Violet“You!”“Me?”“I’m looking at you, am I not?”“No…sir…commander,” I stumbled over my words, wanting to disappear on the spot.He raised an eyebrow. “Sir or Commander?”The room fell silent as I tried to think of my answer. Which one of the two was it?“S-Sir?” I tried.I bit my bottom lip as his gazed remained on me for a moment. “Do you not wish me a good evening?” So that was the issue.“Good evening, Sir,” I replied quickly, making a mental note not to forget to greet this man ever again.Commander Jorn let out a satisfied chuckle, then walked further, pacing back and forth in the room without saying a single word. His eyes scanned the group, like he was trying to look for more targets.“I see old faces, new faces,” he finally began speaking. “For those of you who do not know me, you will get to know me—my name is Commander Jorn.”His voice carried no warmth, nothing. “I’m not your dad, I’m not your silly commander from back home, I’m not Rochwall,” he spoke the name with a
VioletFor the past week, it felt like my entire body had been on fire. Elite training didn’t get any easier, and while the two new commanders, Alexis and Marco weren’t quite as relentless as Commander Jorn, they had it out for me too.It seemed like no matter what I did, I was always falling short, and somehow always the target.Those two were also kind enough to gift me laps as punishment—and each time, Kylan had the choice to stop it, yet he didn’t.No, he would make me take the punishment, even if it meant him staying by my side to supervise until the late hours.I was sick and tired of running every single day, and I had lost track of how many laps I had done. Nate was right when he said they would try to make the weaker ones quit because I was close to dropping out of the team.It would not only make my life easier but also everyone else’s.The rest of my classes were nothing compared to this, but between the hard training, daily punishment laps, and keeping up with the pile of
VioletI opened my backpack one last time, checking that I had everything I needed. It was 4:50 AM, and I had ten more minutes before Kylan expected me at the gates.My bag was packed with extra clothes, a water bottle, a first-aid kit, towels, and even some muscle rub because I knew he would work me to the bone.Sighing, I zipped my bag and slung it over my shoulder before heading out of my room. As I stepped out, I saw Chrystal sitting on the couch. She had turned around instantly, her gaze sharp as always as she kept her lips pressed together.I truly hated her, and I knew the feeling was likewise.We stared at each other. I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew I was meeting Kylan—then again, if she did, I was pretty sure I’d be dealing with more than just a glare right now.I mean, the bitch threatened to scratch my eyes out.We both rolled our eyes at the same time, and then I finally left the dorm.By the time I reached the gate, Kylan was already there. I glanced down at my wat
Violet“Well, look who’s breathing again!” Trinity spoke as we both left our rooms at the same time. She grinned, eyeing me up and down.I smiled, shyly, running a hand over my long braid. After a day without Commander Jorn’s punishments, I finally felt like myself again.My muscles were still sore, but they were working, and for the first time in days, I didn’t feel like I could drop dead any second.Together, we made our way to the hall. “So, are you stuck with that nightmare of a commander again today?” she asked, scrunching her nose.I laughed, feeling the relief wash over me. “No, thank god!” I exhaled. “Just regular classes, then training with Rochwall, and…extra training with Kylan.”The last part came out hesitantly, mainly because Trinity always managed to make out something it wasn’t suppose to be. Her eyes widened as a grin spread across her face.“Extra training with Kylan?” she gushed. “Look at you, finally making some moves.”I grunted, shaking my head. “It’s not like th
VioletNate shrugged, “We watched a movie and went to bed. I gave her my hoodie because I didn’t want her to freeze to death, but somehow this rumor—”“Good for you two,” Kylan cut him off, his voice cold.I felt a pain in my heart, accepting he had no desire to hear more. He was so confusing. If he really didn’t care, then why were we not allowed to talk about it? And why did I even care?Before I could dwell on it too much, Rochwall entered the room. “My children!” his voice was full of energy. “I missed you!”Several cheered, thrilled to see him back. I could promise that if Commander Jorn had walked through that door, no one would’ve been smiling.Rochwall wasn’t alone. He had brought his wife, Jane, along with him. I watched as she took a seat at the back and greeted her with a smile—but she turned her head away, pretending not to notice.My smile vanished as I tried to think of a reason. Had I done something to upset her?No, of course not. I barely knew the woman.It was proba
VioletKylan’s ‘training’ in the woods was turning out to be more like a torture. Every exercise felt like a punishment, and I now was doubting whether he was really invested in teaching me, or just trying to make my life more miserable.He had me doing lunges, core exercises, running up and down hills, and, after turning my legs into jelly, I was now forced to hang from a tree branch.He yelled louder than Commander Jorn if I even dared to slack off. What bothered me even more was that he looked so handsome while doing it. So handsome, it actually turned me on.What the hell was wrong with me?I breathed, glancing at the branch above. It was a surprise I was still holding on, and somehow this seemed to be the only thing I was good at today.My arms weren’t trembling, and my body was calm and stable. The burn in my muscles was still intense—but I had too much on my mind to focus on it.My mind kept going back to Jane, and the reason why she had changed so suddenly. That look in her ey
