Chapter 95 Bonfire party

Chapter 95 Bonfire party
THE ACADEMY HALLWAY

"Hello, my beautiful weapon," Orion said with a nasty smile, his eyes glowing with malice. "Did you really think I would just wait outside?"

Twila didn't scream or flinch, she didn't back away.

She wiped the wet tears off her cheeks and regarded the old man as if he were simply annoying.

"Are you done talking, Orion?" Twila asked, her tone perfectly flat.

Orion blinked, his smile vanishing. He expected her to run away crying or cast a dark magic spell at him.

"I don't have the energy for your monologue tonight," Twila sighed, crossing her arms. "Unless you’re going to do something, get out of my face."

Orion glared at her, his ego bruised because she showed no fear.

He didn’t say another word, he just wrapped his dark magic around himself and melted back into the shadows, vanishing from the hallway.

Twila didn’t look back, she picked up her bag and headed straight to her room.

THE GIRLS DORMITORY

"You are not staying in this room tonight to cry over a boy," Island said loudly, yanking the blankets off Twila's bed.

"Island, please leave me alone," Twila groaned, curling into a ball on the mattress. "Raiden told me to be with Niles. He walked away from me."

"And you're just going to let him win?" Island laughed, meanly opening Twila's closet and throwing clothes onto the floor. "We are going to the bonfire party in the woods tonight. You're going to wear a hot dress, drink alcohol, and make Raiden regret letting you go."

Amorette sat on her bed, brushing her hair and smiling broadly.

"Island is right, Twila," Amorette said softly. "Neon will be at the party, and I plan to ask him to dance."

"My twin brother?" Twila sat up in shock. "You like Neon?"

"He is incredibly nice, Twila," Amorette blushed, hiding her face behind her hair. "He helped me with my flowers, and he looks really cute in his hoodies."

Twila managed a small smile. Her brother deserved a good girl like Amorette.

"Fine," Twila sighed, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. "I'll go to the party. But I’m not dancing with the vampire."

"You don’t have to dance with anyone," Island smirked, tossing a tight black dress into Twila's hands. "Just stand there and look untouchable."

THE BONFIRE PARTY

The party was huge and very loud.

Hundreds of students gathered around a giant bonfire deep in the woods behind the dorms, music blared from speakers, and everyone held red plastic cups.

Twila walked into the party with Island and Amorette.

She wore the tight black dress that hugged her curves, her brown hair falling in messy waves down her back.

She scanned the crowd, her heart racing.

Raiden sat on a fallen log near the fire. He wore a tight black t-shirt, holding a red cup in his hand. Cassian and Levi sat next to him, laughing at something Nyx just said.

Raiden looked up, his eyes locked onto Twila.

He stopped drinking. He froze, his gaze darkening with intense desire as he took in her bare legs.

Twila felt a hot shiver run down her spine. She wanted to walk over and sit on his lap.

But Raiden clenched his jaw and turned to talk to Cassian, as if she didn’t exist.

Twila felt a sharp pain in her chest, he was ignoring her.

"Don't look at him," Island whispered, handing Twila a cup. "Let him suffer. He’s dying inside, I promise."

"Hey, beautiful," a smooth voice said behind her.

Twila turned around. Niles stood there in a jacket, looking handsome and relaxed.

"Niles," Twila said, feeling the mate bond flare in her stomach.

"You look stunning tonight," Niles smiled genuinely. "Do you want to get a drink with me?"

"We’re just getting drinks," Twila warned quietly. "Nothing else, Niles."

"I know," he nodded, keeping his hands to himself. "I promised to be fair."

They walked to the drink table together.

Across the fire, Raiden squeezed his cup so hard the plastic cracked, spilling beer on his jeans.

"Bro, you need to chill," Levi said, glancing at the broken cup. "You’ll blow up the forest if you keep glaring at them."

"I am chill," Raiden growled, his voice deep.

"You told her to make a choice," Nyx pointed out, leaning against Levi. "You can’t get mad when she talks to the guy."

Before Raiden could respond, someone sat down close to him.

It was Lunaria.

She wore a bright red top that showed too much skin. She smiled arrogantly, leaning her hand on Raiden's thigh.

"You look lonely tonight, Raiden," Lunaria purred, batting her eyelashes. "It sucks your girlfriend dumped you for the vampire. But you don't have to be alone."

The group fell silent. Cassian stared at her like she was crazy.

Twila halted her conversation with Niles. She stared at Lunaria's hand on Raiden's leg.

A wave of jealousy surged in Twila's chest. The Void in her stomach roared, and she almost dropped her cup.

Raiden looked down at Lunaria’s hand.

He didn’t smile or flirt back, he looked disgusted.

"Get your hand off my leg," Raiden growled, his voice quiet but terrifying.

Lunaria’s smile vanished. "Excuse me?"

"I said don't touch me," Raiden sneered, standing up so quickly he nearly knocked her over. "I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last girl on Earth, Lunaria. You’re nothing but cheap trash."

Lunaria’s face turned red. Humiliated, she stood and stomped away into the crowd.

"Damn," Cassian laughed. "That was brutal."

Raiden didn’t care, his eyes locked back onto Twila across the fire.

He wanted her to see that he wanted no one else. He wanted her to know that even though he walked away, he was still loyal to her.

Twila felt a happy smile appear on her face. Her Storm King had just stood up to the mean girl for her.

"He’s staring at you," Niles whispered.

"I know," Twila said, unable to look away from Raiden's gaze.

"Dance with me," Niles said suddenly, holding out his hand.

"What?" Twila asked, confused.

"We made a deal," Niles reminded her gently. "I get a fair chance. Dance with me for one song, let him see I’m trying."

Twila hesitated, glancing at Raiden and Niles’s outstretched hand.

She took a deep breath and placed her hand in Niles’s cold palm.

"One song," Twila agreed.

Niles led her gently into the middle of the crowd, wrapping his arm around her waist as they swayed to the loud music. He didn’t pull her too close, respecting her space perfectly.

But Raiden couldn’t handle it.

Seeing the vampire's hand on her waist broke the last thread of control he had.

He turned and walked away from the bonfire, disappearing into the woods.

Twila saw him leave, her heart sank.

"I'm sorry," she gasped, pulling away from Niles. "I can’t."