Elowen’s POV The game continued, but the atmosphere had shifted dramatically. What started out as a simple bottle-spinning challenge had turned into something much more intense. Every time the bottle spun, the tension between us grew thicker, and with it, the dare escalating. We were no longer just playing for fun. This had turned into a battle of egos, of pride, and of revenge. I could feel all eyes on me, especially Ranon’s. His gaze was intense, but his lips were pressed tightly together as if holding back something—something dangerous. I could see the flicker of frustration in his eyes, and it fueled me further. This was my moment. I leaned forward, resting my chin on my hand, and let the game continue. But I wasn’t going to let things go on without taking control. The bottle spun again, slower this time, and it finally stopped. I was expecting it to land on one of the guys, but instead, the bottle pointed directly at me. I could hear a few chuckles, and Alisa’s voice broke t
Ranon's POV I stood there like a complete idiot, my chest heaving, her taste still lingering on my lips. She had walked away, and I just let her. My fists clenched at my sides as I tried to process what had just happened. The room was buzzing with whispers, but I didn’t hear a word. All I could focus on was her—Elowen. What the hell was she doing to me? The second she kissed me, I lost all control. It wasn’t just a kiss; it was a slap to my pride, a dare, a game she thought she could win. And maybe she was right. Because as much as I hated to admit it, she owned me in that moment. “Damn, Ranon,” one of my friends finally broke the silence, chuckling nervously. “Didn’t think you had it in you to go for it like that.” I shot him a glare so sharp that it silenced him immediately. “Shut up,” I snapped, my voice low but venomous. Across the room, Alisa stood frozen, her face pale with shock. She opened her mouth to speak, but for the first time, she didn’t know what to say. Good. I d
Elowen’s POV The halls of the academy felt like they were closing in on me as I walked through them, whispers following in my wake. Eyes burned into my back, and the murmurs were almost deafening. My every step felt heavy, like I was walking under the weight of everyone’s expectations, their judgments. “Did you see what happened last night?” “Ranon kissed her. In front of everyone.” “I can’t believe she kissed him back.” “Alisa must be fuming.” I fought back the smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. Let them talk. Let them assume whatever they wanted. The game was unfolding exactly how I wanted it. The pieces were in motion, and I was pulling the strings. When I reached my locker, Kael was leaning against it, his posture casual but his eyes sharp. As soon as he saw me, his lips curled into a knowing smile. “Making waves, Elowen?” he teased, voice dripping with amusement. “Am I?” I responded, feigning innocence, though my fingers expertly worked the lock on my locker.
Elowen's POV As I walked through the crowded hallways, the whispers seemed louder, more eager, more charged. The glances thrown my way were laced with curiosity and a hint of fear, the kind that came when people realized they were witnessing something dangerous. Something they couldn’t predict. I could feel the weight of their gazes, but I didn’t care. Let them stare. Let them talk. The game was just getting started, and I was in control. I caught a glimpse of myself in a reflective surface—my hair perfectly styled, makeup sharp and deliberate. I looked every bit the girl they thought they knew... but there was so much more beneath the surface. More than they would ever see coming. The triplets had no idea what they were dealing with. Ranon thought he knew me, thought he had me pegged, but I had yet to show him the real Elowen. The one who could bring them to their knees without lifting a finger. And today, I would make my first move. When I reached the library, I noticed R
Elowen’s POV I had no intention of letting the day pass quietly, not with everything that had transpired. My thoughts were focused on one thing: making sure Theron also knew exactly where I stood. He wasn’t going to get away with treating me like a puzzle he could ignore or dismiss whenever it suited him. If anyone was going to control the game, it was going to be me. I found him standing near the entrance of the academy, his usual confident posture a bit more tense than usual. His eyes caught mine the moment I entered the hall, and the expression on his face told me everything I needed to know. There was frustration in those eyes—his carefully hidden confusion about me. "Elowen," he said, his voice steady but with an underlying edge. His jaw was clenched, like he was fighting to keep his emotions under control. I ignored the way my heart twisted at the sound of his voice and the slight pull toward him. I had a plan now, and nothing was going to derail me. "Theron," I respo
Elowen’s POV The days following that kiss were a whirlwind. I knew better than to let my emotions get tangled up in the mess Theron had created. But every time our paths crossed, I could feel the heat between us—fierce, unrelenting, and impossible to ignore. It was almost as if he had become a shadow in my mind, lurking in every corner, whispering in my thoughts. I tried to shake it off, to focus on my revenge, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't quite erase the feeling that I had ignited something in him. And, for the first time in a long time, I was beginning to wonder if I could control the flames I had started. --- The academy was abuzz with gossip. Whispers about the kiss between The Triplet's and me were like wildfire, spreading through every hallway, every class. Alisa was particularly insistent on confronting me about it, but I made it clear that she was beneath me. I didn’t need to entertain her petty jealousy. But today, as I entered the cafeteria, my eyes i
