(Amaia)
Dazed and confused I steady myself, trying to understand what I have just witnessed.
The applause and cheers from my guildmates have me moving, but my head feels dizzy.
Taking small steps, I face King Orion, who is beaming at me.
He says, "Welcome to Orion Academy. Can't wait to see what heights you take the Guild Leo to."
Alnilam hands over a folded uniform to the king and he passes it over to me.
His gaze sweeps towards me and all I detect is animosity. It stings but I am not going to be someone who is going to beg him for scraps of attention or understanding.
"Thank you!" I respectfully accept the uniform and offer a small bow.
Moving along I stand before the jubilant Queen. She cheerfully says, "Congratulations Amaia. Let's give you that tattoo."
I roll up my right sleeve, revealing my forearm to her. She twirls her slender finger decorated with a large ruby-studded ring and then places the tip on my flesh.
It burns with such excruciating pain that I almost scream aloud.
Is it supposed to hurt like that? Before me, no one has even uttered a small cry.
Did it mean I was weak?
It's a tattoo, of course, it's meant to hurt.
Sweat breaks on my temples and I try not to faint from this pain.
"Almost done dear. Hold on," she sympathetically says and I hold back tears and focus on her face.
So beautiful and elegant from up close, and I find myself lost in her beauty as if drawn to her, to her strong magic. Something is soothing and attractive about her and I see the resemblance she shares with the twins.
"All done." She warmly smiles at me and I bow to her before staggering down the stage.
Not in graceful strides or with a poised gait like others had done. But I almost face-plant myself from dizziness and pain erupting in my arm.
Jamina says something about schedules, exams and the conclusion of the ceremony behind me but I can't focus.
My mind is all foggy, my thoughts like the mist I am floating on and then my eyes begin to close.
"I got you, girl." Alnitak's soothing presence and earthy scent of orchards surround me, and I just give in to his warmth. I don't faint but I am not fully conscious as well.
"Does she have to be the drama queen?" I hear Rahria's mocking voice.
Kacir takes my uniform from my hands as Alnitak picks me up in his arms. "It's going to be fine. The magic does this to non-magic users. You will be as good as new after some sleep."
His soothing voice comes before I drift off.
When I regain my senses, I am lying down. My head turns and I find Kacir sitting on the bed opposite me while Alnitak is putting something inside the cupboard in the corner.
"You are awake. Here, have some water." Kacir picks up the clay glass from the side table and offers it to me.
I straighten up and accept it from him, "Thank you. Where am I?" I ask, turning my head to observe the room we are in.
"In our dormitory. This is our room," Kacir calmly answers from beside me.
Our room? I observe two beds so it means Kacir and I would be roommates.
Alnitak turns around and says in amusement. "I have begun to think that you keep fainting so I can hold you, lassie." He winks at me bringing a small smile to my face.
I place the glass to my lips and take a small sip of the cold water. It eases some of my nerves.
"Maybe, who knows," I answer back, removing the glass from my lips.
He throws his head, covered with reddish hair back and lets out a chuckle.
Such a beautiful laugh he possesses, making two cute dimples pierce his cheeks.
He crosses the distance between us with just two long strides. Kacir moves away, he has a bag open on the other single bed and begins to sort through it.
Alnitak easily stands beside me, watching me with such keen interest as if I were a test subject and he was the new medical student.
His scent wraps around me like a warm blanket and yet I cannot ease down because of the sharp pain in my thigh and my newly tattooed arm.
"You are cute. You don't have a mate, right?" He questions, eyes swirling with curiosity.
I shake my head. The thoughts of Tarian come rushing back and I just brush them away.
"Good, then I wanna make a promise?"
He appears glad, almost excited that I don't have a wolf.
"What?" I ask, curiously.
"If we don't find our mates at the end of the first year. You and I are going to give it a shot. You in?" He says with such enthusiasm, offering me his huge hand.
Emotions ripple through me like being dragged on a bed of thorns.
If only he knew…that I was his, only I was cursed.
Without thinking I place my hand in his. Sparks like fluttering butterflies begin where he touches, mingling with the painful electric currents.
It's a feeling of filling my veins with cold fire.
Warm and yet hurting.
"It's a deal." His smile widens and reaches his beautiful eyes that remind me of melted gold.
"Kacir, buddy. You are our witness. When the time comes, you will ensure my lassie won't back out of it." Alnitak turns to Kacir. The boy with long black hair places his pointer and middle fingers together and takes them to his head, only to bring them towards Alnitak in a single salute.
A quiet promise he makes and returns to his work.
Alnitak turns towards me again and says, "Your uniform and weapon I have placed in the cupboard but we found nothing else belonging to you. Make a list of everything you need and just place it outside your room."
Gently, he lets go of my hand, and my heart cries from the loss of touch.
"But I don't have any money," I quickly say.
"Don't worry about that. Just make your list, lassie. And stay out of trouble. I have to arrange my room, or Mintaka will lose his mind if he has to do everything alone." He saunters away, taking that positive energy with him. Then he pauses at the door, turns and blows me a flying kiss.
"Ciao! Amaia. See you at orientation in a few hours."
My heart flips inside my chest and I want to get out of bed and wrap my arms and legs around him, clinging to him for the love of anything.
"Ciao! Alnitak," I say with a smile and then he is gone, closing the door behind him.
Longing I stare at the closed door and blink away tears.
"Twins are trouble. I would advise you to stay away from them if you want to save yourself for your future mate. But Alnitak is also the sweetest, kindest and most charming man you will ever meet. So I won't be surprised if you fall for him," Kacir quietly and mysteriously says.
Before I can ask him to elaborate he opens the door of the adjoining washroom and disappears inside it—leaving me with so many questions.
One answer at a time, I will get them.