75. Loveleena
LOVELEENA
With the Hydra missing, Headmaster Adeyemi ordered everyone to the Great Hall until the faculty decided what to do about the final assessment.
“Maybe with the Hydra gone, they’ll cancel the last assessment,” Emerson said, leaning into her.
She snorted. “And miss a chance to torture us? No way.”
“As you all know…” Adeyemi’s head was held high. “The final assessment did not go as planned, and the Hydra have yet to be located.”
Loveleena searched the visible upper halls for any trace of Zeina, and spotted her hiding behind a pillar, honey gold eyes peering out.
Something about Zeina looked different. Her hair was wet and tangled, no longer a smooth Ahmina copy-cat, and her clothes were rumpled and damp.
They locked eyes and Zeina shot her a large, genuine grin.
“Look up to the left,” she whispered to Ahmina.
“Why does she look like she just climbed out of a swamp?”
“Are you really surprised?”
Ahmina chuckled.
“More importantly, why is she grinning like an idiot.”
Ahmina chanced another glance above, her eyes lingering a bit longer before returning to the stage. “Why do I have a feeling it has something to do with the Hydra?”
They both smiled.
“The past year has been quite unusual.” Adeyemi paused.
“Despite the increased pressure we placed on you this year, we could not have prepared you for the events of the final assessment, which are currently under investigation.” Adeyemi paused as whispers erupted among the crowd.
“But,” the headmaster continued, cutting through the quiet mumblings.
“You are all here. You’ve made it this far.
So, the faculty and I have decided to waive the final assessment.
Your grades will be calculated based on your other two assessments and feedback from your practice trials.
Tonight, we celebrate the closing of another year.
” Raising an arm, Adeyemi held up a glass of mulberry wine.
“Now I must meet with the second and third years. I will see you all at the celebration tonight. Congratulations on completing your first year at the Academy!”
A roar of excitement and cheer rumbled through the crowd.
“Oh Goddess.” Ahmina’s face dropped, panicking. “I failed the other two! This was my last chance. If they use the other two assessments—”
“—Don’t worry,” Loveleena said, looping her arm through Ahmina’s. “We will talk to Adeyemi. Sort it out. You were invited to Charming, remember? Adeyemi won’t kick you out now.”
Ahmina sighed.
“Now. Let’s pop a bottle and celebrate.”
They had made it.
????
As soon as the second and third years were done with their assessments, the Great Hall turned into a raging party, a blur of celebratory chaos.
Zeina had joined them after the sun had set and everyone was intoxicated.
Loveleena quite admired the additional potted flowers that had been pulled in from the courtyards.
She stood, drink in hand, marinating in the scene around her.
Most of the students had gone back to their rooms to change into party attire and freshen up, although a few had remained in their uniforms, too intoxicated to care about their appearance.
The night was warm and dry, and Loveleena flaunted her frizz-free curls proudly.
It was rare they fell into the perfect pattern, but when they did, she felt like the Moon Goddess herself.
She wore the same dress she had thrown together the night of the Gala.
But it felt different, somehow. So much had changed since that first night at the Academy.
“You look radiant,” Ren said quietly in her ear, and she smiled. To be honest, she was still thinking about that night with Ren. Their chemistry had been explosive, and she was certain it hadn’t left his mind either.
But it was a one-time thing.
It didn’t help that he looked smoking hot tonight. He wore all-black dress wear with gold threading, and his hair was parted down the side and styled into dapper waves.
“Thank you. I know,” she boasted, clinking her glass with his. “You look good too.”
Together, they looked out at the crowd in silence. Everyone looked so happy and free. Even Ahmina, who was normally wound tighter than a ball of yarn, danced freely, arms loose in the air, laughing alongside Lennox, Rory, and Kit.
“I kept my promise,” she said, keeping her gaze straight ahead. “Now it’s time for you to keep yours.” She had been patient enough. He owed her the truth about Park.
“Tomorrow.” His voice was low in her ear. “Don’t want to ruin the night.”
She took a sip of her sparkling wine. Was what he had to share so bad it would ruin the night? A few terrible possibilities ran through her mind but she quickly shoved them away. Ren was right. Tonight was about celebrating. She had waited this long for the truth; one more night wouldn’t kill her.
She was about to order Ren to get her another drink when a loud crash followed by a deafening rumble flooded her ears. That’s when she saw it: giant midnight wings, a jigsaw of meticulously crafted chrome viridian scales, and vibrant emerald eyes.
Her stomach dropped.
“They’ve broken through the wall!” someone screamed, as four more Firebringers landed on the outer pillars of the hall, scattering rock debris below.
Fuck, this was bad. Very very bad. She cringed, cursing at herself, the realization hitting her.
Weeks ago, she had drenched a part of the Great Wall in attraction potion in a blind rage. It had worked. The rodents attacked, everyone was shaken up, and she forgot about it, assuming the rest of the potion was unviable.
At the time, she didn’t care about becoming a Defender, magic—any of it. She hadn’t known about her sisters then. All she cared about was finding Park and getting revenge against the Academy for hiding the truth.
Now, the Firebringers were here in the Great Hall—breath of burning flesh, intent to kill.
And it was all her fault.