Chapter 11
(Zion’s POV)
I didn’t sleep all weekend.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lily walking away from me and every time I tried to forget, Ragnar snarled from the back of my mind “If something bad happened to her, I’ll never forgive you”
He was serious; I could feel the distance between us growing. It wasn’t just guilt. It was like our connection had snapped and the only way to fix it
was to see her..
I’d never been so restless in my entire life. Not during full moons or the boring council meetings with Dad and the elders. It was different, and I needed to know that Lily was okay
On Monday morning. I rose early and Celeste as usual came to the palace.
She spoke non–stop during the ride about an upcoming classinate party, and her dress options. For a second I wanted to yell at her to shut it but alas, I could only sulk in silence and endure her high–pitched voice.
As we reached the school’s courtyard, Celeste’s grip on my arm tightened. She was more clingy today and I disliked it
That’s when it happened. The energy in the air suddenly shifted, and students slowed their
rpace… Heads turned and whispers stopped.
Three sleek black cars pulled into the school gates like a royal convoy. The middle car door opened, and Lily stepped out.
This girl wasn’t the one I kissed in the old classroom, or the quiet girl people ignored in the hallways.
No. This Lily was another
Although, her outfit followed the school rules, it looked like it came straight from a fashion magazine. Her pleated skirt and cropped jacket were perfect, her boots hit the pavement in slow motion and the light makeup shimmered beneath her eyes.
But she wasn’t alone. Flanking her were two tall guys, one with silver hair and gray eyes. The other dark, broad–shouldered, and cocky. A girl walked beside them, looking calm and unbothered. And together, they looked like they owned the school
They walked straight through the crowd, and no one dared block them. Girls whispered while boys just stared. Even some teachers paused at the doorway. Their presence was electrifying
Still, Lily didn’t glance at me. Neither did her new entourage.
In fact, the two guys glared straight at me, like 1- the prince, was nothing bug background noise. Their boldness rattled me
Celeste muttered, “Who even are they?”
I didn’t respond.
Because I had no Fuster
By lunch, school had turned upside down because of them. They were all I heard when I walked into the cafeteria with Lucien and Celeste.
Hushed whispers spread across round tables “I heard the new guys came from the human world.”
“Wait, like the real human realm?”
“Yeah. I was told that they were children of top officials who fled after the Great War. They are also crazily influential over there”
“Wow I saw their cars this morning
“And Lily is now friends with them. They chose her”
“Oh, how I wish I were in her shoes. I would love to visit the human realm, travel round the world and enjoy luxury.”
I ended my jaw and stared at Lily who was at the center of it
he was laughing and eating softly like the chaos didn’t exist.
of it all. She
And for once, Celeste wasn’t the one with all the attention in the room
Celeste suddenly slammed her fork down beside me “This is ridiculous,”
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11:14 AM c d
Chapter 11
Lucian looked up. “Please tell me you’re not about to do something stupid.”
She pushed to her feet Watch me.
Before I could stop her, she was already storming across the cafeteria
Lucian cursed under his breath. “This is gonna be bad.”
Celeste marched right up to their table. “So this is the new Lily everyone’s obsessed with?” she said loudly. “Let me guess; add two hot guys, a makeover, and suddenly you think you’re royalty?”
Lily didn’t even blink. But her friends did.
The silver–haired guy slowly tilted his head “Did we ask for your commentary?”
Celeste scoffed. “I wasn’t talking to you, icy?
The girl leaned forward with a smile. “We’re new here, so we’re not sure; are you always this loud and useless, or is today special?
Laughter erupted nearby.
Celeste’s cheeks turned bright red.
The scarred guy then muttered. “You try to seem important, but your confidence is giving expired milk”–
Someone behind me choked on their juice, and Celeste’s mouth dropped open. She closed it quickly “You don’t know who you’re messing with”
Lily finally looked up, her voice calm and low. “Neither do you.”
The cafeteria fell silent. Then exploded
Someone actually clapped “She said what she said!”
Celeste turned red and spun around, marching back to our table like she hadn’t just been shamed in front of half the school..
I watched her sit down, humiliated. I looked back at Lily, who was now laughing with her new friends as if nothing happened.
She didn’t just rise. She changed the whole game.
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