CHAPTER TEN
ELYSIA
The first two weeks at the Concordium flew by quicker than I could catch it, lessons bleeding together into one long day.
I’d stumbled across the Concordium’s rooftop garden during a lunch break, an oasis of magical plants and deep blue streaming fountains.
I had mentioned it to Ronan and Brynn, and naturally, Ronan insisted we all meet there after classes today.
To my surprise, everyone agreed… even Kaden.
Now we’re scattered throughout the glowing garden, wine glasses catching the light as laughter threads through the night air.
Vines curl lazily around pale stone railings, their leaves pulsing with soft luminescence, while blue butterflies drift between us like fallen stars, their wings leaving brief trails of light.
Willow trees and those alike surround the garden's edge, their long, sweeping branches swaying gently in the breeze.
And deeper in the thicket of trees, a wisteria tree spills curtains of luminous white and violet blossoms. Beneath the moon, flowers glow in gentle washes of blues, pinks and purples, illuminating the moss and roots at our feet.
At the garden’s heart, a deep blue water fountain shimmers and glitters, its surface reflecting the glow of the surrounding plants.
A blanket lies spread over the mossy grass nearby, laden with wine, bread, and fruit.
I sit beside Ronan against the waterfall, his arm draped loosely over my shoulders, fingers tracing small, lazy circles along my collarbone. Brynn perches above us, balanced on the water fountain’s edge, her wine glass dangling from her fingertips as she gazes at the stars.
Across from us, Sirena sits in Thane’s lap on a stone bench, whispering softly to him, his eyes fixed on her like she’s the only magic worth studying. Enzo and Odette lounge beside them, playfully bickering over the last slice of cheese.
Kaden stands a few feet away with a wine glass in hand, half-shrouded in shadow, half illuminated by the glowing florals. He wears that same detached expression he always does, as if nothing in the world could interest him… though his eyes flick to me more often than he probably realises.
“Did you all see Professor Aric’s face when Elysia asked if a soulbond could be reversed?” Ronan laughs, swirling his wine. “I swear the poor man nearly fainted.”
A smile tugs at my lips. “It was a valid question; you can’t say none of you haven’t thought about it.”
Brynn lifts her glass, “I haven’t. But you were absolutely asking if you could be unbound from Kaden.”
Enzo snorts. “Can you blame her? I’d be terrified to wake up bound to him.”
Kaden tilts his head, voice low and even. “Watch your mouth, Enzo. You might wake up without a tongue.”
Odette gasps dramatically, leaning forward. “Gods, can you imagine? Silent Enzo? The peace. The luxury. That’s what my dreams are made of.”
“I feel attacked,” Enzo says immediately. “And also weirdly attracted. Promise you’ll look into my eyes while slicing, Reinheart.” He winks.
Shock and amusement vibrate through the group, not just at his words but also at his boldness.
The two weeks I’ve known Enzo, he has never known when to shut up, but this?
This is new. He’s usually clumsy in every sense of the word, tripping over his feet and his sentences alike. Bold is not his default.
Sirena chokes on her wine, laughing. “Enzo…”
“What?” he says, utterly unapologetic. “I’m open-minded. And curious… mostly curious.” He wiggles his brows. “A bit of shadow action never hurt anyone.”
Kaden groans, the sheer depth of his disgust bleeding through the bond. I can’t help the burst of amusement that answers it. Kaden might not like men, but Enzo does, and wine has stripped away whatever filter he once had.
Thane, who’s been nursing his drink in silence, rolls his eyes. “You’d have a better chance at bedding a wall.”
Sirena slips her hand into Thane’s, smiling sweetly at Enzo. “I think you’ve had enough to drink for tonight, Enz.”
Enzo considers this seriously. “Counterpoint… I’ve had the perfect amount.”
“You’re flirting with a man who’s threatened to kill you twice just this evening.” Brynn points out calmly.
Enzo shrugs. “I like a challenge.”
Ronan lifts his glass, grinning. “Respect. You’re absolutely unhinged, but I respect it.”
Kaden drains his glass and sets it down with finality. “I’m leaving.”
“Aww,” Ronan sing-songs. “Was it something Enzo said?”
Kaden’s gaze flicks flatly to him. “Everything Enzo says.”
“Dream of me.” Enzo teases with a salute.
“I won’t.” Kaden deadpans.
Before he can turn away, Sirena is on her feet, quick as lightning.
“Nope. Absolutely not.” She loops her arm through his, already steering him back toward the bench she and Thane had been occupying. “Stop being such a spoil sport and sit.”
Kaden exhales sharply but allows himself to be guided, dropping onto the bench with thinly veiled resignation. Thane shifts to make room, one arm coming to rest easily behind Sirena’s shoulders.
“There,” she declares, satisfied. “Much better.”
Ronan chuckles. “You know, watching you manhandle him like that almost makes it feel like the rest of us might have better odds.”
Sirena smiles brightly. “Kaden just pretends he doesn’t enjoy company—”
“I don’t,” Kaden cuts in.
“That’s not true,” Sirena counters sweetly. “You’re still here.”
That earns a low huff from him, but he doesn’t argue.
Odette, who’s been watching the exchange with open fascination, props her chin on her hand. “Well, since that's out of the way and we’re all trapped together… can we talk about the soulbond stuff?”
A few groans ripple through the group.
“No,” Enzo says immediately. “Actually, yes. Please. I have many thoughts.”
Brynn sits up from her perch on the water fountain's edge, calm and curious. “I’d like to hear how everyone’s finding it,” she says gently.
“Well, I’m currently feeling a hint of Enzo’s buzz, which is… so weird,” Odette says.
