The courtyard was packed.
Yvaine and Zully stood with the rest of the students. It was cold. They were all tired.
A body was lying on the ground.
Male. A student. Blood on his shirt. Face pale.
Zully gasped. "Oh my gods… I know him. That's Henry. He's in my potion class!"
Whispers and gasps broke out everywhere.
Yvaine stared at the body. "Now who are they gonna blame this one on?"
"Silence," Principal Myrrin's voice rang out.
Everyone went quiet.
She stood tall, robes blowing slightly in the night wind. The council stood behind her.
"In just one week," she said, "two students have died. Solera. Now Henry."
Murmurs again.
"We don't know who is doing this," she continued, "but—"
"It's the wolfless girl, isn't it?" someone from the crowd shouted.
More whispers. More stares.
Yvaine's heart dropped.
She felt the heat rise to her face. Everyone was looking at her again.
Principal Myrrin raised her hand. "Enough."
The crowd went quiet again.
"This time," she said, "someone saw."
She turned to the side. "Miss Calloway, come forward."
A tall girl stepped into the center. She was badly injured. Bruises on her face and neck.
"Ash?" Zayven's voice cut through the silence. "Babe!"
Ash didn't look at him. She walked to Principal Myrrin and stood still.
"Please tell them what you saw," Myrrin said gently.
Ash nodded. "I came out to get some air. I saw Henry's body fall from the veranda. I looked up and saw a figure. A shadow. I chased after it."
She paused. "We fought. That's how I got these."
She touched her cheek lightly.
"They didn't smell like anything. Either they masked their scent… or they weren't wolves. Could be a Shadow Wolf. Or Vampyre-blood."
Yvaine exhaled.
Finally. Someone believed her.
Lord Tywin stepped forward. His voice was sharp. "You all know the rules. No one should harm another student."
He looked at the crowd.
"From tonight on, all Shadow Wolves and Vampyre-bloods will be under watch."
Myrrin nodded. "Thank you, Miss Calloway."
Zayven ran to Ash and pulled her into a hug. She hugged him back, quietly.
Cute.
Yvaine gave a tiny smile, then froze when she heard:
"Yvaine Theolux. Come forward."
Her heart skipped.
What now?
She walked to the front slowly. Myrrin looked at her, then looked at the students.
"I know many of you have whispered and pointed fingers at this girl," she said. "But tonight, we heard the truth."
She turned to Yvaine. "Yvaine, you are cleared of suspicion."
Yvaine stood still. Clueless but grateful.
Myrrin turned back to the crowd. "Any student found pointing fingers or spreading rumors would be punished gravely, and you know what that means."
"Family Day is next Tuesday," she went on. "Your parents and guardians will be visiting. The last thing we want is panic. So, we expect you to behave."
She paused.
"We are doing everything we can to find whoever is behind these attacks. But until then, you are to stay alert. Walk in groups. Report anything strange. That is all."
She stepped back.
"Return to your dorms."
The students slowly started leaving. Quiet. Tired. Confused.
Yvaine stood there a little longer.
She wasn't a suspect anymore.
"Come on, Yvie, let's go. We've got history in the morning and we need to get some shut-eye." Zully says as she drags Yvaine.
_________
It was morning.
History class.
Yvaine walked in with Zully. Veylor was just behind them.
"I still can't believe Henry is dead," Zully said as they entered.
"I know," Veylor added. "It's just… messed up. Henry was kind."
Yvaine didn't know Henry. Not really. Just another face in the halls. He wasn't supposed to be killed by goddess knows what or who.
"They'll find the culprit soon." Yvaine said, as she takes her seat.
There was a note on her desk.
Fancy-looking.
She quickly picked it up and sat down. Opened it under the table.
It was from Ed. He's asking to meet under the blossom tree.
Yvaine smiled.
She was definitely going. For chocolates and then some.
"Some cute little note you've got there, Theolux." Nyx said,as she took her seat next to Yvaine.
Yvaine jumped almost dropping the paper. She quickly put it in her pocket.
Elyan slid into the seat next to Nyx. "A note? Love letter?"
