Chapter 99 Dirty secret

Chapter 99 Dirty secret
THE BEDROOM

The sun shone through the window.

Twila opened her eyes, she lay in her own bed. Niles slept right next to her, his arm wrapped around her waist.

She looked at his handsome face, he looked completely peaceful. A painful tug struck her chest, but she pushed it deep inside her mind. She wouldn't say a word about it.

"Get up," Twila whispered, pushing his arm off her stomach.

Niles opened his eyes slowly. He smiled a sleepy, genuine smile that made her heart skip an annoying beat.

"Good morning, beautiful," Niles murmured, reaching out to touch her cheek.

Twila slapped his hand away, she grabbed his shirt from the floor and threw it at his chest.

"Put your shirt on and get out of my room," Twila commanded, keeping her face blank. "Before my friends wake up and see you here."

Niles lost his smile, he caught the shirt and looked at her with confusion.

"You wore the ring, Twila," Niles pointed out, his voice low. "The magic didn't force you to do anything last night. It was real, you wanted me."

"It was a mistake," Twila lied seamlessly, pulling the blankets up to her chin. "I was stressed. Now leave."

Niles stared at her, his jaw clenched tight. He knew she was lying, but he also knew pushing her would ruin everything.

"Fine," Niles sighed, pulling his shirt over his head. "I'll play your game, Twila. But you can't hide from me forever."

He walked straight to the door without looking back. He opened it and slipped into the hallway, closing it quietly behind him.

Twila fell back onto her pillows. She covered her flushed face with shaking hands, hating herself.

THE HALLWAY

Twila walked out of her room ten minutes later. She wore a baggy hoodie and jeans. She just wanted to get some coffee from the lounge and pretend last night was a hallucination.

"Stop right there."

Twila froze.

Island stepped out of her own bedroom. She crossed her arms and glared at Twila.

"Where were you last night?" Island demanded.

"I was in my bed," Twila replied simply, looking down at the floor.

Island walked closer, she leaned in and sniffed the air next to Twila's shoulder. Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

"You smell like Niles," Island hissed quietly. "Did you let that freak into your room?"

"Keep your voice down," Twila said, panicking as she glanced around the empty hallway. "Nothing happened, Island."

"You are a terrible liar," Island spat, disgusted. "I won't cover for you, Twila. You're playing a stupid game, and you are going to break Raiden's heart again."

"I am doing the thirty-day deal to keep him alive," Twila argued, stepping back.

"You are doing it for the attention," Island snapped coldly. "Fix your mess, Twila. Before I snap and punch you in the face again."

Island turned and marched down the hallway.

Twila rubbed her face, she felt awful.

THE KINGS LOUNGE

The lounge was packed and loud for a Tuesday morning.

Raiden sat on the sofa. Levi and Nyx shared an armchair. Cassian stood by the window. Neon and Amorette sat on the rug, sharing a box of donuts.

Twila walked slowly into the room, keeping her hands deep in her pockets.

Raiden stood up right away. He walked over to her, his eyes filled with care.

"Good morning," Raiden smiled, pulling her into a gentle hug.

Twila hugged him back tightly, but guilt gnawed at her stomach. She felt dirty standing in his arms.

"You feel tense," Raiden whispered, pulling back to look at her face. "Did you sleep okay?"

"I slept fine," Twila lied again, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Guys, you need to hear this," Delaney announced loudly from the coffee table.

Twila looked over. Delaney wasn't holding his laptop or any hacking devices. He was just holding a cup of tea and a magazine.

"Wait," Cassian said, pointing at him. "Where's your computer? Are you sick?"

"I decided to take a break from staring at code," Delaney shrugged, sipping his tea. "I’m trying to be a regular college student today. And you guys are missing the best drama."

"What drama?" Amorette asked, sitting up straight, intrigued.

"Master Chevelure was seen leaving the new combat teacher's room at four in the morning," Delaney said, leaning forward like a giddy teenager. "She was doing the walk of shame in yesterday's blue robes."

"No way," Levi laughed, slapping his knee. "The strict teacher is hooking up with the new guy?"

"I knew she was a hypocrite," Island smirked, sitting down next to Cassian. "She yells at us for kissing in the arena, but sneaks around in the dark."

"See? This is why I don't use magic to fix my problems," Nyx said from Levi's lap. "Human gossip is way more entertaining."

Twila smiled a little. Seeing Delaney act like a normal boy instead of a creepy hacker made the room feel light and fun.

"Okay, focus up," Neon said, grabbing a powdered donut. "We have a different problem today."

