20. Marks & Mayhem

Marks & Mayhem

T he shrill sound of my alarm clock slices through the calm of the morning, startling Derek so badly he flails like a cat that's just spotted a cucumber and tumbles right off the bed with an unceremonious thud . It's so absurd, I can't help the laugh that bubbles out of me.

"You alright down there?" I ask, peeking over the edge of the bed, trying and failing to hold back my grin.

Derek groans, rubbing his shoulder as he sits up. "Nothing I can't handle," he mutters, though the look on his face says otherwise.

Meanwhile, Sebastian, who is still very much lounging beside me like this is his royal court, tightens his arm around my waist and pulls me closer. "Don't worry about him," he drawls, lips curling into a smirk. "Dogs are used to sleeping on the floor."

Derek shoots him a glare, looking about two seconds away from launching a pillow at his head. "Real original, bloodsucker," he grumbles, but the effect is ruined by how groggy he still is. I roll my eyes as I reach over and slam the alarm off. Of course, this is my life now. A full-time referee between a vampire and a wolf shifter. Where's my whistle when I need it?

"Alright, boys, break it up," I sigh dramatically, sliding out of bed despite their collective groan of protest. I swear, these two would rather I stayed in bed all day, wrapped in their territorial squabbles. Too bad for them, I've got stuff to do—like not failing out of school. "I've got Elemental Studies," I announce, pulling my hair into a ponytail while I rummage through my wardrobe. Behind me, I hear the unmistakable sound of chuckling and then the hush-hush whispers of the two boys conspiring about something. Rolling my eyes, I turn around, hand on my hip. "What now?"

Derek, grinning like an idiot, says, "As much as I'd love the entire student body to know you're mine—"

"Ours," Sebastian interjects, the word slipping smoothly from his lips.

"—ours," Derek corrects, with a brief eye roll at Sebastian, "You might want to keep your hair down today."

"Why?" I ask, suspicion creeping into my voice as I narrow my eyes at them.

I hurry over to the bathroom mirror, pulling at my hair to try and see whatever it is they're on about. There's nothing I can see. Sebastian, ever so helpful, snaps a photo with his phone and hands it to me.

My heart skips a beat as I stare at the image. There, on the back of my neck, is a tattoo-like mark, a symbol that's impossible to miss. It's intricate—a fusion of sharp lines and elegant curves, a perfect blend of wolf and vampire motifs. The wolf's head merges seamlessly with what appears to be bat wings, all encircled in a protective ring of flames.

"You practically gave me a tattoo?!" I exclaim, running my fingers over the skin. It's smooth, no raised edges or soreness—just a permanent, magical mark.

Sebastian grins, stepping closer. "It suits you."

I blink, still processing this revelation. "How am I supposed to hide that?"

Sebastian shrugs nonchalantly. "You don't have to. But unless you want people asking questions all day, you might want to keep your hair down."

Flustered, I tie and untie my ponytail, opting to let my hair fall over the mark as I head to my closet again.

"Anyway," Sebastian continues, casually leaning against the doorframe, "I've got to get ready for class too. I'll also see what I can find out about Kyla and what she's been up to with Sam. She'll talk if I'm careful enough."

The thought makes me uneasy. "Don't take any risks," I say, frowning.

Sebastian flashes me a quick grin, then leans down to press a chaste kiss to my lips before he's out the door. The entire exchange is over in seconds, the door barely making a sound as he practically blurs out of sight.

Derek, standing now and stretching, looks over at me with a smirk. "I've got clothes in my locker, so I'll get going too. But... I'll see you later, alright?"

He steps in, pulling me gently into a kiss, his lips soft and warm against mine before he gives me a playful wink and heads out the door.

When I'm finally alone, I stare around my room, at the disheveled bed and the echoes of a weekend that feel almost surreal. Did all of that really happen? Did I just spend the weekend wrapped up in a whirlwind of emotions, vampires, and wolves?

I shake my head, rubbing at the mark on my neck again.

High school is fucking nuts .

