Chapter 77: _Chose Me
Celeste’s POV
*****
"Hold, love." Silas shushed me, fingers brushing down my hair. "Don’t—"
I didn’t listen, breaking out of his embrace and spinning to the field’s direction.
The aftermath of the mass effect kill spell truly lived up to its name. Decapitated bodies of Vein beasts littered the charred crimson sand, their ashes and blood soiling it.
Other than that and the lingering stench of burnt meat and sulfur—nothing.
No signs of Azrael. Not even a body I could use as closure or something.
Just a suffocating silence and an ache in my chest that refused to dissipate.
"Celeste?" Caelum grabbed my arm when I peered for too long. "Hey. Maybe your boyfriend made it out on time, okay? You can try—"
I pulled my arm out of his grip, shaking my head. "He’s... He’s not my boyfriend." I had to correct him.
Azrael Vaelmont was far worse than that.
Before Luther ever cheated on me, meeting him sparked a feeling. A realisation that there was something more to my life before the bonds even awakened.
N–Now he’s—gone?
"L–Ladies and gentlemen, please..." Professor Amelia’s voice shrilled through her mic, shaken and relieved all at once. "Sit down and wait while the academy’s medics do a round check-up. Do not ignore any injuries no matter how little."
My jaw tightened, fingers curling until my palms hurt.
I needed an explanation and I needed it now.
"Cel?" Willow called when I marched past the group. "Cel, wait! The professor said we should—"
"Leave her, Willow." Atlas’ calm baritone was surprisingly what held her back. "Just let her do what she must."
Advancing toward the high table was difficult. Each step felt like I was being held back by chains fastened to my ankles. Each whisper, pained whimper and suspicious glance made me feel like sinking.
Or maybe I already was.
Breath left me in a quiet release as tears I’d been holding back spilt down my face freely. "A–Azrael?" I called out, hoping he was somewhere in the crowd. That he’d answer me.
Neither of those things happened, pushing my drive to confront the Dean and possibly Luna Queen Janelle.
"Miss Bloodoak?" A professor close to the high table frowned, trying to hold me back. "What are you doing down here? You should go—"
"Don’t," I swatted his arm before he could touch me, looking through slitted eyes at Thorne. "Dean!"
The man’s back stiffened before I even got there. In contrast, Luna Queen Janelle turned sharply, eyes narrowed with suspicion and curiosity.
Her daughter, Rebecca, also lingered around, silver hair blowing across her face as she followed my movement.
I was so close to getting to the high table and lashing out. Blaming the Dean and the entire school for incompetence in keeping the wards.
There was no way my magic outburst destabilised the wards all the way from another dimension. Someone has been actively trying to push me to a wall since Miss Benedicta’s memorial.
And now... Azrael—
—Every cell in my being froze when my heart pounded with something unmistakable. From the bonds. One in particular that I thought faded.
With a trembling gasp, my eyes wandered past the field all the way to the opposite audience section across. Students still sat there but not as much as on this side.
Through all of that—was him.
Standing close to the very edge, arms in his pocket and sunglasses glinting under moonlight. As always I couldn’t see his eyes. But I could tell he was staring at me.
A smile slowly tugged the corner of my lips.
The jerk fucking survived!
"Miss Bloodoak?" Dean Thorne’s questioning tone cut through the moment like a butter knife. He examined me with a frown from the high table. "You called for me? I assumed you’d be recuperating after the horrors you’ve faced tonight."
"After the horrors we’ve all faced," Luna Queen Janelle chimed, eyes fixed in a narrow stare. "If I weren’t here to witness it I wouldn’t believe it. But Celeste—you might’ve—"
Fuck!
I couldn’t have this conversation right now. Especially not here with people watching without an iota of shame.
"She really does need rest." Fingers curling through mine made me jolt. I whipped my head back only to see Silas with an apologetic smile. "Pardon her. She was just curious about what happened during the Hybrid trial."
Luna Queen Janelle’s eyes glinted with suspicion still.
Rumours of the woman’s clairvoyance were widespread amongst supernatural students. So much so that I’ve heard some theorise her being descended from witches.
The point is—unravelling my secrets would be too easy if I kept blinking into those sharp emerald eyes.
"Very well, Silas." Thorne let me off the hook with a smile, giving the Luna Queen a not-so-coded gesture. She hesitantly shifted her gaze from me as Silas whisked me out of there.
He tightened his grip on my hand. "See?" He murmured. "I told you you should wait. Azrael is safe and okay."
Right.
Yet when I twisted my neck to check on him—he was gone. Like he never stood on those stands to begin with. Despite that, I could still feel his bond.
His presence.
Watching.
.
.
8:15 pm, Crimson Expanse
In no time, after the school medics checked up on everyone, the Expanse was back to its former liveliness. Well... If you ignored the lingering dread.
Fortunately, there were no casualties although some injuries were severe and had to be taken back to the academy grounds.
None of that stopped the Blood Trials from coming to their conclusion.
Caelum and I were named victors of the hybrid trials.
We stood on the field before the high table, lined alongside the other winners of each category. Cheers and claps erupted from every angle as the Dean and Luna Queen stepped forward with the awards.
For the witches—Atlas and Inari—they were given a grimoire written centuries before the one hundred-year-long war.
Next, for the hunters... Two swords specially designed for beast slaying. Capable of inflicting harm on any supernatural.
The Wolves—Rebecca Whiteflame and Hudson Fairchild—were given special lunar sigils, capable of heightening all their physical abilities.
Then came Caelum and me.
"These blood pendants," Thorne brought the gifts to us, wearing them on our necks, "are capable of stabilising a hybrid’s two sides. Bringing clarity... And more control over time."
I clutched the ruby gemstone on my chest.
It did feel like it belonged there.
More applause boomed through the Expanse. Some students trooped down the stands, rushing to go celebrate with Caelum and Atlas.
Who won’t want to use this to get close to the top students? Apparently not me, I guess.
Sighing, I waited for Caelum who was already busy entertaining some doting girls when—
—A manly cologne, equal parts sweet and spicy, wafted into my nose.
"There’s our winner." Silas chuckled before he got to me, lips curving in a warm smile. "And to think you spent your days doubting if you could even compete."
I mirrored his smile, inching close before my mind could stop me.
A soft peck on the cheek was all I gave him before I retreated, arms behind my back. "Thanks, Silas."
He was down here. Atlas was down here as well—although he was occupied. I could spot Luther from this distance, watching the awards and celebrations unfold.
Guess the one person nowhere to be found...
"You’re really going to leave me hanging here," Silas’ delicate palm on my waist pulled me out of my thoughts, "with just a kiss on the cheek?"
My face flushed, eyes darting. "P–People would see us. Do we really want another Blood Eye headline? Because I—"
You couldn’t pay me to remember what I wanted to say next. It all slid out of my mind when he tugged me until my body met his.
And then—our lips collided in a kiss that made my eyes widen. One second. Two. Three... I didn’t try shoving him away. Didn’t even bother searching for whoever was "watching".
Instead, I closed my eyes, kissing him back with the same intensity. Heat. Lust. Relief. They all blurred until they meant nothing at all.
Because for the first time in a long time, I didn’t care what others thought. I wasn’t torn trying to chase someone who didn’t seem to want me as much.
Tonight—I chose myself through the most exciting and arguably best way I could. And that was through the touch and warmth of the mate who without hesitation... Chose me.
Even then, somewhere across the Expanse, something in the bonds went quiet.