"What problem?" Raiden asked as he walked back to the sofa with Twila.

"Lunaria," Neon rolled his eyes. "The Fire Princess is throwing a huge, exclusive college party tonight in the West Wing. She's calling it the 'Fire and Ice Masquerade.'"

"Who cares what that spark plug is doing?" Island scoffed, checking her nails.

"She's handing out VIP invitations in the courtyard right now," Amorette explained quietly. "She's only inviting the most popular supernaturals. If you don't get a black envelope, you're officially a nobody."

"I am a King," Raiden stated flatly. "I don't need an envelope to walk into a room."

"Let's go to the courtyard," Levi grinned, taking Nyx's hand. "I want to see this girl try to play Queen."

THE COURTYARD

The courtyard was packed with students begging for invitations.

Lunaria stood by the fountain in a stunning, tight red dress. Ellie stood next to her, holding a stack of black envelopes.

"Sorry, you don't have the right vibe," Lunaria laughed meanly, pushing away a freshman boy.

The Squad walked through the doors. The crowd parted for them.

Lunaria spotted them, her eyes lit up with excitement. She ignored Island and Twila entirely. She walked straight up to Raiden, holding out a shiny black envelope with a seal.

"Raiden," Lunaria purred, batting her eyelashes. "I'm throwing the biggest party of the semester tonight. I expect you to be there."

Raiden didn't even look at the envelope. He looked at Lunaria like she was garbage.

"I don't go to parties hosted by desperate bullies," Raiden said coldly, his deep voice carrying over the quiet crowd.

Lunaria's fake smile twitched.

"It's a VIP party, Raiden," she pushed. "Only the best. You can come, Cassian can come, and Levi."

She finally turned her head and glared at Twila.

"But leave the trash in the dorms," Lunaria sneered. "No freaks allowed."

Twila felt a flush of anger, but before she could say anything, a cold voice echoed from the stairs.

"The Void Queen isn't going anywhere with you, Vane."

Everyone turned around.

Niles Vayne walked slowly down the steps. He wore a suit without a tie, looking like a god.

He walked straight up to Twila and stopped, ignoring Raiden's murderous glare.

"She is going to the masquerade party with me tonight," Niles announced loudly, locking his eyes onto Twila. "We have a deal, remember? Thirty days."

Raiden froze, his hands sparked with lightning.

"She isn't going anywhere with you, bastard. Raiden roared, stepping in front of Twila.

"It is my turn for a date, Raiden," Niles smirked casually, shoving his hands into his pockets. "She promised me a fair chance. And I want to take her dancing tonight."

Lunaria practically glowed with evil happiness, totally loving the drama she just caused.

"Here," Lunaria smiled, handing Niles an envelope. "You and your little pet are welcome to come, vampire."

Niles took the envelope and looked at Twila.

"I will pick you up at nine," Niles whispered softly.

Raiden turned around to look at Twila. His eyes were begging her to say no.
He was begging her to tell him to go to hell.

But Twila felt the weight of the deal pressing down on her shoulders. If she refused, Raiden would die.

"I will be ready at nine," Twila whispered, staring at her shoes.

Raiden let out a loud broken breath. He turned his back on her and walked away, leaving her standing with the vampire in the middle of
the crowded courtyard.

THE LIBRARY

Twila didn't go to class, she hid deep in the dark library archives.

She sat on the dusty floor, pulling her knees tight against her chest. She couldn't stop crying and she was ruining absolutely everything.

"Are you going to cry until you literally dehydrate?"

Twila looked up quickly.

Neon was standing at the end of the aisle. He walked over and sat down on the floor right next to her.

"He hates me, Neon," Twila sobbed, resting her head on her brother's shoulder.
"Raiden hates me."

"He doesn't hate you," Neon sighed, wrapping his arm around her. "He is just a guy with a ego, and watching another guy take you out is killing him."

Twila wiped her face violently.

"I did something terrible last night, Neon," Twila whispered, her voice shaking. "I did something so incredibly bad, and if Raiden finds out, he will never speak to me again."

Neon frowned hard, he looked at her tear-stained face.

"What did you do, Twila?" Neon asked seriously.

Twila couldn't hold the secret in anymore. It was burning a hole through her soul.

"I was wearing the ring," Twila choked out, hot tears pouring down her cheeks. "The mate bond was totally turned off, the magic wasn't forcing me to do anything."

"Okay," Neon said slowly. "And?"

"And I pulled him into my bedroom anyway," Twila sobbed, covering her face with her shaking hands. "I kissed the vampire, Neon. And I loved it."

Neon froze, staring at his twin sister in shock.