Chapter 10
(Lily’s POV)
The soft glow of sunlight spilled through the curtains as the familiar scent of lavender filled my nostrils, 1 blinked slowly, realizing that I was
mom
My body felt heavy bu warm. Someone was sitting beside me.
“I was starting to think you’d sleep all weekend,” Aunt Lamia said gently, brushing a hand over my forehead.
Her tone was light, but her eyes were filled with concern. Behind her, three figures stood quietly, watching.
my
“You didn’t tell me you made new friends, Aunt Lamia added, raising a brow. “They’re the ones who brought you home. Care to explain why you
were inconscious!”
I tried to sit up, and my arms trembled from the effort. “I don’t know what happened, I mumbled. “Everything’s fuzzy”
“They said you’d tell me,” she said with a knowing smile “Typical teenager secrecy”
Then she placed her hand gently over my chest and whispered a spell. Sometimes I forget that she’s a witch, the last of her kind in the kingdom A soft warmth spread through my body as golden light danced over my skin and soaked into my bones. My pain began to fade, and something deeper stirred.
Ravena rose inside me, stronger, while Vaelith burned like embers waiting to blaze. A pulse of raw energy cracked through the air like lightning, then the room lit up and dimmed again.
Aunt Lamia blinked “Well that’s new”
I inhaled deeply, feeling different, like something deep inside me had awakened.
“I need water.” I whispered.
“I’ll get it.” Aunt Lamia said, standing up. “Behave while I’m gone
The moment she left the room, the three teenagers stepped forward. The silver–haired boy sat first.
“I’m Dey,” he said. “And these are Aria and Tobe.”
Aria gave a small wave, her bracelets jingling like soft bells. She had an effortless kind of beauty; the kind that made people pause, not just look.
Tobe, learing back with arms folded, gave a nod. The scar across his brow jade him look tougher than he probably was, his eyes were softer than his posture.
Who are you guys really?” I asked, my voice hoarse. “Why did you save me?”
Dev’s expression softened, “Because you’re more important than you know,”
He leaned in slightly, “My father served your father, King Pison. Before he died, he kept a diary. In it, he wrote about a vision he had… of you.
Arbor of darkness and light, destined to balance the Realm. He believed it with all his heart. Built an empire in the human world; tech, land. mörku. But nothing mattered more than his final wish that I find you and protect you.”
Inked stunned. No one had ever spoken of my father with such certainty, like he was real, not just a shadow or Villain in my memory.
Art” was raned far from all this. My parents fled after the war and tried to give me a normal life. They told me stories about the
perutural world, bet I thought they were just folktales. I was doing fine, more than the. I made a name for myself as a rising teenage fashion stylat styled two celebrities, won a few fashion awards. But none of it never felt fieaningful until Dey showed me who I really way.”
Til drugged with a crooked grin. “My turn- I came from nothing. Left the orphanage and carved my name as an underground biker. I had a crew, money,rarrything. Then Dey came in with this wild story, and for some reason. I just knew it was true, I could feel i
too. Only, they never knew they were real unnd we met?
“And
Arsa added achly, her gaze locked with mine. “We’re lirie for you. All in We gave up everything to find you
know what to say Emotion swelled in my chest,
Ravena stred prody. “You’re not alone anymore”
Chapter 10
Vaelith’s voice followed like a promise. “Let them serve. Let them stay.”
Dey cleared his throat. “We’ve been watching you for a while, Lily. We wanted to talk to you at the prince’s birthday party, but then you ran out. We uhin, followed and saw you with the prince, but we looked away.
My cheeks flushed. “You saw that?”
“We didn’t mean to, Aria added quickly. “Honestly”
Tobe groaned and palmed his face. “We were more shocked by what happened next. He denied you, like you were nothing.
Dev’s jaw clenched. “You deserve better.”
Tobe’s voice turned softer. “We would like to take you away. To a place where you would be free and no one would look down on you again.”
I looked down, then up again. “I want to stay, I want to finish school“.
The three of them exchanged a glance.
Then Aria grinned. “Then we’ll finish with you”
Dev’s voice held a quiet yow. “We’re enrolling. Starting Monday. You won’t walk this path alone again.”
Tobe smirked. “Well rise with you, and bring the whole school to its knees if we have to
On Monday morning, I was brushing my hair when I heard a knock.
“I’m coming!” I called out
I opened the door to find Aria grinning, and holding a box of clothes.
“You’re not going to school looking like that,” she said, pushing past me.
I laughed “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“Everything,” she replied. “SiL.”
We spent the next fifteen minutes picking out an outfi. She paired a cropped jacket with a pleated skirt and ankle boots. Then she added soft makeup, a little gloss, and fuffed my hair.
When we stepped out, Dev and Tobe were leaning against two sleek black cars in front of the house.They looked
Tobe let out a low whistle. “Now that’s what I call a comeback.”
Dev just smiled. “Told you she’d clean up good.”
I Marked at the can. They were luxury, polished and smooth like the ones Zion and his sister drove.
Ara linked her arm with mine. “Ready to blow their minds!”
I laughed brartily “I think I am
For the frame in a long time, I was hopeful about my fate.
- up.
and their jaws dropped.
at the engines roared to life. I glanced at Aria beside me as the hupired to a time only she seemed to hear while Dev drove hair catching the light. Tobe tapped the roof of his car and winked before sliding into the driver’s seat.
Styr freeds koked nothing like typical students. They looked like something out of a dream, powerful, and wealthy.
1 bark back antyabr seat, still canting my barath, then stared out the window.
Everything was changing
Yesterday. I was the girl wanted to talk to
