My fury assassin mate

The Queen Bees

As Celina stared out the window, memories of past birthday celebrations, sleepovers, and whispered secrets drifted through her mind like a comforting lullaby. The school loomed ahead, its grand architecture standing tall—a place where friendships had been formed, hearts had been broken, and reputations had been made.

Her heart thudded with anticipation as she spotted Brittney standing near the entrance, effortlessly drawing attention. With her golden blonde hair shimmering under the sunlight and her perfectly tailored outfit hugging her frame, Brittney James was the very definition of high school royalty. But it wasn’t just her beauty that commanded a room—it was the confidence in her stance, the way her sparkling hazel eyes dared anyone to challenge her.

“Cel! Over here!” Brittney’s voice rang out, her tone filled with excitement.

Celina barely had time to take a breath before Brittney enveloped her in a hug that smelled like vanilla and designer perfume.

“Happy birthday, Celina! I missed you so much! Can you believe we’re finally seniors?” Brittney pulled back, gripping Celina’s arms like she was afraid to let go.

Celina smiled, her initial nerves easing. “You know it! This is our year, Britt!”

Brittney flipped her hair over her shoulder, her lips curving into a knowing smirk. “Obviously. Mom has already started planning prom. Since she’s the board chairwoman and the main host for this year’s event, she’s making sure it’ll be the most extravagant one yet. And, of course, I’ll be crowned prom queen.” She sighed dramatically, as if it was already a foregone conclusion. “And my sugar baby, Martins, will be right beside me as prom king.”

Celina raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. “What a perfect couple you two are,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Brittney either didn’t catch it or chose to ignore it. “I know, right?” she said, looking pleased with herself.

Celina had missed her best friend, but she couldn’t deny the pang of disappointment she had felt over the summer. For years, they had spent their vacations together, making memories that belonged only to them. But this time, Brittney had jetted off on an extravagant vacation with her mother, leaving Celina behind with nothing but social media updates of private beaches, yacht parties, and five-star resorts.

Not that Celina was jealous.

Okay, maybe just a little.

But more than that, she had felt forgotten.

Shaking the thought away, she glanced at Brittney, who was now rambling about a new designer bag she had ordered. Brittney had always been effortlessly captivating, but Celina knew there was more to her than the designer labels and perfect hair.

Brittney rarely spoke about her father, but Celina knew the story well. Years ago, Mr. James had discovered that Brittney wasn’t his biological daughter. The betrayal had shattered him, and instead of staying to work through it, he had left—cutting off all communication and erasing himself from Brittney’s life entirely.

It had changed her.

Celina saw it in the way Brittney carried herself, in the way she pushed people away before they could leave her first. It was why she never let anyone but Celina see her vulnerable moments.

“Come on,” Brittney said suddenly, linking her arm through Celina’s. “I have so much to tell you about my trip.”

Mr. Thompson, the James family’s long-time driver, hadn’t driven Brittney to school today because her mum insisted she drops Brittney off on her first day of senior year. He also offered Celina a ride more times than she could count, especially when Brittney’s mom was in one of her busy moods. It was no secret that Mrs. James was ridiculously wealthy—having inherited a vast empire of businesses, properties, and even an airline from her father. With Brittney being the sole heir, she was set to inherit it all.

It explained a lot about her personality—spoiled, domineering, and impossible to control.

And yet, Celina loved her anyway.

Together, they had ruled Royal Crest High since freshman year as the queen bees. They weren’t just popular; they were untouchable. While Celina preferred to stay in the background, Brittney thrived in the spotlight, her presence demanding attention wherever she went. It was a dynamic that worked. Brittney made things happen, and Celina was there to support her, grounding her when needed.

As they made their way through the school entrance, heads turned in their direction. The whispers, the envious glances, the admiring stares—it was the same every year. Some wanted to be them, others wanted to take them down.

Brittney didn’t care. She loved the attention.

Celina? She could do without it.

“Ugh,” Celina groaned as her eyes landed on Martins Luke, the school’s beloved baseball captain and Brittney’s on-again, off-again boyfriend. He was leaning against his locker, his perfect hair slightly tousled as if he had just stepped out of a teen drama.

Brittney’s eyes lit up as she spotted him. “Baby!”

Martins smirked, pulling her in with an ease that came from years of being in the spotlight together. He placed a hand on her waist, whispering something in her ear that made her giggle.

Celina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She had never liked Martins, and it wasn’t just because of his smug attitude. She knew he was only with Brittney for the status—dating the queen of Royal Crest High came with its perks, and Martins enjoyed every bit of it.

Just as she was about to call them out for their shameless PDA, the entrance doors swung open.

A hush fell over the hallway.

Two new students walked in.

Celina’s breath hitched.

They were beautiful. Not in the typical high school heartthrob way, but in an otherworldly, almost hypnotic way.

One had dirty blonde hair, falling over his sharp, defined facial features. His eyes— hazel and piercing—scanned the hallway with an unreadable expression. There was something unsettlingly powerful about him, something that sent an unexplainable chill down Celina’s spine.

The other was equally mesmerizing but in a completely different way. His dark, tousled hair framed his angular face, his icy blue eyes glowing with something almost dangerous. He exuded effortless confidence, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as if searching for something—or someone.

The entire hallway seemed to hold its breath. Celina felt her stomach twist in a way she couldn’t explain.For the first time in a long time, she found herself speechless.