Elowen’s POV The days that followed only intensified the chaos inside me. Theron’s kiss had ignited something I couldn’t ignore, but I couldn’t afford to get distracted. This wasn’t about love, or even desire—it was about revenge. It had to be. I had a plan, and I wouldn’t let anyone, especially Theron, derail it. But every time our paths crossed, it felt like the line between playing him and falling for him was blurring. The way he looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and something I refused to acknowledge... it stirred something deep within me. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn't let him have that power over me. --- The academy was in full swing by the time the weekend approached, and I had the perfect opportunity to push my plan forward. I walked into the cafeteria, head held high, making my way toward the table where the triplets usually sat. The whispers followed me, and I reveled in the attention. They wanted to see how far I’d go, how much of a spectac
Elowen’s POVI stormed out of the library after the kiss, my heart racing and my mind spinning. What just happened? That kiss—it wasn’t supposed to feel like this. It wasn’t supposed to make me question everything.I stepped outside into the cool night air, needing to escape the suffocating walls of the academy. The moon hung high, its silver light illuminating the quiet campus. I leaned against a tree, my breath coming in shaky bursts as I tried to gather my thoughts.This wasn’t part of the plan. I was supposed to make him fall for me, not the other way around. I was supposed to stay in control, but every time Theron touched me, every time he looked at me with those intense, stormy eyes, I felt myself unraveling."Pull yourself together, Elowen," I muttered to myself, running a hand through my hair. "This is about revenge. Nothing more."But deep down, I knew it was becoming more than that. And that terrified me.The next day at the academy, I avoided Theron at all costs. I couldn’t
Theron’s POVThe dawn arrived with a languid grace, its golden tendrils unfurling across the vast expanse of the Academy’s massive windows, slicing sharp, luminous beams across the polished stone floor of the common lounge. The light illuminated the tableau of our intertwined bodies, where Elowen still lay nestled between Ranon and Alaric, a vision of peaceful vulnerability.I remained where I had been throughout the restless night, my long legs stretched out before me, my back pressed against the cool, unyielding stone of the wall, my arms folded tightly across my chest. But my stillness was a deceptive facade. Beneath the outward calm, every nerve ending was acutely aware, every muscle coiled with a possessive tension. I wasn’t resting; I was watching her, my gaze an invisible tether connecting us.She stirred in the depths of her sleep, a soft, almost childlike movement, murmuring something incoherent, her cheek nuzzling against the solid warmth of Ranon’s chest. A low growl, prima
Theron’s POVTraining resumed, a strained imitation of its usual rigorous pace. The air, once crisp with the promise of a new day, now felt thick with unspoken threats and simmering resentment. Every time Elowen’s melodic laughter echoed across the training grounds, every time her golden-streaked hair shimmered like spun sunlight as she executed a sharp spin, my gaze, against my will, snagged on Caelum. He stood like a silent predator at the edge of the grounds, a shadow lurking just beyond the perimeter of our tightly knit group. His golden eyes, intense and unwavering, burned into her back, branding her with his unwelcome attention as if he possessed some inherent right.The sight made my blood simmer, a slow, dangerous heat that threatened to boil over into outright violence. My grip on my practice sword tightened until my knuckles ached, the smooth wood digging into my palm.“Theron,” Alaric’s voice, sharp and urgent, barked under his breath, yanking me back from the precipice of
Theron’s POVThe grand mansion, usually alive with the soft murmur of conversations and the rhythmic footsteps of its inhabitants, was now cloaked in an unnerving silence. It was the kind of silence that pressed against your eardrums, a heavy, suffocating stillness that made every deliberate breath feel like a jarring intrusion into the hushed sanctity of the night. Moonlight, sharp and silver, sliced through the towering, arched windows, casting elongated, dancing shadows that writhed across the age-old, polished stone floors, turning familiar hallways into corridors of spectral mystery. Yet, despite the pervasive stillness that gripped the very bones of the building, a violent storm of emotion, a tempest of possessive fury and simmering jealousy, brewed within the confines of my own being, mirrored in the tense silence of my brothers.I stood just outside Elowen’s bedroom door, the heavy oak panel left slightly ajar, a sliver of warm light escaping into the cool hallway. Her soft,
