“I thought I told you not to get it!” Layla squealed, taking the box from Alaric, and took out the cute pink kitty bracelet. The same on she had seen when they were returning home for their day out the previous day. The same one she had told him not to buy but was in her grasp. “You did, but I didn’t listen.” He grinned, taking the empty box and placing it on the centre table. “It’s so much prettier up close.” She awed as she held it to the light. “How did you get it? We didn’t go past the store again, so—no way! You lied!” “I lied? That’s such a bold accusation.” Alaric retorted, giving her a playful glare. “You did. You said you forgot something at the café, but you didn’t. You went back to get it, didn’t you?” She accused, pointing her finger at him. “Ok, ok. You caught me.” He admitted, holding back his laughter. “Why did you get it when I said you shouldn’t?” She asked, twirling one of the beads between her fingers. “Because you didn’t deserve what happened to your
‘Oh, Zayne is walking Nyssa to class? Why am I not surprised?’ Layla frowned, her eyes trailing Nyssa and Zayne as they walked past the class’s window and stopped at the open door. Nyssa was going on and on about something, and though Zayne tried to look involved, he couldn’t hide how grumpy and gloomy he was.‘Why is he doing that anyway? Does he need to follow her so her powers don’t get out of control? She probably begged him to do so so she could brag about it to her friends. I wonder if he picked her up from her dorm. Did he help her style her hair too?’ She crinkled her face, eyeing Nyssa’s hair that was put in a french braid.‘I doubt that. And there’s no way they would allow him into the female’s dorm. I wonder if they ate together over the weekend. I’m sure they were so glad I wasn’t around. Humph, I’m glad I wasn’t too. How long are they going to talk at the door? Isn’t class supposed to start now? Why—’Zayne turned her way, silencing her thoughts as his green eyes clashed
“You want to go to Professor D’Arcy’s office? Why?” Zayne frowned, stopping in his tracks and crossing his arm over his chest. “He said I should meet him there so we could go home together.” Layla explained, rubbing her sore shoulder. Professor Victor really had it out for her. Class ended almost thirteen minutes ago, but he had insisted she ran extra laps because she had finished last. “Home? Aren’t you returning to your dorm today?” Zayne asked, displease evident in his voice. “No, till tomorrow. There was a little problem, so the construction was delayed a bit.” “So you’re going to Professor Alaric’s house today?” He grunted. “Yes,” she nodded. “You’re sleeping over till tomorrow morning?” He growled, and she raised an eyebrow. “Um, yes?” She blinked. Why was Zayne asking strange questions? Of course she was going to sleep at Alaric’s house since she was staying there. Where else would she be? Was he expecting her not to sleep? “Can we go now? I don’t want to keep hi
“Uh? Why do you ask?” Layla asked, tilting her head to the side.“I’m just curious, given the way he behaves to you.” Alaric said, looking away from Zayne to her. “You think it doesn’t exist between us because he’s mean to me?” She asked as they continued walking.“He’s mean to you?” He frowned, anger flashing in his eyes.“Not bully mean, but mean as in he’s always grumpy and looks like I’m wasting his time. He doesn’t bully me but just acts like he would rather eat coals than be around me.” She quickly explained, not wanting to fan whatever flame of anger she had accidentally stoked. There already seemed to be bad blood between the two men—at least coming from Zayne’s side—and she didn’t want to fuel it.“No, I know it does. I’m just wondering what you think about it. Do you feel it?” He asked, relaxing a bit.“Well, I don’t really know much about the whole mate bond thing, but I do feel it… Even though I try ignoring it, I can’t help but feel strange when Zayne’s around.” Layla mu
“What?” Layla whispered; her eyes grew wide and her legs trembled as strength left her body.“I said, did you sleep with him?” Zayne questioned, emphasising his words.‘Is he accusing me, ME, of sleeping with Alaric? Because he bought clothes for me?’ Her chest grew tight and turned heavy, like someone had dropped an anvil inside.“You’re so disgusting! Is that what you see me as? A slut?” She yelled, blinking back her anger tears.“N-no… I didn’t mean…” He stuttered; his eyes widened, realising what he just said. “T-that’s not… what I meant. I-I didn’t m-mean you’re a slut. I… just asked—”“If I slept with him? Isn’t that the same thing?! Let go of me!” She screamed, pulling her arm, and he did. She stumbled back, leaning against the car so she wouldn’t crumble on her knees.“Layla, I—”“Just shut up! Ever since I came to this school, you’ve always been mean to me, and I don’t care what you think about me, but you’ve crossed the line. How could you say that? Alaric has been the only
*Knock knock*“Layla, I know you’re ignoring me, so I left food at your door. I hope you at least accept that, even though you don’t want to see me.” Zayne called out, and Layla frowned, turning down the volume of her music.‘Did I hear him well? He left food at my door?’ She sat up but didn’t come down from her bed. She stared at the door, listening to his footsteps become quiet.‘I think the coast is clear now.’ She jumped down the bed after a few minutes and tiptoed to it.She slowly opened it, still weary that Zayne was around, and she looked at the doorstep. True to his words, there was a small bag in front of her.‘This better not be a prank.’ She picked it up, shut the door, and stared at the bag in her hand. A thermos food jar, two plastic bottles of water, and apples sat in, and she twisted her lips. ‘But the last time it wasn’t so…’Switching on the light, Layla padded to her bed and placed the food in front of her. The rich, mouthwatering aroma of pasta and meatballs blaste
“What? Slaughtered? As in killed?” Layla gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. The rebels? As in the rebels, which Eleanor was staying with and supporting, or was there a different rebel group everyone was talking about?“Duh, isn’t that what I said? Yes, killed.” Nyssa scoffed, rolling her eyes. “They slaughtered everyone without mercy. See!”“No, thank you.” Layla shielded her face with her hand, blocking her vision from the gory sight Nyssa wanted her to see. She had only gotten a glimpse of what was on her screen, and her dinner rushed to the back of her throat.“I swear those rebels are animals. Worse than the Zenzens. I wish they could all just drop dead right now. Low life scum!” Nyssa hissed and put her phone into her pocket as she walked beside Zayne. “Can you imagine what they did? They gutted the males and females but kidnapped the children. Who knows what they’re going to use them to do? I heard rumours that they were going to use them as ransom or train them to be s
“I can do this. It’s finally time I read what Eleanor had to say.” Layla muttered to herself as she sat on her bed, resting her back against the wall. She stared at the book in her hand, torn between the excitement and apprehension racing through her.‘Maybe I should leave it till another— no! No more procrastination. It’s Saturday; I’ve got all the time in the world to read without distraction until Zayne comes take me for lunch.’ She flipped open the book to the first chapter, and her brows creased.“S-shelgx lehak me ti… tiei mreo ca- ca- c-cagyri nie burt?” She stuttered out the strange sentence written at the top of the page, and she frowned.‘Where have I heard something like this before? I know I’m not pronouncing the words well, but I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere.’ She mused, racking her brain. No matter how hard she thought, nothing came out, and she sighed. ‘I’ll figure that out another time. Right now I need to focus on reading.’Her gaze fell on the title of the first