Chapter 56 CHAPTER 56
I felt like I was doing the proverbial walk of shame as I pushed the door open, taking in the empty beds on my right and left.
Only Erin remained and she was working on an assignment.
“Oh hey, you're back. How was your reading?”
“It was great,” I smiled widely, omitting the intense drama that was my life rn, “I got all the assignments done.”
“Oh Stars bless you, can you help me out? I have to go somewhere before the evening bell and this last one is driving me crazy.”
“Of course,” I reached for it, happy to actually be of use to the girl who literally ensured I stayed alive. “You have a date?”
“I won't call it that,” she blushed, “he's a senior and I can't allow anything to happen.”
“Oh. Why not?” I asked as I settled on my bed, gradually taking off my clothes.
“He'll finish this year, and then go off to war. What if he meets someone else? What if I don't make it to the finals? Our souls cannot be so far apart and I don't want to think of what will happen if anything happens to him out there.”
“But isn't that what love is about? Sacrifices?”
“Sacrifices? What would make anyone want to do that? It's supposed to be a perfect match, a perfect man for his perfect woman living their perfect lives as the Kingdom wants.”
“But if he knows this, why then is he moving to you?”
“I don't know but Akua thinks I should just enjoy myself. I'm sure the sex would be good too,” she shrugged.
“And what happens if you start to feel things for him?”
“Without the Soul Tie connection, every feeling will fade after a few days. No big deal,” she said as she stood up. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful,” I smiled and I wasn't lying.
She looked ethereal; her makeup was green-themed, and her gown matched her hair, giving her a beautiful, finished look.
“Thank you so much, I'll be back before midnight. Don't wait up!”
I smiled, knowing we'll both be sneaking into the hostel tonight.
Her assignment wasn't as easy as mine and I went through three textbooks before I could figure out the answers and I had to cross-check again before finishing.
Then I went to have a bath and I wore my fighting gear.
I know he said we were done but these last few days have been life-changing for me. I wanted to spend time with him, have him prepare my body to survive this place.
But honestly, I just wanted Master Florian's face before me again.
I'm gonna insult him and all but the heart wants what it wants, doesn't it?
I ran all the way there, not stopping for once.
Maybe it was me getting stronger or it was the fact that I was scared he'd come here and would be waiting for me.
Delusional, I know, but I just felt like this was right.
I hadn't stopped to think about what I'll tell Principal Draco if he was snooping around here again and neither did I have answers for anyone asking why I'm in fighting gear today, which was for resting.
There were literally no thoughts put into this, just a stupid impulse that demanded things I didn't have the energy to say no to.
As I got closer, I searched around with my nose.
Nothing.
I knew I should turn back but I kept running, giving myself excuses.
Maybe he was too fast for the environment to pick up his scent.
Maybe he was still on his way.
Maybe he took another route.
“Maybe I should just turn around and go inside rather than behaving like a creep,” I snapped at myself.
But I still let my feet move, until I got to the training ground.
It was locked.
“Great. Do you need another sign?”
I probably looked crazy talking to myself but this entire act was crazier for sure.
Jumping over it was a stupid decision, and even though I'd been making a ton of those lately, that was too much.
“Well, I guess it's truly over,” I whispered, “the asshole couldn't even try to make sure I was good enough.”
“I think you're as good as you can get at this level.”
I swiveled around so fast I nearly fell.
But I'd done enough of that and I simply held onto the small rails of the gate.
“Master Florian?”
“No, asshole. Wasn't that what you called me a few seconds ago?”
My heart race sizzled.
“I didn't mean that, I was just upset.”
“Oh yeah? What about?”
“You said the classes were over. The Principal said to train me to catch up with the others. I still got beaten up last night and I barely survived it. So by my calculations, you're not done with your assignment.”
He didn't say anything.
No snarky comment, no jabs, no rebuttal.
Just silence.
And then, “I'm going back to the war front.”
“Wait, what?” I gasped.
I'd not thought of him as an actual soldier even though he looked every bit like one
Muscled, tough, murderous eyes that matched his volatile strength.
“It's normal, we're at war Princess.”
“Yes sir but you're an instructor. My instructor. How am I to continue getting better in your absence? Who's teaching the new fliers?”
“Wait a minute, you need me? You actually confessed that?”
“Don't get too excited, I'm never saying that again.”
“I could never,” he chuckled, a grin gracing his handsome face as he stepped closer to me. “I'll be back in two weeks. Don't get into too much trouble in my absence.”
“Two weeks? I might be dead before then.”
His eyes flashed gold and he cupped my cheeks, pulling me closer.
“Don't ever say things like that again,” he growled, his voice thick with emotion.
“What will you do if I say it again?”
“Fucking hell,” he growled, bending his head so ours meet, sending shock waves all over my skin. “You enjoy getting a rise out of me don't you?”
I swallowed the overly sexual retort in my throat, because there was already enough of that tension here and nobody wanted that.
“I'll see you when you come back sir, I'll keep practicing in your absence.”
“And you promise to stay away from those unruly boys?”
“Whenever I have the chance sir.”
He didn't know they were in my classes, great.
“You're to train every single day. I want you muscled and toned when I get back,” he instructed again.
“What sort of sorcery will that be? No one realistically achieved their aim in just two weeks.”
“It might be more, depending on how much damage we need to do. Or how long I spend on the other side.”
“Wait, you're going to the Fae land?" I gasped, “You're a spy? How?”
And then he pulled back, just an inch so I could see all of him, his thick hair covering his neck.
Then he picked them up in a bun and I watched in shock as he grew long ears.
“Because I'm part of them and part of you.”
Oh…
My lips parted in shock as the information flowed through my veins.
I've been coming to a lonely location with a Fae, the same species destroying dragons and dragon kin alike.
“Don't worry, I'm completely on this side and I'll see you when I'm back alright?”
I nodded absent-mindedly, my brain struggling to understand how he got to where he was now.
Until I began to feel his presence.
“Master Florian!”
He stopped in his tracks a distance away.
I ran towards him and I engulfed him in a tight hug.
“Please don't die out there.”
His hand flowed into my scalp, and he pulled my head back.
“I will stay alive Alira. I must know how these lips of yours taste.”
And then he was gone, leaving me wondering how all of this happened.
I hated his guts and now I was heavy-hearted, scared he might die.