Chapter 96 Silver ring

Chapter 96 Silver ring
Twila grabbed the collar of Raiden's shirt with both of her trembling hands. She pulled his body down and pressed her mouth against his.

Raiden froze for one second. His body became rigid in the cold air.

Then he let out a loud, desperate groan. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against his chest and kissing her with passion. It felt like dying and being reborn all at once.

But suddenly, Raiden pushed her away. He stepped back, wiping his swollen lips with the back of his hand, his chest heaving.

"Don't do that," Raiden choked out, his eyes wild with pain. "Don’t kiss me out of pity, Twila. I don’t want your pity."

"It’s not pity!" Twila shouted, tears streaming down her face. "I love you, you idiot! I chose you!"

"Then why did you dance with him?" Raiden yelled, his voice breaking. "Why did you let him hold you in front of the whole school, Twila?"

"Because I have to do the thirty days!" Twila sobbed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I made a deal to save your life, Raiden!"

"You hesitated," Raiden accused, pointing a shaking finger at her chest. "When you pulled away from him by the fire, I saw it in your eyes, Twila."

Twila couldn’t lie to him. She dropped to her knees in the dirt, hiding her crying face behind her hands.

"The bond is pulling me, Raiden," Twila cried loudly, her voice echoing in the woods. "It forces my body to crave him. I hate myself for it, but I can’t turn it off!"

"You don’t hate him anymore," Raiden whispered, stating the harsh truth that neither wanted to acknowledge.

"I’m so confused," Twila wept, looking up at his face. "When he touches me, I feel safe. But when I look at you, my soul feels at home. I feel like I’m tearing myself in half."

Raiden stared at her, he didn’t look angry, he looked defeated.

"I can’t share you, Twila," Raiden said quietly, his voice dropping to a dead tone. "I am the Storm King. I don’t share my crown, and I refuse to share my Queen."

"Please don’t walk away from me again," Twila begged, reaching out toward his boots with her shaking hand.

"Figure out what you really want, Psycho," Raiden whispered, turning away from her. "Before you destroy us both."

Raiden walked into the dark trees, leaving her alone and crying.

The next morning, the cafeteria was loud and packed with gossiping students.

Twila sat at a small table in the back corner. She didn’t want to sit at the Kings' table today. She poked at her cold scrambled eggs, feeling nauseous.

Island walked over and slammed her cup onto the table. Neon followed her, holding a plate of toast.

"You look terrible today, sis," Neon said casually, sitting down next to her.

"Thanks, Neon," Twila snapped, wiping her tired, puffy eyes. "I chased him into the woods last night, and he rejected me."

Island sighed, taking a slow sip of her coffee.

"He didn’t reject you, Twila," Island said, looking at her with cold eyes. "He’s protecting his heart. You’re basically dating two guys at the same time, and it’s messy."

"I’m not dating the vampire!" Twila argued, feeling a hot blush creep up her neck.

"You danced with him," Island pointed out, checking her nails. "You smiled at him, Twila. Raiden has pride, he won’t sit back while a bloodsucker takes you on dates."

"I just don’t know how to turn these feelings off," Twila whispered, dropping her fork onto her plate. "The mate bond makes me feel crazy."

"Speak of the devil," Neon muttered, his eyes narrowing as he looked across the crowded room.

Niles Vayne walked straight toward their table.

He wore a sweater that fit him perfectly. He looked calm, ignoring the girls who were staring at him.

"Good morning," Niles said softly, stopping in front of Twila’s chair.

"Go away, Niles," Neon warned, standing up to protect his twin sister. "She’s not in the mood for your creepy vampire tricks today."

"I didn’t come to trick her," Niles said smoothly, ignoring Neon’s threat.

Niles reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver ring, placing it gently on the table.

Twila frowned, staring at it. "What is this?"

"It’s a dampening ring," Niles explained quietly, locking his eyes onto hers. "I had a powerful witch make this for you last night. If you wear it on your finger, it will block the physical pull of the mate bond."

The table fell silent. Island dropped her coffee cup in shock.

"Why would you give this to me?" Twila gasped, looking up at him in confusion. "You need the bond to make me like you."

"Because I felt you kiss him in the woods last night," Niles whispered, his voice cracking with pain. "The bond links our emotions. It broke my heart to feel how much you love him."

Twila swallowed hard, guilt washing over her.

"I want you to choose me," Niles said honestly, leaning on the table. "But I don’t want the magic to force your body to surrender to me. I want your real feelings, Twila. I want you to love me for me."

Niles didn’t wait for her to answer. He turned around and walked out of the noisy cafeteria, leaving the ring next to her plate.

"Holy crap," Island breathed, staring at the doorway. "That was the most romantic, selfless thing I’ve ever seen a guy do."

"He’s playing games," Neon growled, sitting back down. "Don’t put that ring on, Twila. It’s probably cursed."

"No, it isn’t," Twila whispered, picking up the ring with her shaking fingers.

She didn’t hesitate, she slid the ring onto her index finger.

The heavy pull in her stomach vanished. The vampire venom in her veins quieted. She felt normal for the first time in weeks.

But as Twila looked at the doorway where Niles had just left, she realized something terrifying.

The magic was gone.

But she still wanted to run after him.

Twila walked slowly into her afternoon defense class. Her head was spinning.

She went to her usual desk in the back row. Raiden was already sitting next to her.

He didn’t look at her when she sat down. He just stared blankly at the chalkboard, spinning a pen between his fingers.

Twila opened her textbook, her hands rested on the desk.

Raiden's eyes flicked downward, he saw the ring on her finger.

He froze. His jaw clenched tight.

"Did he buy you jewelry now?" Raiden asked in a dark, jealous tone. "Are you accepting gifts from the vampire, Twila?"

"It’s not a romantic gift, Raiden," Twila whispered, refusing to look away. "It’s a dampening ring. It blocks the mate bond."

Raiden stopped spinning his pen, he looked at her in shock.

"He gave you a ring to block his own magic?" Raiden asked, confused.

"Yes," Twila explained quietly. "He said he wanted me to make a real choice. He wants me to choose him without the magic influencing me."

Raiden stared at the ring, the lightning under his skin faded.

Raiden wasn’t fighting a monster anymore. He was up against a guy who loved Twila enough to let her go.

"He’s playing a different game now," Raiden muttered, leaning back in his chair. "He’s trying to prove he’s a better man than I am."

"I don't know what to do," Twila confessed, a hot tear slipping right down her cheek. "The magic is totally gone, Raiden. But I still feel drawn to him."

Raiden didn't yell at her.

He reached his hand across the gap between their desks. He grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers tightly through hers, completely
ignoring the ring.

"Then I guess I have to try harder," Raiden whispered softly, looking right into
her eyes. "I am not losing you to him, Psycho."