VioletI froze, my heart pounding so loudly I could barely think straight. Part of me knew exactly what I would regret, because it was the same thing he would regret—and there was no way I could cross that line.Wouldn’t giving in mean letting him win after he had humiliated me on multiple occasions?‘Do it,’ I heard something whisper from deep within, and I knew it was Lumia, encouraging me to do the wrong thing.‘Do it.’Should I?I leaned a bit closer, but didn’t get far as Kylan stepped back. He eyed me as if I was the crazy one, as if he didn’t just dare me to kiss him.Just like that, I once again fell for his game.“Your cheeks are glowing,” he noted.I gasped, reaching up to cover my face, but it was of no use. He had already seen it anyway.How was he so unaffected by all of this? Did our bond mean nothing to him?“Well,” he said. “Since you’re all fired up, let’s see if you can channel that energy into your run.”I stared at him, wide-eyed. Was he serious? After all that, he
Violet“What do you want?”Kylan’s simple question repeated in my head.He had me pinned against the wall, his breath against my skin—yet he still needed me to say it. He was either trying to embarrass me, or maybe he truly had no clue and wanted to hear me admit it out loud.His hands pressed into my sides, and his bare chest rose as he took in a breath. His brown eyes flickered over my face, as if he had all the time in the world, waiting for my answer.I reached for his shoulders, pulling him back slightly so he could take a good look at me, and see I meant every word. “I want the same thing you do.”His gaze held mine, and he looked kind of disappointed. Was that not the answer he wanted to hear? That I wanted him?My heart quickened as I waited for him to speak up.“I can’t accept you as my mate, Violet,” his jaw tightened. Each time he used my birth name, I knew he was serious. “I can’t love you—I can’t be with you—““Yet you refuse to accept my rejection?”His words stung, but
Adelaide It felt as if the world around me had stopped. I softly clutched my chest, trying to steady my breathing. After sacrificing my position as the next High Priestess, I didn’t have a whole lot to sacrifice, so I didn’t like where this was headed. “The Veil has layers depending on each threat,” Aelius spoke. “The one who creates the Veil is expected to stay inside to keep watch on every layer within the realm.” My heart ached as I realized what he was saying. I would have to give up everything, my freedom, my life…all to keep Alaric, everyone, safe from Baelor. But it would be worth it, I know it would… “If that’s what it takes to keep Alaric safe,” I accept my faith, “then once again—I’ve already decided.” “That’s not all, Adelaide.” There was more? My chest tightened at the mere thought. “Then what is it?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Aelius tilted his head. “Where do you think your strength comes from?” I frowned, trying to think. “From my eyes…from all t
AdelaideI fluttered my eyes open, feeling the bright morning sun stream through the small window. Nothing from yesterday was a blur—I remembered it all very clearly.Mom and Esther, Baelor, fleeing to the cave…A weak sigh escaped my lips. It was officially graduation day, and I couldn’t help but wonder what our friends were doing at the moment.Would they be searching for us?Would that old man, Principal Sterling, have forced them to focus on graduation instead?They must be so confused right now.We had all worked so hard for four years to get to this point—only for it to be ruined by some God of the Underworld, and none of them even knew.But I didn’t care…He was safe. Alaric was safe, and that was all that mattered—My breath hitched, and my head turned in less than a split second. “Alaric?”I patted the empty spot beside me, then sat up straight, scanning the room. My eyes landed on a small note on the nightstand.“No…” I reached for it with shaky hands, expecting to read some
Adelaide Hearing the sound of a loud gasp, my eyes immediately shot open. Alaric’s wide blue eyes locked on mine, his breathing heavy and uneven. Worried, I placed my hand on his chest as it rose and fell. “You’re okay!” Before I could stop myself, I threw my arms around him—not caring if he would return the affection, but he did. He pulled me into a tight embrace. My heart felt a bit more at ease, and tears pricked my eyes at the relief I felt. Alaric holding me in his arms was all I needed right now. His hand moved to the back of my head, rubbing it like I was the one who needed comforting more than he did. “You were never going to do it,” he whispered against my hair. “You were never going to feed me any darkness.” I drew in a sharp breath, realizing what he meant. He knew—he had seen everything through my eyes, just like I wanted him to. “Of course I wouldn’t,” I stated, pulling back to look at him. I wanted to meet his eyes so he could see how serious I was. “
