Chapter Eighty-One
The five of them stepped into the courtyard like a storm wrapped in silk and steel.
Avery walked at the center, her mates flanking her like a royal guard — Riven sharp and unreadable, Kael all wolfish charm, Lucien cool and calculating. Molly moved just behind Avery, her presence radiant, her violet-winged fairy glowing with mischief.
The stares started immediately.
Students paused mid-step. Conversations faltered. And from the far side of the courtyard, a cluster of “mean girls” narrowed their eyes, their glares sharp enough to cut glass.
They had spent the last year vying for the boys — flirting, scheming, whispering. And now, here Avery was: bonded, married, and walking through campus like she owned it.
The wedding announcement had gone out a month ago, followed by the revelation of the prophecy bond. It had sent shockwaves through the school — whispers, rumors, and more than a few snide remarks about Avery’s origins in the human realm.
But Avery and Molly? They didn’t flinch.
They walked with grace and laughter, ignoring the stares, letting the chaos swirl around them like wind through leaves.
The boys? They smirked.
Riven’s gaze flicked toward the glaring girls, one brow raised in silent challenge. Kael winked at a stunned sophomore who dropped her coffee. Lucien offered a polite nod to a professor who looked like he might faint.
Avery leaned toward Molly, her voice low and amused. “This is going to be fun.”
Molly grinned. “Let them talk. We’ll give them something worth whispering about.”
Silver and Violet flitted around them, glowing brighter with every step. The first day of college had officially begun. And Avery and her circle were ready to enjoy every second of the chaos.
The first morning of classes had already been a whirlwind. Training had left Riven and Kael dripping with sweat, their muscles aching, Kael’s wolf and Riven's Dragon restless. Neither of them had any intention of walking into their next classes smelling like the training yard.
“Quick shower, change, and then we’ll meet them,” Kael muttered as they jogged across campus toward their suite.
Riven smirked, wiping his brow. “And maybe figure out how to steal a little time with them during class. Lucien’s too focused on his favorite subject to notice if we slip a note or two.”
Kael chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re incorrigible.”
They were still laughing, still scheming, when they pushed open the door to their rooms.
And froze.
Shannon was there.
Standing in the middle of the suite, her clothes discarded, her eyes burning with lust and determination.
Before either of them could react, she lunged at Riven, arms outstretched, her voice a breathless plea.
“Riven—”
The bond flared hot in his chest, a visceral rejection that made his dragons snarl. Kael’s growl joined it, low and dangerous, vibrating through the room. For a heartbeat, the air was thick with shock. Then instinct took over.
Riven caught her wrists before she could touch him, his grip iron. His voice was cold, sharper than steel. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Kael stepped forward, his presence towering, his wolf’s dominance pressing down like a storm. “You don’t belong here. You hacked your way into our rooms. You crossed a line you can’t uncross.”
Shannon’s eyes flickered, desperation warring with defiance. She had been promised. Promised by the faction that if she helped them, if she played her part, she would get what she wanted.
But in that moment, staring into Riven’s furious eyes, she realized how wrong she had been.
Outside the suite, the shadows stirred. The faction’s eyes were watching, waiting to see how the prophecy-bound five would react.
This was only the first test.
And Avery didn’t even know it had begun.
Kael reacted first. His wolf surged forward, dominance rolling off him as he pinned Shannon’s wrists behind her back with practiced ease. She struggled, but it was useless — his grip was iron, his expression cold.
Riven didn’t waste a second. He pulled his phone, his voice clipped as he called Dean Errol. “We have a breach. Unauthorized entry into our suite. Alert the council police immediately.”
At the same time, both he and Kael opened the mind link, their voices sharp and steady. Lucien. Molly. Avery. We’ve got a situation. Shannon broke into our rooms. She’s restrained. Council police are on their way.
Avery’s response came swiftly, her tone calm, commanding. This is the faction. They’re watching us. If we panic, if we drop everything, they’ll see it as weakness. Continue your day as planned. Kael, Riven — handle Shannon. The rest of us will stay on schedule.
Her certainty steadied them.
Lucien’s voice followed, cool and measured. We’ll meet for lunch. Keep it clean until then.
Riven and Kael exchanged a glance, both nodding. Agreed.
Minutes later, the council police arrived, their presence quiet but absolute. Shannon was taken into custody, her protests ignored. Riven’s voice was low but firm as he spoke to Dean Errol.
“We need to be moved. Off the campus database. If they can hack their way into our rooms once, they’ll try again.”
Errol’s face was grim, but he nodded. “Consider it done. I’ll see to it personally.”
By the time Shannon was escorted to the holding cells, Auron and Mark were already waiting. Their presence was a wall of reassurance, their eyes sharp as they took in the situation.
“You did the right thing,” Auron said, his voice steady. “No panic. No cracks. That’s how you win against people like this.”
Mark’s gaze flicked to Riven and Kael. “We’ll handle her interrogation. You two focus on keeping your circle steady. That’s your job.”
Back on campus, Avery, Molly, and Lucien moved through their classes as if nothing had happened. They laughed, they took notes, they played their roles perfectly.
But beneath it all, the bond hummed with quiet fire.
The faction thought they had tested them.
But all they had done was prove that Avery and her mates would not unravel, would not break.
The noose was tightening — only this time, it was around Londrell’s neck.