I pull on my red stockings, a black skirt, and a red turtleneck, ready to brave the cold weather. The chill in the air feels sharp as I leave my dorm room, heading towards the central hub before my next class. My head is swimming with thoughts—mostly trying to get a grip on everything that happened over the weekend, but also attempting to mentally prepare for Divination & Prophecies with Professor Selene. Not my strongest class by any stretch of the imagination. Honestly, if I were any good at reading tarot cards, maybe I could've seen my own damn work getting stolen.

Lost in my thoughts, I jump when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I whip around, only to see Sam, grinning and completely oblivious to the chaos brewing in my head.

"Jeez, Sam, you startled me," I say, forcing a laugh.

"Sorry," she says, though her smile tells me she's not sorry at all. "Guess I'm just that stealthy."

Great. I plaster on a smile and do my best to push the gnawing suspicion out of my mind. Could Sam have really been the one to swap my grimoire? The thought leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I can't bring myself to confront it. Not yet. Until I know for sure, I can't accuse her of something so serious. It would break her.

"So, how was your weekend?" Sam asks, falling into step beside me, her voice way too chipper for a Monday morning.

"It was... interesting," I reply, noncommittal, trying not to give too much away.

Sam, completely oblivious to my evasiveness, starts rambling about her own weekend. "I tried to go to Derek's house yesterday, you know," she says, and I feel my stomach do a weird little flip. "But he wasn't home all day. I swear, it was so annoying."

I tense. "Why were you trying to go to Derek's place?" I ask, trying to keep my tone casual, though the tension in my voice betrays me.

She shrugs, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Well, being a witch with a shifter boyfriend is really good for my status in the community. High school social stuff aside, it just looks good, you know? So I thought maybe if I showed up in something a little... shorter and, you know, low-cut," she says, making a vague gesture to her chest, "he might reconsider breaking up with me. But he wasn't even there! I wasted a perfectly good outfit."

I can't believe what I'm hearing. She still thinks she can manipulate him into getting back together? And the worst part? She has no idea that Derek was in my dorm room for most of the weekend... and all of last night. My stomach knots at the thought.

I bite my tongue, trying not to say anything that would set her off. Not yet , I remind myself. Until I know for sure what part she played in the grimoire fiasco, I can't let her know about Derek. Instead, I give a noncommittal shrug and nod, pretending to be engrossed in my walk to class.

"Maybe he just needed some space," I offer, my voice tight but steady. "You know how shifters are. Sometimes they just need to blow off steam."

Sam huffs. "Yeah, well, I'm still annoyed. He's got some nerve, honestly."

I can feel the tension rolling off her, but I can't bring myself to care. Not when I'm still piecing together the puzzle of my stolen grimoire. We walk in silence for a few moments before I spot the familiar door to Divination & Prophecies ahead.

I step into the classroom for Divination & Prophecies with Professor Selene, a space that always feels more mystical than academic. The walls are draped with deep purple and black fabrics, candles line the shelves, and the air smells faintly of sage and incense. In the center of the room, circular tables are arranged, each with a large crystal ball perched on a velvet stand.

Professor Selene, a tall, ethereal woman with long silver hair, glides into the room as though she's floating. Her presence alone commands silence. "Good morning, class," she says in a voice as smooth as silk. "Today we'll be working with crystal balls to hone your truth-reading abilities. Pair up, and you'll each take turns asking a question. The crystal ball will reveal whether your partner is telling the truth or not."

I sigh. Of course, it's today that we have to play truth or lie with a magical orb. Glancing around, I notice Sam coming toward me. Great. I was hoping for a moment to breathe after that conversation, but fate apparently has other plans.

"Partners?" she asks, flashing me a grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

I nod, forcing a smile. "Sure."

We sit down at one of the tables, the crystal ball glowing faintly in the dim light, casting an eerie glow over the room. Professor Selene hands out slips of paper with suggested questions, but of course, we're free to go off-script. I glance over at Sam, who is practically bouncing in her seat, looking like she's ready to dish out some trivial nonsense.