Enzo holds up his glass, grinning. “You’re welcome.”
Odette rolls her eyes in response, “Yeah, thank you so much. I’ll enjoy waking up with a hangover after drinking zero alcohol.”
He shrugs at her but doesn’t get to respond before Sirena chimes in. “I’m personally loving it.”
“Me too, feeling Ronan’s breathing… as weird as it is, it’s become a small comfort,” Brynn says, sipping on her wine.
“Ditto,” Ronan replies.
Sirena nods, “I enjoy feeling Thanes' breathing too, and his heartbeat.”
“Our heartbeat.” Thane corrects, pressing a kiss to her temple that makes her blush. “What about you two? Are you loving it?” he adds mockingly, looking between Kaden and me.
Kaden just scoffs in response, leaning back on the stone bench, arms stretched out.
“Fuck no.” I laugh, “But I didn’t do it for enjoyment, I did it to gain access to the research archives.”
Sirena glances up, fingers threading through Thane’s. “To research the plague?”
I nod, “Yes, and hopefully find a cure.”
Sirena’s smile wavers, eyes glistening just slightly. “Me too, my half-brother died from the plague a few months ago. That’s mainly why I was eager to go through with the soulbond. I thought maybe I could find something to stop it from spreading.”
I smile softly, clearing my throat, “I’m sorry, Sirena. I share your pain. My mother died from the plague too when I was fourteen,” I pause, just for a second. “Maybe between us, we’ll find the answers Celestria has been looking for.”
Ronan raises his glass, breaking the hush. “I’ll drink to that. To stubborn women and impossible hopes.”
Glasses clink as everyone repeats Ronan’s words.
Odette chuckles. “You’re one to talk about impossible hopes, Ronan.”
“Hey! Some of us just know what we want.” His gaze flicks deliberately to me. “And aren’t afraid to chase it.”
Kaden exhales sharply, setting down his glass to refill it. “Maybe you should try chasing silence for once.”
Ronan chuckles, unbothered. “Didn’t think The Council’s golden boy could get rattled so easily.”
Kaden’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “You’re mistaking irritation for jealousy. Easy mistake, for someone who’s never been important enough to inspire either.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Ronan says, leaning back, hands laced behind his head. “But you’re not fooling anyone. You’ve been glaring holes in me for two weeks now. What’s the matter, Reinheart? Not used to competition?”
Kaden’s shadows twitch so subtly I almost miss it.
“Competition implies you were ever in the same league.”
Ronan’s grin widens, careless and bold for someone who should know better. “She’s not yours, you know. You don’t get to glower every time someone else breathes in her direction.”
Irritation burns through the tether at his words, and the echo of Kaden’s anger lashes through me like a whip against my ribs, feeding my own frustration.
“Gods,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “Stop acting as if you care. You don’t. We don’t like each other… never have, never will. Our soulbond won’t change that, so leave it.”
Kaden’s jaw ticks.
For a moment, his eyes sear into mine, cold and furious, before he turns sharply away, murmuring something low to Thane.
Ronan’s fingers brush mine as conversation picks up again around us. “Come on…” he murmurs near my ear, voice low enough to curl against my skin. “I want to show you something.”
He gestures toward the far end of the garden, where moonlight spills through cascading willows. I nod, smiling gently before rising to my feet. The other’s laughter fades behind us as we walk, replaced by the soft hum of fireflies and distant waves.
“What did you want to show me?” I ask.
Ronan laughs softly. “Truth? Nothing. I just wanted an excuse to get you alone.”
The words settle warm in my chest, and butterflies swarm in my stomach as a flush spreads across my skin.
Beyond our two carefully planned dates, we’ve never really had time alone just the two of us.
Our first date was a quiet stroll along the Tower’s shore, a blanket laid out beneath the starlight with an array of picnic food waiting for us.
He’d been perfectly charming all evening, walking me back to the suite afterwards and parting with a kiss pressed gently on the back of my hand.
Our second date was quieter, a book shared between us in the common room, cups of tea slowly going cold. It might have stayed peaceful, too, if Enzo and Odette hadn’t come crashing through the doors after a spectacularly failed attempt at spying on us.
His smile turns playful as he glances over his shoulder. “He’s probably going to kill me for this.”
“Then maybe you should stop doing it.” I tease, though I really don’t mean it.
He chuckles under his breath, “Do you want me to stop?” His hand lifts, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Just say the word, Elysia… and I will.”
I smile gently, my voice soft. “I don’t want you to stop, Ronan. I enjoy spending time with you.” I pause, my tone becoming stern, “And fuck Kaden. He doesn’t get to decide who I talk to or what I feel just because of the bond.”
His smile softens, then his fingers slide beneath my chin, tilting my head up as he leans in.
His lips find mine, gentle and hesitant at first, then deepening when I don’t pull away.
My hands slide up around his neck with ease as his own come down to tighten around my waist. His other hand tangles in my hair, angling my head so his mouth can claim mine more thoroughly.
A quiet sigh escapes me when his teeth catch my lip, heat flooding through me.
His hands move to the top of my shirt, fingers teasing the buttons while searching my eyes for quiet permission.
I nod and place my lips to his again as the top of my shirt comes undone, just a fraction.
He pulls away before dipping his head into the crook of my neck and trailing firm kisses down to the swell of my chest.
My breath hitches, and he smiles against my skin before lightly nipping at the top of my chest, replacing each bite with a soothing kiss.
For a moment, I let myself feel it.
The warmth, the lust, the dizzying feeling of being wanted. And then I sense a flicker of emotion that isn’t mine… dark and possessive.
Kaden.