As we step onto the altar, I finally get a closer look at Xylos. He has a chiselled jaw and the same sharp features as Raze.
Must be the Thronecrest genes.
As we stand beside the fire pit, a girl carrying a silver tray walks onto the altar.
Raze takes the knife from the tray and slices his palm like it is part of his daily routine, not even flinching.
He gestures for me to do the same.
I take a breath and gather what little courage I have left. No point dragging this out.
So, I slice my palm.
Holy hell.
The pain shoots straight up my arm.
And just when I think the worst is over, Raze grabs my hand and squeezes it like we are sealing a deal, forcing our blood to mix before it drips into the fire.
Xylos instructs us to close our eyes and feel the magic.
I try.
At first, I feel nothing except the sting in my hand.
Then it happens.
It crashes into me like a wave.
Suddenly, I am somewhere else.
Darkness stretches around me. The ground beneath my feet feels cold and damp. A faint mist curls around my ankles and the air smells like rain on stone.
I start walking through this dark alleyway.
A quiet whisper of my name echoes somewhere in the distance.
Then a hand touches my shoulders from behind.
I flinch.
My eyes snap open.
I am staring straight into Raze's eyes.
For a moment there is something in them. Concern. Or maybe curiosity. But it disappears quickly, replaced by unreadable expression.
We step down from the altar, where a healer rubs crushed herbs into our wounds and wraps our palms in bandages. The herbs burn almost as much as the knife did.
Fantastic.
We stay near the hall to watch the rest of the ceremonies.
I try not to look at Raze.
Unfortunately, my eyes have other plans.
Memories begin creeping into my mind.
How we used to meet in the park every day at exactly four o'clock.
How he would crawl into thorny bushes just to bring me flowers.
Whenever we argued, one of us would storm off, and the other would follow till we started talking again. Neither of us was very good at staying angry. Back then I had fallen for him without even realising it.
He was my first love.
Then the slide incident happened.
After that, my parents refused to let me return to the park.
And Raze disappeared from my life completely.
I never saw him again.
Not in town.
Not at the market.
Not even during festivals.
After that, I only heard about him through rumours.
At first the stories sounded harmless. Pranks, stolen bikes, harmless chaos.
But as he got older, the stories escalates.
Street fights.
Late nights at bars.
Girls.
Lots of girls.
And somehow, he always walked away without so much as a warning.
Perks of being a Thronecrest, I suppose.
I start rehearsing possible conversations in my head.
Option one.
"Hey, nice to know you are my mate, What next?"
Option two.
"Do you remember bringing me flowers from bushes?"
Imaginary Raze stares at me.
"You are so annoying."
With such brilliant conversational options available, I decide to go with the safest.
Awkward silence.
Then a girl in a thigh slit dress and impossibly bouncy hair walks towards us. Her mate trails behind her like a loyal puppy.
She goes straight to Raze and leans in to kiss him.
Raze turns his head slightly, so she ends up kissing his cheek instead.
"I missed you," she says, practically all over him. "It has been a week since you visited Oasis."
Oasis.
The underground bar every academy student whispers about.
"Don't worry, darling," Raze replies with a smooth smile. "I will see you there soon."
She beams like he just promised her the moon, blows him a kiss, and walks away.
I stare at him.
My soulmate is a regular at shady bars and has lots of admirers...?
Just what every girl dreams of.
I scan the crowd, hoping to find Eira so I can escape this situation.
But she is nowhere in sight.
I must have missed her ritual because Xylos suddenly steps forward again.
"Now that the rituals are complete, I will explain the ground rules of the academy."
I expect something sensible.
Like do not use magic to harm others.
Instead he says, "Everyone must attend their classes. If you cannot attend, report to the administration with a valid reason."
He pauses.
"Other than that, the academy is quite liberal. You may go anywhere, do anything. You may also change rooms tonight if you wish to stay with your mate."
The hall erupts into chaos.
People immediately start dragging their mates towards the exits.
"Enjoy the night," Xylos adds before leaving.
Looks like everyone suddenly wants to move in with their soulmate.
Soft music begins playing.
It feels like the first dance at a wedding.
Couples start dancing together, smiling at each other with a look of love in their eyes
I guess to me watching love from afar is nice. But being in love... oof
Raze tugs lightly on my dress.
"Follow me."
Then he starts walking towards the exit.
I follow him.
Partly because I have no better plan.
Partly because, despite everything, a small part of me still trusts him.
At least a little.
For the sake of the boy who once climbed bushes to bring me flowers.
We climb several staircases before he stops in front of a door.
I look up.
Room 318.
My room.
How does he know my room number?
Before I can ask, he opens the door.
A loud scream fills the hallway.
I squeezed myself between the door and him to look what's happening in the room.
A couple stands inside the room.
Both of them half dressed.
The boy tries desperately to shield the girl.
The girl glares at us.
"What are you doing in my room? Don't you know how to knock?"
"I am so sorry," I say quickly.
Unfortunately, I am stuck between the angry couple and Raze, who is blocking the doorway behind me.
Then Raze pushes me further into the room.
"Pack your bags," he says calmly. "Then we leave."
I cross my arms.
"No."
If I have a choice, I would rather stay here with an angry roommate than move in with him.
The girl sighs.
"Actually... could you move out?" she asks me awkwardly. "My mate and I want this room."
Fantastic.
Possibly the most awkward moment of my life.
I surrender.
I pack my bags as quickly as possible while shooting several annoyed glares at Raze.
Then I escape the room before things get any worse.
Raze walks downstairs while I struggle to drag my suitcase fast enough to keep up.
He stops, turns around, and walks back to me.
Without a word, he takes the suitcase from my hands.
Well. I guess there is still a gentlemen bone in his body.
We stop at a corner room on the second floor.
Far from Eira's room.
Though she will probably move in with her mate tonight anyway.
Raze pulls a key from his pocket and unlocks the door.
The room is enormous.
A suite.
Twice the size of my old room, with a small kitchen, refrigerator, and a living area.
But only one bedroom.
And one bed.
Wonderful.
This is my karma for shipping couples with the single bed trope.
Noticing me staring at the bedroom door, Raze says, "If you do not mind, we can share the bed."
He shrugs.
"If you do mind, feel free to take the couch."
Then he disappears into the bathroom.
I ignore the couch completely.
I am sleeping in the bed.
Mostly because I hate sleeping alone.
When I do, I get nightmares.
That is why I always slept next to my sister. At first, she complained endlessly. Eventually she admitted she liked the company.
Raze will not be nearly as comforting.
Still, being near him gives me a strange sense of familiarity.
Even if he acts completely detached.
I change into my sweats and lie down.
He falls asleep almost instantly.
Meanwhile, I scroll through my phone looking for something to read.
Suddenly a hand grabs the phone.
"What the hell?"
I glare at him and reach for it.
Instead, he locks it and places it on the nightstand.
"The screen light is blinding," he mutters. "Go to sleep."
"Okay, mum," I reply.
I can feel him watching me.
The room is completely dark, so I cannot see his face.
Too tired to argue, I sink deeper into the mattress. I turn away from him, but I can still feel the warmth of his body beside me.
Sleep pulls me under quickly.
Maybe tomorrow morning things will feel different.
Maybe when I wake up, he will not look like a stranger.
Maybe he will look like the boy I once loved.