"Alright, Z. Let's start simple." Sam presses her fingertips lightly to the crystal ball, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Have you ever skipped a class?"

I roll my eyes, already regretting partnering up with her. "Seriously? That's your opening move?"

Sam leans in closer, her grin widening. "Just answer the question. Gotta start somewhere."

I place my fingers on the other side of the crystal ball, feeling the cool surface beneath my skin. "Nope. Never skipped a class." It's a fact I'm not exactly proud of—skipping seems like a rite of passage I never quite indulged in.

The orb swirls with faint blue smoke, the color of truth. Of course. I'm nothing if not predictably responsible. Sam laughs, her shoulders shaking as she gives me an exaggerated look of disbelief. "Of course not. Little Miss Overachiever strikes again."

I shrug, trying to play it cool. "What can I say? I've got priorities. Some of us actually like graduating on time."

She snorts. "Right, priorities like homework and kissing up to Professor Malakar."

I smirk. "Please, I don't kiss up. I just happen to be better at potions than you." We go back and forth like that, trading harmless jabs as we work our way through the questions. What's your favorite food? Have you ever cheated on a test? The crystal ball swirls blue each time, indicating truth, and we both laugh at the absurdity of it all.

But then it's my turn, and I know I can't just let this slide. Sebastian's words have been gnawing at me, and I need to know for sure. My heart races a little, and I can feel a thin sheen of sweat starting to form on my palms as I press my fingertips to the cool glass again.

Time for the question that's been burning in my mind.

"Have you ever stolen anything?" I ask, keeping my tone casual like I'm not really expecting much from the answer.

Sam blinks, just for a fraction of a second, her usual smirk slipping ever so slightly before she recovers. "No, of course not. What kind of question is that?"

I narrow my eyes slightly, keeping them locked on the crystal ball. The swirling blue smoke begins to shift, darkening into a deep, unsettling red. Red means a lie. My stomach does a little flip as the realization hits me—Sam just lied.

I stare at the crimson smoke, my mind racing. Sam… lied?

"Z?" Sam's voice cuts through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. "You okay? You zoned out there for a second."

I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. "Yeah, sorry. Just… tired, I guess." I throw on a weak smile, hoping it doesn't look as fake as it feels.

Sam waves a hand dismissively, already moving on. "You always stay up too late with your nose buried in some ancient grimoire. You should really let loose more often. Come to one of Bethany's parties—although Kyla and Sebastian's usually there too,"

The mention of Sebastian's name sends a ripple through me. I can't help but feel a little smirk tug at my lips. "Oh, I'm well aware of where Sebastian hangs out."

Sam raises an eyebrow. "You sound like you've been keeping tabs on him or something. What's that about?"

I shrug, feigning nonchalance. "Let's just say… I've been getting to know him a little better." My words are loaded with a meaning I know Sam will pick up on.

Her eyes widen for just a second before she catches herself. "Getting to know him, huh? Well, I'd be careful. Kyla's not exactly the sharing type."

I lean in, my voice low and dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, don't worry. I'm not too concerned about Kyla." The truth is, I'd bet anything Kyla doesn't know the half of what's going on with Sebastian—and if she did, it'd be a whole different level of drama.

Sam's laugh is forced this time, almost like she's trying to cover up her discomfort. "Well, just make sure you don't get caught up in any of her games."

I give her a smile that doesn't quite reach my eyes. "Thanks for the advice. I'll keep that in mind."

But inside, my thoughts are spinning. The red smoke in the crystal ball lingers in the back of my mind like a warning. Sam lied. Why? And if Sebastian's right about the grimoire, that means Sam is in on it with Kyla.

As the class wraps up and we leave the room, Sam is still chattering away about her weekend plans, including her failed attempt to rekindle things with Derek. I can barely focus on her words, my mind too busy piecing together everything. If Sam really did swap my grimoire, if she's been working with Kyla, then I'm going to need more than a crystal ball to get to the bottom of it.

But one thing's for sure—I'm going to find out the truth, and when I do, Sam better be ready.