16

T he twins thankfully join me on a late-night walk, since the rain is off and the wind is calm, giving the surroundings a dark aesthetic and ethereal feeling. It takes us just under half an hour to walk from the castle to the stone beach, before stopping to appreciate the way the still waters reflect the moonlight.

There’s a forcefield stopping us from going further, a magical block to keep everyone on the island, but it’s invisible. I place my hand close to the perimeter, and a buzz shoots through my palm, like little electric shocks. The scenery ripples before us and only goes back to normal when I pull my hand away.

It’s just after nine, and I only know that because the twins tell me. I seem to be the only person who doesn’t know how to tell the time without having a watch or a clock.

A light breeze whooshes my hair into my face, and I tuck it behind my ears. “Not gonna lie, as much as I enjoy spending time with you two, I can’t wait to get home and lie in my own bed for hours while reading a book.”

“Was that your life before?” Mel asks, all three of us looking out into the vast ocean. “Laying in bed and reading?”

“No,” I reply. “It was a little more exciting than that. I had a job, people I got drunk with, and someone who was a friend, yet we slept together. No emotions involved. Just fun. A quickie.”

Poppy looks at me then her sister. “A quickie? Is that not what Orsen asked you for last night, Mel? What does that mean?”

“Fast and extremely unreliable sex,” she replies while I giggle. “If you haven’t noticed, Orsen is very outspoken.”

“I didn’t notice at all,” I say as Poppy adds, “Nope. He’s very guarded. You never know what he’s thinking.”

Mel narrows her eyes at our sarcasm. “Fuck you both. I like that he’s forward.”

“Well I’m just glad he’s not chasing after you with crude sexual remarks anymore, and you’re finally giving him the time of day.” Poppy takes a deep breath. “Me, on the other hand, I’m a little afraid.”

I throw a rock through the barrier and into the water. “Of what?”

“I think Brandt might stop seeing me after all of the assignments are completed. I like having him around just now. He makes me feel happy.”

Her sister huffs. “He hasn’t given you any indication that he’s going to drop you. You’re being paranoid.”

Poppy stamps her foot. “But he also hasn’t given me any reassurance! What if he’s just acting like Dane?”

I manage to skip a flat stone three times, but instead of celebrating like I usually would, I turn to Poppy. “What do you mean by that?”

“Well…” She rubs her arm and looks down at her sister. “I heard him talking to Orsen after class today, and he said you disgusted him, and he couldn’t wait for the assignments to be over, so he’d be done with you.”

Mel sighs. “That isn’t how he worded it.”

“Yes it was!” Poppy retorts. “Orsen saw him going into the changing rooms after everyone except Sera left. He teased him when he came out, but Dane made it clear where he stood with it all. He hates Sera and her entire species, which is fine, because she hates him too.” She looks at me. “Right?”

“Right,” I force out. “He said he was disgusted by me?”

I shouldn’t care, but a pang of hurt stabs me in the chest. He’s always been this way with me, but to know he’s still saying these things while trying to order me not to speak with Valin, approaching me and kissing me in ways that don’t count towards the assignment… He really can’t wait to be done with me?

“Yep,” the twins say in unison. But Poppy obliviously continues to add to the burn. “He said he can’t wait to get off the island so he can kill you and pretend you never existed.”

Mel slaps Poppy’s arm hard enough to make her porcelain skin welt. “You’re going too far. Can’t you see you’re upsetting the human?”

I’m not upset, I don’t think. The lone tear rolling down my cheek is from the chill—and how tired I am. I wipe it away with my sleeve. “I’m not upset about what he said. He’s just brutal sometimes. Ever since I got here, he’s done everything to make me feel uncomfortable.”

And I’ve been fighting to prove myself my entire life. As a foster kid, as a new sister and daughter, as a young adult in a homeless shelter trying to find work. I mean, I had to go to extreme lengths of overpaying to get my dog Toodles. Everything has been an endless battle, and I just feel like I need a break.

Living is so tiring sometimes.

“He’s a real dick. I know, Sera,” Mel says. “I’ve already offered to kick his ass. Are you finally going to let me?”

I laugh, smiling. The thought of her attacking him makes me giggle. She’d slash his handsome face with her blade-like nails and rip his heart out. “Thanks, but no. I don’t think that will stop him. I’ll just… endure his moodswings until I can get away from him, I guess.”

“Have you started task three yet?” Poppy asks me.

I give a slight nod. “He wants me to go to his room at midnight to finish it.”

“Make him come to you,” Mel says, getting to her feet. “Dane doesn’t call the shots, so don’t give in to him. If he’s serious about completing each task after what he said about you, then don’t put in any effort. Go to your room, lock the door, run a bath, and screw his fucking demands.”

“You’re sounding very human, Princess Melina.”

She rolls her eyes and turns around. “I don’t have that title anymore. Mel is my name now.”

“Because she killed our father,” Poppy reminds me.

“You played a huge part in his demise too, sister.”

Poppy giggles, and I grin as we all start walking back to the castle. The two of them put their arms around my shoulders in a supportive hug.