Elowen’s POVSleep came easily, a deep, restful slumber cradled in Alaric’s arms. The quiet intimacy of our night lingered in the air, a peaceful warmth that chased away the lingering shadows of the day. When I finally stirred, the first rays of dawn were painting the sky in soft hues of rose and gold, casting a gentle light across Alaric’s sleeping face.He lay on his side, his dark hair tousled, his silver eyes closed in peaceful repose. There was a vulnerability in his relaxed features, a softness that was rarely on display in the waking hours. A wave of affection washed over me, a deep appreciation for the quiet strength and unwavering tenderness he offered.I traced the sharp line of his jaw with a gentle fingertip, the stubble rough beneath my touch. His brow furrowed slightly in his sleep, and I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. His eyelids fluttered, and his silver eyes slowly opened, focusing on me with a sleepy warmth.“Morning,” he murmured, his voice still t
Elowen’s POV We sat like that for a long time, our hands clasped across the cool wood of the kitchen table, the silence a comfortable tapestry woven with unspoken affection and shared understanding. The gentle ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway marked the slow passage of the late hour, each tick a quiet affirmation of the peaceful intimacy that enveloped us. The moonlight continued its silent vigil through the arched window, bathing the deserted kitchen in a soft, ethereal glow. Alaric’s thumb continued its slow, soothing strokes across the back of my hand, a simple gesture that spoke volumes of his quiet tenderness. His silver eyes, still softened by the late hour, held a steady gaze, a silent reassurance that transcended the need for words. In that moment, the complexities of our lives, the ever-present awareness of the triplets’ possessiveness, the weight of the Academy’s scrutiny – all of it seemed to recede, leaving only the profound connection between Alaric and m
Elowen’s POV The remainder of the evening passed with a renewed sense of quiet solidarity. The brief intrusion by Lysander had served as a stark reminder of the outside world’s perception of our unconventional bond, but it had also solidified the unwavering unity between the triplets and me. Ranon’s possessive hand never left mine, Alaric’s protective arm remained draped across my shoulders, and Theron’s occasional sardonic remarks were now laced with an extra layer of territoriality. Later, as the common room emptied and the Academy settled into its nightly quiet, we retreated to the triplets’ suite. The familiar comfort of their shared living space, the scent of their combined pheromones a soothing balm to my senses, eased the lingering tension of the day. Ranon had built a roaring fire in the hearth, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. Alaric was meticulously cleaning his blades, the rhythmic shick-shick of the whetstone a familiar sound. Theron was
Elowen’s POV The night with Ranon was a whirlwind of raw sensation and possessive tenderness. His touch was demanding, his kisses branding, each caress a silent claim. Yet, beneath the fierce exterior, there was a surprising gentleness, a deep-seated need to connect on a level that transcended mere physicality. We lost ourselves in each other, the cool stone of the gazebo a stark contrast to the burning heat of our bodies entwined under the watchful gaze of the moon. When dawn finally broke, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and gold, I awoke nestled in his arms, the lingering scent of our passion clinging to the air. He was still asleep, his dark hair tousled, his strong arms wrapped protectively around me. A sense of deep contentment settled within me, a quiet understanding of the intricate tapestry of my relationships with the triplets. Each connection was unique, each filled a different part of me, and last night had been a powerful reminder of the intense, undeniable bond
Elowen’s POV The rest of the day at the Academy passed in a blur of lectures and drills, each moment punctuated by the subtle awareness of the triplets’ watchful gazes. Ranon’s hand never strayed far, a possessive warmth against my skin. Alaric’s silver eyes followed me with a quiet intensity, a silent promise of unwavering support. Theron’s sharp observations and sardonic remarks were always directed my way, a constant, teasing reminder of our intertwined lives. The undercurrent of the morning’s events lingered, a subtle shift in the way the other students interacted with me. There was a newfound respect, tinged with a healthy dose of fear, in their eyes. Caelum’s defeat at my hands had clearly sent a ripple through the Academy’s hierarchy. As dusk began to paint the sky in hues of fiery orange and soft violet, we found ourselves in the training gardens, a secluded sanctuary tucked away behind the main buildings. The air was fragrant with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and da
Elowen’s POV The air in the Academy’s combat hall, a vast chamber usually echoing with the clang of steel and the grunts of exertion, crackled with a palpable, almost electric tension even before Professor Lyra’s crisp voice sliced through the anticipatory silence. I sat wedged between Alaric and Theron on the long, polished wooden bench that lined the edge of the expansive sparring floor. Ranon, ever the sentinel, hadn’t allowed me more than a few feet of breathing room since the charged intimacy of the rooftop. His calloused fingers, possessive and reassuring, grazed the back of my hand every few heartbeats, a silent, tactile reminder to both himself and anyone watching that I was still within his orbit—still his. But the moment Caelum stepped onto the gleaming sparring floor, a ripple of altered energy spread through the room, a subtle shift in the students’ collective focus. He moved with a predatory grace, his tall, muscular frame encased in black training leathers that seemed