"It's nothing," Yvaine muttered.
Nyx grinned. "Oh sure. Totally nothing. Just like how you and Ed were almost kissing the other day?"
Yvaine's eyes went wide. "Nyx—"
"If I hadn't walked in," Nyx teased, "you would've had your tongues down each other's throats."
"Nyxara, stop," Veylor said. "You're embarrassing her."
Zully leaned closer. "Wait. You and Ed? You almost kissed him?"
"I didn't—" Yvaine started.
But the teacher walked in.
"Hello, students."
Saved.
_____
Class soon ended.
Students started leaving for their various next classes.
Zully grabbed her bag. "I've got plant class next. Come on, Elyan. We'll see you lunchtime."
Elyan winked at Yvaine before following Zully out.
Veylor stretched. "Meditation class. Hopefully no one snores again." He smiled, then walked off.
Yvaine stood up, grabbed her books.
Still in the classroom.
With Nyx.
Great.
"Hey, Yvaine."
She turned.
Caelan.
Gods, that scent again.
She stood straighter without meaning to. Her heart jumped. That stupid buzzing was back in her chest.
"Hey," she said, voice a little too soft.
"What class do you have next?" Caelan asked.
"Battle," she said.
He nodded. "I've got potions."
Then he smiled, just a little. "You wanna meet later? This evening?"
Yvaine opened her mouth—almost said yes.
Then she saw Ed. Standing by the door, waving.
She blinked.
"Oh. Uh, maybe not today. Sorry. Tomorrow, maybe?"
Caelan didn't look upset. He just shrugged. "Cool. I've got gym tomorrow though."
Yeah. Of course he had gym.
That's how that stupid fine body came to be.
He added, "Actually… you could come watch."
Yvaine tried not to smile. Failed. "Yeah, I will."
"Alright. See you around, pup."
And he walked off.
She was still standing there when—
"Damn, girl." Nyx was right behind her. "If my nose works well, you smell…"
Yvaine turned slowly.
Nyx smirked. "Wet. For the Frosthowl or the Seer?"
"For goddess' sake, Nyxara!" Yvaine snapped. "Stop making me jump!"
Grabbing the rest of her things, Yvaine stormed out of the class.
Nyx laughed. "Wait up! We've got the same class, remember?"
_____
Lucien sat in the cafeteria, he'd barely touched his food.
He was watching her again.
The wolfless girl.
Yvonne? He didn't care about her name.
She sat with her friends, laughing, eating. She was happy.
Lucien didn't like that.
She should be scared of him. Everyone else was.
But there she was, smiling. He watched how her lips moved when she spoke, pulling her hair backwards.
His grip on his fork grew tighter.
She wasn't even that pretty.
Okay, maybe she was. A little.
But that didn't mean anything.
It was probably just the way she carried herself. The way she looked at people like she saw through them. Or maybe it was because she wasn't trying to impress anyone. That could make people look... different.
He looked away for a second. Then looked right back.
He remembered the first night she walked in on him. He'd been getting his dick sucked by that girl from Wolffire. Yvaine opened the door. Saw everything.
Her eyes had gone wide. Frozen.
He'd hit her with a repelling aura fast—blurred her memory. She probably didn't even know what she saw. Couldn't remember even if she tried.
Good.
It had to stay that way.
If she remembers… no, he couldn't let that happen.
A hand waved in front of his face.
"Yo," Erykxen said. "You good?"
Lucien blinked. "What?"
Erykxen raised a brow. "You've been staring at that girl. Again."
Lucien didn't answer right away.
Kyon sat beside them and leaned forward. "You planning something?"
Lucien looked back at Yvaine.
That laugh of hers.
"Maybe." He said with a shrug.
Erykxen smirked. "Something fun?"
"Hot."He replied, eyes still on Yvaine.
Kyon grinned. "Now, that's the stuff."
Lucien said nothing.
Then added, "Her. And that Frosthowl idiot who stepped in the other day. Both of them."
Kyon looked excited now. "Oh yeah. Let's make it fun."
Lucien didn't smile.
But in his head, it was already starting.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.