I’ve never had this before. Always moving around to live in different towns made it hard to have friends. I used to get drunk with my coworkers, but none of them I’d consider my friend. However, as I gossip with the twins and listen to them bicker and threaten to kill each other, I’m glad to have them.

When we graduate and get off this island, I want to keep them in my life. I want them to sleep over at my apartment and binge movies while eating junk food. I want Poppy to read all of my romance books while Mel tries to communicate with my dog by staring at him for hours.

After we return to our rooms, I get ready for bed and pace. Overthink. Listening to Poppy’s words but in Dane’s voice. The more I think of what he said, the angrier I get. I want to punch something, to shove my fist into a wall so hard the plaster breaks and cracks the skin on my knuckles.

I scream into my pillow, punching it repeatedly with both fists while the shadows on my walls watch. The little girl with a balloon is tugging on a lady’s skirt and pointing before the large silhouette ushers them away. The dog is barking, and an old man has his head slanted while he peels what I assume is a piece of fruit.

Everything about today has annoyed me. From me being disgusting, to him cornering me in the changing room and asking me who I really am.

Then his demand to come to his room at midnight.

I don’t share .

What a ridiculous thing to say.

First of all, I’m not his. He’s also made that abundantly clear to his friends.

Secondly, I don’t want to be his. He’s Dane Dalton. His mere presence infuriates me. And don’t even get me started on the way he speaks to me when his tongue isn’t down my throat. God, can he be any more of an ass? I don’t share.

On top of all that, my tattoo has started burning, and nothing, not even pressing a cold, wet cloth to it, has made any difference.

I pull off my nightdress and throw it at the dresser before marching over and shoving it into a drawer, opening the second one, and pulling out a wool sweater and a pair of shorts.

Finding someone to knit me clothing was a struggle, but one of the professors already had a boxful of items she’d made, and all of them fit me like a glove.

Waving to the shadows, I leave my room and head down to the food court. It’s late, but supper is still on until lights out.

Me: I’m going down for something to eat, if either of you want to join.

I know for a fact the twins will be otherwise occupied, but the offer is there.

After I grab a tray and fill it, I sit down at the furthest away table from everyone else, especially the person who won’t stop running around in my mind. I can feel his eyes on me, see him muttering under his breath.

The lonely, disgusting human. The outcast. The odd one out.

Talk about feeling unwanted. Dane sure knows how to make someone feel good. I didn’t even expect him to be here, given the late hour.

Despite my aggravation towards him, I can’t seem to take my eyes off him while I eat my supper. The piece of toast feels like cardboard—and tastes like it too. But I keep crunching it between my teeth and forcing myself to swallow while I give him the death stare.

He’s speaking with Orsen, who holds an ice pack to his face. I’m not an expert lip-reader, but he’s complaining about Mel, and how Dane’s made him look weak in front of her. Dane, being the supportive friend and good person he is, tells him to get a grip and to stop bleeding on his shoes.

I look away when his eyes find mine.

I sip on my glass of water, sighing as one of the professors announces that all students should be back at their dorm rooms in ten minutes. Lights will be out, and all the teachers will be off duty until the morning. If anyone is caught sneaking out, then they’ll be punished and potentially sent to the dungeons.

I’ve not had a bedtime since I was twelve.

To make my night that little bit more unbearable, Valin sits down in front of me with a tray of food, blocking my view. “Good evening.”

I drop my toast onto my tray. “Goodbye.”

He chuckles, leaning his elbows on the table. “You have quite the attitude on you for being powerless. Brave, but also stupid.”

“What would you prefer I do? Hide from you all and drop to my knees when told to?”

His eyes glint with excitement, and the taste of toast turns sour in my mouth. “Don’t put images in my head, little girl.”

I screw my face up at his attempt at a pet name, then shove my tray forward and wipe my hands together. “I think I’ll be leaving now. I hope you choke on your food.”

He blanks out my comment. “I know you saw me in the library. Did you enjoy the view?”

“No. And it’s unprofessional to sleep with your students.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he replies, popping a grape into his mouth. “I’m off duty in…” He thinks for a second. “Four minutes. You evidently have no plans, so why don’t you hear me out?”

“See, this is where you’re the worst professor ever. You know if I go anywhere near someone I’m not paired up with, I’ll fail, yet you still approach me. What’s your deal?”

“You’re branded,” is his reply. “You should know exactly what that means. I just want to explain the consequences—that’s all.”

I turn away, but his voice stops me. “Is it burning yet?”

My hair flips over my shoulder as my head snaps in his direction. “What?”

He pops another grape into his mouth. “Come see me if you want answers,” Valin says, winking. “I’ll give you the truth, unlike Dane.”

I stare at him in silence then glance up at Dane, who’s already giving us all of his attention. His arms are crossed, and he’s leaning against the table with his hip. He’s trying to listen, his jaw set, his gaze lingering on my face before dropping to Valin, who’s still sitting at the table.

I’ve seen Dane looking angry on numerous occasions, but the way his eyes turn to voids of black, a flash of possession in them, I know this is a side I’ve never witnessed.

Get the fuck away from him.

Despite him looking like a terrifying demon, I pull my bag up to my shoulder and down my glass of water. Fuck you, asshole.