the pulse of tension that still resides there, the raw need to dispel it, to find some relief.

I close my eyes, letting myself sink into the warmth, letting the water take away the last vestiges of Kaelion’s presence; his power, his smug, twisted satisfaction. I know what I need to do, how to dispel the lingering ache he left behind,

I slip a finger down and touch myself while my other hand grabs my nipple and start twisting it. The perfect combination of pain and pleasure.

I look up to where I think Rhyker is and smirk.

Game on, fucker.

The memory fades, but its impact lingers, an echo of the heat, the water, the way it took every ounce of my control to steady myself. This morning, I still feel it, the remnants of his power a dull hum in the background, though I’ve done what I can to get it as far as fuck away from me.

I’ve watched these princes long enough. I know their schedules, their walks, their usual paths. Everything.

Except sometimes Rhyker. That creep never does the same thing twice.

I hurry through the courtyard, clutching a handful of dust packets, my eyes darting around to make sure no one is watching too closely. The sun is setting, casting long shadows across the cobblestones, my favorite time of the day.

Nasarea trails behind me, her questions about class blending into the background noise of my frantic thoughts.

“Selestina, did you finish the assignment for?—”

“Not now,” I mutter, dropping to one knee to spread a packet of shimmering dust under a bench. I stand up quickly and move to the next spot, ignoring Nasarea’s puzzled expression.

“Are you okay? You’re acting really strange.”

I ignore her, my focus on the next location. I sprint across the courtyard, scattering another dust packet behind a cluster of roses. Nasarea catches up, her brow furrowed in concern and curiosity.

“Seriously, what the hell are you doing? ”

“Just a second,” I whisper, glancing around before scattering another dust packet near a fountain. I look at Nasarea and nod towards a large, leafy bush at the edge of the courtyard. “Come on, follow me.”

We crouch behind the bush, my heart pounding with anticipation. I place my finger to my lips, signaling her to stay quiet.

“Just watch,” I whisper.

Moments later, Kaelion strides into the courtyard, his dark presence commanding as always. He walks confidently, unaware of the traps I've set. As he passes the first dust packet, there’s a sudden burst of magic, and he’s doused in sticky syrup. He stops, wiping it off with a growl, anger now fueling his every step.

Nasarea stifles a giggle, her eyes wide with surprise.

I nudge her, grinning. “Just wait.”

Kaelion gets hit with the next explosion, glitter, his black hair and horns now sparkling like a festival decoration. He curses and turns, choosing a different path to avoid further traps. But I’ve anticipated this.

As he steps towards the fountain, another packet bursts, covering him in feathers. He roars in frustration, shaking them off. He turns again, taking another path, only to be met with a cloud of flour, making him look like a ghost. Nasarea’s eyes are watering from holding back her laughter.

Kaelion, now covered in syrup, glitter, feathers, and flour, storms forward, triggering the final two packets. One explodes in a shower of confetti, the other in a cloud of itching powder. He scratches furiously, his face contorted in rage.

By this point, I’m on the ground, belly laughing so hard I can barely breathe. Nasarea collapses next to me, laughing just as hard. We clutch our sides, tears streaming down our faces.

“How did you do that?” Nasarea manages between giggles.

“A witch owed me a favor,” I gasp, wiping tears from my eyes. “I asked her to enchant seven dust bombs for me.”

We laugh even harder, watching Kaelion scream at everyone in his path, his fury echoing across the courtyard.

His eyes lock onto mine, and I see shock, then rage, and finally…a barely there smirk.

I tip my head at him, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. Kaelion’s eyes narrow, but there’s a spark of payback in those eyes.

I’m ready. This is kind of fun. He nods back before turning around, back to his calm self, whistling back to his dorm. Even though I know every part of him is fighting that itch powder.

Nasarea and I dissolve into laughter again, the tension of the day melting away. For a moment, everything feels light and carefree, a rare respite in our chaotic lives.