Chapter Ninteen
1051 Words
EIRA’S POV
I sat by the cold stone staircase behind the east wing of the academy, hugging myself. Students passed by in streams in the courtyard below, gossip buzzing in the air as they went by. Normally, I would’ve blended in with the noise, ignoring their pointless chatter.
But today, my whole world felt like it was coming crumbling down.
Ares threat still rang through my skull like an incessant bell. Nausea poked at my stomach as I remembered every word he had whispered into my ears. My body still trembled with anger and humiliation.
I had shoved him and stormed out of the empty supply room, but my trembling hands followed me all the way here. Why did life keep doing this to me? Why did people keep grabbing at me, pushing and twisting at my vulnerability?
The video played in my mind like a broken record and I would often imagine how much I would suffer if the whole school laid eyes on it.
The whole fake relationship with the princes was supposed to change that, but instead, I felt more powerless than ever.
A thought occurred to me at that moment. Would it be a good idea to tell Kellen and Lucien about Ares’ threats? It was a thought I could consider. Maybe, just maybe they could help me out of this predicament.
The bell rang, breaking me from my reverie.
Students began to scamper to the cafeteria for a break. I sighed, forcing myself to stand as I smoothened my palm down my skirt. I had originally planned to skip lunch after what happened in the hallway, but that would make me a coward. And I knew I was far from one.
I walked towards the cafeteria door, trying to steady my breathing, but each step felt heavier. I wasn’t ready to see the princes after what had happened, but I needed to tell them about Ares.
The bruise on my cheek wasn’t visible anymore, but my chest ached as if it still lingered there. I swallowed hard, pushing the cafeteria door open.
A wave of noise hit my ear instantly. Students chattered at different tables, scraping chairs and forks clinking. My eyes drifted, almost instinctively towards the royal table.
Kellen sat with his arms crossed, jaw so tight it looked sculpted. Lucien sat beside him, posture perfect as his fingers curled around a glass of water as if he were forcing himself not to grip something harder.
They were both watching me.
Kellen’s gaze flickered away from me the moment my eyes met his. He looked away in a sharp manner like he had been caught staring. Lucien maintained a stoic look, but his eyes shifted to me every few seconds.
My chest tightened.
They were monitoring me as usual, but there was an undeniable distance between us, like a log had been placed between me and the princes.
Just great.
I sighed, moving to the food line and ignoring the whispered buzz in the air.
“She made Aria cry.”
“The princes, her own mates, hit her.”
“Well, she hit their sister, so it was expected.”
“She deserved it.”
My throat burned with anger.
I swiped a tray and forced my hands not to shake as I placed food on it. It felt pointless because my appetite was gone with the wind. I just needed to do something to pretend I was normal.
Kellen’s gaze locked on me again, icy and sharp. I watched him whisper something to Lucien, who in turn switched his gaze to me. I bit my lip so hard I could taste blood.
They were keeping their distance real hard.
They were close enough to reach me in three short strides. Yet they sat there like statues, unmoving and distant, as if touching me again would be a mistake they didn’t know how to undo.
I scoffed, walking past their table and towards the far corner of the cafeteria. The mate bond pulsed faintly in my chest like a heartbeat and every step I took away from them tugged painfully at something invisible.
I flopped down on the chair, fingers curling around my fork, digging into the metal. Ares’ threats dug at my mind again. Since the princes were clearly keeping me at arms length, there was no way I could approach them about this matter.
Frustration clogged my throat.
I lifted my was up just once and trailed it to their table. Kellen’s jaw clenched, and he snapped his head away from my direction quickly. Lucien’s eyes softened, but only for a split second before he masked it.
A bitter laughter escaped my lips. I could still feel their gaze burning into my skin, which angered me. How dare they watch me so closely while keeping their distance away from me?
I stabbed a meatball, holding it up in front of me. I sighed, placing the fork down softly. I lowered my head, letting my hair fall forward, covering my expression from the room.
I was tired, physically and mentally.
I was done feeling helpless and powerless. I was tired of facing the same torments from Aria and Ares every single day. I was living in a constant state of fear, unsure of what would happen to me next.
I needed to take matters into my own hands and do something about the situation, or it would only get worse.
A shaky breath left my lips, an idea forming in my head. From what I can tell, all three of us felt the mate bond. Even though they might try to deny it. But I knew it was there.
We were being pulled towards each other, which meant I had a chance.
So how about I make the princes fall for me?
For the first time today, my eyes lit up. A smirk curled up my lips as ideas began to brew in my head. I pushed the tray side, rising up from the chair as I walked out of the cafeteria.
I could feel their gaze burning at my back, but I didn’t spare them as much as a glance.
Tomorrow I will put my plan into action.
And the princes wouldn’t even realize they were falling until it was too late.
- Writer
