Chapter 24 #3
Killing her may affect both her fated mate and the wild one.
Such laws are outdated and should be abolished.
On and on they go, barely finishing one sentence before another person begins.
The headmaster doesn’t take his twinkling eyes off me, like he’s in on a secret he’s keen to share.
“Regardless of what she is or is not, Sienna Ashburn remains a student of this academy.” The others fall silent as tendrils of smoke curl past the edges Loreander’s smile.
“Therefore, until such time as she graduates or joins one of the many packs or bloodlines interested in cultivating her boundless potential, she falls under my jurisdiction. No harm shall come to her.”
Alpha Dire looks like he might explode but doesn’t argue.
None of them do. They begin talking among themselves, and I stand still to observe them the same way they do to me.
The grumpy ones flock to each other as much as the enthusiastic ones do, their cliques separated by species.
Alistair hangs back, arms crossed and gaze steady as he glares at me.
I have a feeling that this will be our new normal: icy silences broken only by tempers so hot that we burn for each other.
Closing my eyes, I squash the internal fire threatening to consume me. It was bad enough to know that three men could mate with me—but knowing that the goddamn elders are taking bets makes the pressure ten times worse.
All I’ve wanted is to graduate and earn my place among a pack of my choosing, as is my right for beating every other shifter in this godforsaken academy to the top.
But what if fate has other plans?
I shiver at the thought of an unseen force pulling the strings. I doubt they have my best interest in mind or I would have never lost my family to begin with. Everything beyond that has been one cruel twist after another, all leading up to this very moment.
I’m surrounded by people who want me for all the wrong reasons, and it fucking hurts.
I blink away stubborn tears as Headmaster Loreander wanders to my side.
The elders, now engrossed in conversation among themselves, ignore their alleged prize and disperse without needing to be dismissed.
Alpha Dire storms past his son without so much as a goodbye, but Alistair lingers, his eyes tracking my every move.
Does he enjoy watching others pluck at me like vultures?
The lingering ache in my chest grows until Alistair swallows hard and looks away, promptly following his father deeper into the castle.
So much for having a fated mate who actually gives a shit about me.
“I would not fret. Your fate has yet to be decided, Sienna Ashburn.”
I force myself to turn around.
Headmaster Loreander waits patiently for my attention. “Fire is a rare gift, Sienna. You should not fear it.”
“Fear isn’t exactly the emotion that comes to mind.” Surprise, mostly, with a hint of trepidation, but I don’t fear fire. After what it’s taken from me, perhaps I should.
He nods. “That is good. Your emotions may be key to unlocking your powers. It would be wise to control them.” Lifting a manicured brow, he smiles. “Including your temper.”
I purse my lips and cross my arms simultaneously.
“I don’t have a temper.” At least, it’s not all my own anymore.
Sighing, I shake my head. “It’s like I can feel his anger before I recognize that it’s not mine, and by that point, the two have merged.
Our emotions blend together until I can’t tell them apart.
” I don’t clarify which him I’m speaking about since I’m not entirely sure.
Any one of my potential mates seems capable of manipulating my feelings.
“You will need to detangle the threads in order to tug on the right ones,” the headmaster murmurs, nodding slightly. “In time, you’ll find that your bonds are woven like intricate tapestries. Only for now, while you are learning, is the distinction necessary.”
I pretend to understand what he means and nod along. “Detangle the threads. Tug on the right ones. Got it.”
His smile turns into a smirk. “In the meantime, you will be enrolled in remedial classes with the other students who failed tonight’s Mating Games. I believe your wild mate and the Navarro boy will be participating, though I haven’t followed the score board in the past few hours, admittedly.”
“Revyn and Callum failed?”
“Intentionally, I believe.” He chuckles again. “They’re quite fond of you.”
Warmth radiates inside my chest, and I have to fight a smile. Those fucking idiots. “What about Alistair?” I ask, biting my lip. “Did he fail for leaving early?”
“The opposite. He is our top scorer for the evening.”
My eyes widen. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” He was with me for hours. There’s no way he scored the top spot with half the time. The fire pops loudly behind us, and I jump, turning to find that the headmaster and I are alone.
“He was quite motivated,” Loreander murmurs cryptically. “Alpha Dire held the record for decades, but now Alistair’s surpassed even that. I believe his final score was one hundred and two points, which is five above his father’s.”
And I scored, what, fifteen? Twenty?
“Do not fret. There is plenty of time to catch up to your mate.”
“He’s not my—” Sighing, I rub my tired eyes. “Never mind.”
Loreander hums gently and plays with the fire in the basin, drawing his fingers through the closest of its flames.
“Mates are funny things, Sienna.” A wistful smile curves on his lips.
“They arrive when you least expect it and prove themselves when you need them most.” He studies me from the corner of his eye.
“The question becomes whether or not you accept their help and strengthen your bond . . . or if you reject it.” Closing his fist, he extinguishes the closest flames until only the barest whisper of warmth and light curls in his palm.
“Only you can decide your fate, Sienna. Despite legend, it is not all up to the stars . . . or the gods.” Lifting my hand, he places the violet flame in my open palm.
It tickles my skin and waves as though alive.
“It can’t all be up to me,” I murmur, suddenly feeling as small and fragile as the flame in my hand. “I don’t even know what I am.”
“You don’t have to know what you are, Sienna.” Headmaster Loreander’s eyes glow with an ethereal beauty, their depths smoldering like embers. “So long as you know who you want to be.”