Chapter 16 16: we say, kiss!

Chapter 16 16 ARCHIVES
SORAYA
My classes would have been another normal day with me following Daryl around, playing his companion guard, while plotting creative ways to kill him—if not for the 'murder' brand that had been tagged on myself and the prince's name.
Everywhere I went, I could hear whispers, fingers pointing. I was suddenly not so invisible anymore. And I hated it.
"With the look on your face Karter, I can tell you are not enjoying the attention..." His voice held an amusement that vexed me, enough to make me feet freeze in step.
He was so close, his lips just a few inches away from my ear. My fingers tightened around my books, wanting nothing more than to throw it at the smirk I knew was sitting pretty on his face. "I could stab you right now, your Highness," I seethed.
"Now, wouldn't that be so sweet to watch?" He responded, now snorting in between chuckles, and then just as low he whispered; "you wouldn't dare..."
Daryl's silent warning returned me back to reality, and quickly I took two steps away, then turned to face him. His visage was clouded with what could only be a grin of reckless abandon. How smart of him to remind me that we were not supposed to be fraternising.
I let out a soft knowing laugh. "You can't to tell me what to and whatnot to do, your Highness," I mocked. I tried to remain poised, even just as regal as possible. I held his burning gaze that now settled on me, despite the crowd Inn the cafeteria.
I could imagine that we were now an image for spectators. Two murder suspect standing so close, yet so far— enmity oozing from their stance.
"Have you forgotten, that I am your Prince?"
"I don't there is a need for reminder. You carry the emblem so well, your Highness..."
"You two are causing a scene, everyone is looking at you." My eyes twitched and I flinched at Dolly's presence, immediately regaining my composure that always slipped away thanks to Daryl.
Dolly’s interruption broke whatever strange spell had been weaving between us. I blinked.
“Great,” I muttered under my breath. “Now we’re the morning show.”
Daryl didn’t even flinch under the weight of their stares. He simply rolled his shoulders back, exuding that infuriating air of princely calm, like the chaos around him was background noise.
“You enjoy this, don’t you?” I hissed.
His gaze flicked to me, slow and deliberate. “Of course. I’ve never had such an entertaining bodyguard before.”
"Daryl, there is something Axel and I need to show you," Dolly suddenly said, cutting through the tension and putting an end to our verbal fight.
I pinned my legs down, interested in whatever she was talking about. "What is it?" Daryl asked.
Dolly glanced at me. Her eyes said it all, she didn't want me listening to what she had to say to him.
"What?" I found myself saying. "Do you want to confess your feelings to him?" A tug pulled at my chest when I said those words, an unfamiliar feeling of rage and something else blooming. What in heaven's name was that?
I tamped it down, forcing out a smile.
"Excuse you?" She spat, her eyes giving away the dislike she had for me.
Daryl said nothing but gently tugged at Dolly, and left me standing in the middle of the cafeteria—an embarrassing feat for the hungry student spectators.
I clenched my fist tightly. How stupid of me to think that things would be a little different between Daryl and I, because we had survived the night together in an haunted house.
Again, I needed to remember why I was here lest I blow this all up before I even had the chance to prove myself to my mother.
\---
DARYL
The shadows don't sleep.
They were hungrily searching for whom to devour.
And they had found it. I had come with Dolly and Axel to the library to get some books. At least if the Alpha and principal was hiding something, the history books won't lie.
Except I couldn't even fulfill my mission without another fucking surprise.
“Holy heavens!” Dolly’s scream split the air.
Axel and I rushed forward and stopped cold.
Miss Lily, the librarian, lay sprawled on the floor. Her skin was pale, drained of her blood.
“It’s the same way Annie was killed,” Axel whispered, voice trembling.
I ground my teeth. “I can see that,” I snapped. My pulse hammered. What the hell was happening? This was no coincidence anymore.
Dolly’s eyes darted to the door. “We should leave. No one’s here now, but if they find you here, it’ll be another mess.”
I hissed, jaw tight. She was right, but the thought of walking away burned. I stared at the lifeless witch, and felt something sharp twist in my chest.
"Axel, close the doors," I demanded.
"What do you want to do, Daryl. There's no time for all these!" Dolly complained, frantically shuffling her feet
"Just do as I say!" I snapped. Axel rushed to the door, pulling it close in a swift motion.
I pulled in a breath and knelt before the witch—examining.
I paused. "What do you see?" I asked Axel and Dolly who had come to crouch beside me, displeasure rolling off them in waves.
"A dead woman?" Dolly deadpanned.
"No, look closely." I pointed to her hand—right below her palm, a faint sigil burned into her skin.
“That’s… that’s Elroy’s sigil!” Axel breathed.
I blinked. “What?”
“It’s the seal of Elroy,” Dolly said, voice trembling. “Didn’t you see it on the doorstep when they brought you there? Everyone in Fenrir recognizes it anywhere.”
Her words settled like lead in my gut.
Nothing was making sense, but at least I could piece two and two together. Elroy's sigil. Now I knew where to look, what to research, and who to question.
I braced my claws, rising to my feet. "Let's go," I announced.