AdelaideI groaned, pulling the sled I had managed to put together from broken branches and leaves. On top of it lay Alaric, still unconscious, as he had left me no choice.It would’ve spared me a lot of time and strength if he had just listened to me—but at the same time, I understood I was probably the last person he wanted to hear from at the moment.The path through the dark woods was rough, my arms burning—but I couldn’t stop. Not until I knew he was safe.By now, Mom and Esther’s paralysis must’ve worn off, meaning I had to move faster.Sighing deeply, I glanced up at the hill in the distance. At the top was the cave that led to Bloodstone Haven—the village of the children of blood. We weren’t far now.“Come on,” I whispered, encouraging myself. “You’re almost there.”The cave was my only option, and I was certain Mom wouldn’t find us here. As far as she was concerned, I hadn’t spoken to Grandpa Aelius in years and barely remembered the man. After all, she had brainwashed me all
AdelaideMaking my eyes glow, I shifted my attention to Mom and Esther, who still had their eyes closed, chanting to bring back Baelor.They were too focused to notice me approaching, and I knew that if I wanted to do something—now was my chance.My heart raced, but I didn’t stop—I couldn’t stop.I was a good person…I stuck out both of my hands, placing them on each of their heads, and then…everything stopped.The shaking, the chanting, the black shadow—it all vanished instantly.Both Mom and Esther gasped before collapsing to the cold floor, their eyes wide with shock. The room was completely silent, except for my heavy breathing as it hit me what I had just done.Esther whimpered. “Adelaide?”“Sweetheart?” Mom whispered in disbelief.My eyes faded back to normal, and guilt washed over me as I watched my own mother lying there, unable to move. It wasn’t because of her—it was because I hadn’t done it sooner.I had paralyzed them, the same way Mom had paralyzed Alaric earlier. It was
AdelaideMy vision blurred as I tried to keep up with everything happening around me. It all happened so fast.One moment, I was trying to escape Starlight with Alaric, and now I was glued to the wall of some secret room beneath the library. Mom and Esther had dragged him here, unconscious, and I had no idea what to do.Esther had tied Alaric to some pole in the center of the room, while Mom grabbed his limp hand and whispered a few words.All of this was making me sick. I was so close to running away with him—but I had failed.Think, Adelaide, think!I looked around the small room, which looked like it had been prepared for this so-called ritual for a long time. Symbols were painted across the floor, salt had been spread around the center, there were candles, and most importantly, a small wooden table with an open book.Deciding to bring back Baelor during the party, where the whole school would be present—from freshmen to seniors to the professors—was definitely a calculated decisio
AdelaideWho am I?What am I?Where am I headed?Those were all the questions I couldn’t help but ask myself as I looked into the mirror. My face, my hair, even my body—they all looked the same, but I knew damn well that I wasn’t the same cruel person I had been four years ago.I sighed, straightening my tight black dress with my hands, then brushed through my curled hair. I looked perfect—like the kind of girl who had it all together…but deep inside, I was a mess.The graduation party was in a while, and I still hadn’t figured out what would happen tomorrow.“Addy!” Claire entered my room, holding up two purses. “Blue or pink?” she asked, spinning around in her white dress.Claire looked stunning, as always. Her blonde hair was in an elegant bun, and her dress made her look more like a fairy than a werewolf. But it wasn’t just her looks that made her stunning—it was everything about her. She was kind, funny, and, besides Alaric, had one of the purest hearts I had ever seen.If there
Year 4Adelaide“One more day, Addy!” Claire squealed, pulling me into a tight hug. “Can you believe it? We’re finally graduating!”Her eyes sparkled as she pulled back to look at me. Claire had been like this for months, probably because she actually had her life planned out after school.I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, she was already barking orders to someone across the gym.“No, the lights need to be higher!” she pointed out. “We’ve gone through this already, get it together!”My lips curled, watching the same girl who couldn’t even count to ten a few years back thriving as the head of the school council. Whatever she would end up doing at the Bloodrose, I knew she would be good at it.“Tonight is going to be perfect, Addy!” She turned back to me. “Don’t you think?”I nodded, though I couldn’t reach her level of excitement. Even now, my mind was elsewhere. There was the party tonight and graduation tomorrow—but for me, everything still felt far from perfect.Why?
Year 3Adelaide‘The Veil, also known as a special portal that can only be created by the eyes of a Seer. Once such a portal is opened…’Before I could read further, I felt a firm hand on my shoulder. A gasp left my mouth before I slammed the book shut.Knowing who the hand belonged to, I quickly turned around, facing Alaric, who stood behind me with a grin on his face.“What’s with the look?” he chuckled, leaning down to kiss the side of my neck. I flinched, feeling his lips on the same spot where he had marked me last year. After making up every reason as to why it wouldn’t be a good idea, I came to the conclusion that there really wasn’t one.Maybe one—and that reason was Mom. An argument with Mom during the semester break had eventually pushed me to do it, and I did not regret my decision.As far as Mom and Esther were concerned, I was still preparing her chosen vessel—feeding him darkness—but that wasn’t true. I mostly spent my days in the library, desperately searching for a way