KELANI POVAfter taking a short stroll to clear my thoughts, I returned to the infirmary and spotted Riley outside.She was talking with a boy I hadn't seen before, probably one of the boys she often mentioned.Although Riley talked about many boys, I never saw her show real interest in any of them.Seemed like she preferred having fun rather than committing to a relationship.If I had someone in mind, I might have done the same, but I doubted I could mess around with any boy at Mystic Academy."Hey, Lani!" Riley waved me over as soon as she noticed me.Part of me wanted to ignore her, gaze elsewhere, and linger by the infirmary, waiting for my name to be called.Yet, ignoring Riley wouldn't solve my current problem. Besides, if I ignored her, she'd probably come to me.So, it was challenging not to acknowledge her and express what I wanted to say.Approaching her, the boy she had been talking to grinned at me."Hi Kelani, I'm Josh. Riley talked a lot about you," he said, his gaze mov
KELANI POVI shuddered slightly as the stranger's arms still encircled me. He grinned, and I couldn't help but wonder what he found amusing. I couldn't tear my eyes away; he seemed unreal.His face had an angular shape, an aquiline nose, and thin lips that appeared overly perfect. A strong jawline and high cheekbones enhanced his features. A strand of dark hair fell over his right eye, giving him a devilish look – or maybe I was just imagining things. I'd never seen a devil before, so I had no idea how one would actually look.In my years of existence, I'd never encountered someone who could smile and be so dangerously attractive. Maybe Vesper could rival him if he ever smiled, although the stranger seemed to have a captivating charm that even Vesper might find challenging."I haven't seen you around here. Are you new?" he asked, his brows creasing."I am, and thank you," I replied as soon as I regained my balance."Oh, never mind. I'm glad I could catch you before you fell. I wouldn'
KELANI POV"Hey," I said, eyeing Riley as she slipped into her cheer uniform. It was my first time seeing her in it. I guess she only wore it on special occasions."Where are you off to?" I asked, still staring at what seemed to be the short skirt of the uniform.It wasn't really like a regular skirt, and I doubted stockings were allowed to be worn underneath. I didn't see her wearing any. The top barely covered her upper body, exposing her navel, and I could see her underwear as she bent to fix her shoelace."Is this appropriate?" I asked with a frown."I mean the outfit," I added as she raised a brow at me."It is," she said. "It's what our predecessor wore, though we modified it a teeny bit." I doubted anyone in their right mind would wear it, and knowing Riley, a major improvement had been made to the dress."Today is cheer, and I have exciting news for you," Riley said.Her eyes suddenly sparkled, and she stepped towards me. Riley was often excited, but I knew this excitement wou
VESPER POVClosing the door behind me, I laced up my running shoes and stepped out of the room. Exiting through the large gate that protected the entire building where I lived, I rounded the corner and breathed out slowly, listening to the rhythmic thud of my footsteps on the pavement.It was my second run of the day, the only interruption being a brief visit to the infirmary after Headmaster Kendrick emphasized the importance of everyone being present.I was reluctant to be in the infirmary, yet I couldn't defy his order, knowing he watched me closely. I was at the top of his watchlist, and any mistake might result in expulsion.If I left, I had nowhere else to go; returning to the packhouse was out of the question, and Mystic Academy had become my home. The only place I knew as a home.Clasping my chest as my heart thumped painfully, it felt different from its usual rhythm, and the intensified tingling sensation added to my discomfort.I yearned to clear my thoughts, trying everyth
VESPERI arrived home after a while, and the journey back was even longer than the one outside. Maybe it felt that way because I had used up all my strength, relying solely on my will to get home.Sighing, I pushed open the gate and stepped in. I hadn't locked it after leaving, but the surroundings were well-protected from intruders and wandering creatures.I wasn't staying in the dormitory like many of the students were. Even though it had been made compulsory for females as it was believed they were fragile and wouldn't be able to defend themselves when faced with danger, the male students had been given their freedom.However, not all male students enjoyed this privilege. It was reserved for those holding higher positions like team captains, co-captains, and even members of the founding family.This freedom was a matter of choice. Some eligible boys preferred dormitories for reasons unknown to me.Striding toward my apartment, situated beside two others, I breathed out, slid the ke
KELANI POVStill clutching the envelope tightly in my hand, I let out a breath, scanning my surroundings. I gazed back at the contents. I couldn't count how many times I had read it, but each time left me confused."I'm watching you," I muttered. What could it mean? Perhaps it explained the tingling sensation I often felt at the back of my neck—the feeling of being watched and followed—a sense that something terrible was about to disrupt the school's activities.Letting out a slow, deep breath, I couldn't tell who had sent it. Whoever did so had definitely run before I came out of the room.Or maybe it was a prank, I mused, stepping back inside. Riley must have left it to scare me since I refused to join the cheerleaders. But she hadn't looked upset, and she didn't seem like the type to do something like that. Riley was unpredictable most of the time."I need to find out who did this," I said to myself. If it was Riley, I needed to know. Dwelling on who might have done it wouldn't pro
KELANI POV"So, do you think Lia would actually be honest with the result? She might manipulate it to make it seem like I failed," I said.Despite telling Riley I wasn't keen on joining the cheer team, I couldn't help but be curious. I wanted to be sure Lia wouldn't resort to unfair tactics, but her mean demeanor made it challenging to trust her. I sensed she would choose anyone over me, a preference I shared because I wasn't eager to be on the same team as her.If anything, I would have preferred she picked Brittany. It seemed like she must have tried her best."Of course," Riley assured. "If there's one thing you should understand about Lia, she's competitive and all, but she's devoted to the team. She'll go to great lengths to help us win regionals, even if it means letting her rival join her cherished squad.""Rival," I mumbled."Yeah, that's the keyword," Riley emphasized.I didn't exactly understand why we were rivals. Was it because of Vesper? It seemed insane and foolish for h
VESPER POVI arrived home after some time. It wasn't my initial intention. I had hoped to stay a bit longer to assess the situation, but Kelani's presence made it challenging to remain there.Her presence, coupled with her captivating scent and the sensation of her soft body pressing against mine, made it difficult. It seemed as if she had emitted pheromones, seeking more attention from the boys around.Also, I sensed Miles. It had tugged at my chest and clawed, wanting to pull out of me. I knew it was all Mile's doing. It was the only one overjoyed by the thoughts of Kelani. Or maybe it was doing it on purpose to get back at me for not listening to let it go.Miles had strongly encouraged me to assert my claim on her, mark her, and make her mine. But it had taken all the willpower in me not to do so.Moreover, I wasn't repulsed by the idea of marking Kelani at that moment; despite not actively seeking a mate or ever thought of having one, I had desired her.At that instant, it became