Chapter 86: _Fight
Luther’s POV
*****
12:25AM, Outside the Male dormitory buildings.
He should be on his way upstairs to get some much-needed rest. After all, Lysandra said she’d break her spell on him in the morning.
But he couldn’t sleep.
Instead, he sat on the steps leading to one of the dormitory buildings, staring into the night sky.
The rest of the academy was quiet. Asleep. He was probably the only one out by this time—save maybe for some professors away from the residential section, either busy with their own thing or cross-checking wards.
His mind still replayed everything that happened during the summoning of Lysandra’s... "Mother". Or whoever the hell that was.
After the summoning and everything revealed, he questioned himself deeply. If this "love spell" was truly active why wasn’t he no longer thinking of Lysandra?
Why didn’t he give a damn when he saw her sobbing, surrounded by her friends as they left Atlas’ suite? More importantly—why was all his attention on Celeste and Silas after all that happened?
"Could summoning her mother have broken the spell?" He asked himself, brows furrowing. "Or did that happen much sooner? What was even the point of helping Lysandra with it? What gain came from breaking Celeste and me up so dramatically?"
A part of him had been hoping Celeste would at least try talking to him. They’ve all gotten evidence that what happened wasn’t his fault.
Yet she ignored him, sticking close to his brother.
Luther couldn’t take anymore of this.
’Maybe you need to talk to someone,’ his wolf sounded serious. ’You are spiralling right now. Moon forbids this leads to worst complications.’
He shook his head. ’There’s only one person I want to talk to and you know it.’
’And as much as I want us to go to her,’ his wolf was firm, ’I recognise how that could feel like cornering her. We don’t want her to decide anything hastily, do we?’
His jaw tightened.
Since when did his wolf become the voice of reason on issues like this?
’Since forever, muppet.’ the little mutt grunted. ’If you want, you could talk to me. I mean, I know all your thoughts and feelings but a little self-introspection never—’
It was cut off abruptly by the ringing of Luther’s phone.
The latter frowned, slowly pulling it out and staring at the screen.
A contact he almost forgot he ever saved flashed back at him, making him raise a brow. "Rebecca?"
They’d exchanged contacts yesterday before the wolf trial. He’d been hesitant at first but she insisted he never knew when he’d need her.
Was this... A sign?
Why was she calling at this hour though?
Clearing his throat, he picked. "Uh... Hello?"
There was nothing but silence at the other end. Only for a couple of seconds, "You actually picked." Her soft laugh made him scoff. "Why aren’t you sleeping? Still sulking at your defeat in the wolf trial?"
He placed the phone against his ear, lips curling in a sarcastic smirk she couldn’t see. "And why aren’t you? Was I right all along and you have a crush on me?"
"You wish, Luther Hale." There was no shift or nervousness in her tone. Just plain old curiosity. "My mother and I are en route to a portal gate. Bound for Europe. Before I leave American soil I just wanted to check up on your... Dilemma."
Luther’s lips pursed.
Before Celeste’s outburst in the hybrid trial sparked clarity through the bond, his discussion with Rebecca planted a seed. Suspicion.
Directed at his feelings toward Lysandra.
Her confession just highlighted something already blooming at the corner of his psyche.
"I’m guessing you witnessed me confronting her," Luther mumbled. "At the Crimson Expanse."
She paused for a moment. "Yes," came her response. "And I assume most of the academy did. So tell me... Does this mean there was truth in my theory?"
He decided not to hold back too much information.
After all, he did need someone to talk to.
So—he shared Lysandra’s confession. Leaving out the part of her "mother" or the fact that they summoned her. Then he told her she was meant to break the spell in the morning.
"Why not tonight?" Rebecca queried. "Sounds to me like she’s stalling. Either that or..." She held for a breath.
Noisiness instantly got the best of him. "Hello? Did something happen? You were about to say something."
Nothing was said for another couple of seconds. Then, "How do you feel right now, Luther?"
’Not a weird thing to ask at all.’ he thought to himself before answering. "I feel... Normal, I guess?"
"That’s not what I mean," Rebecca pushed. "Think. Hard. About everything you’ve shared with Lysandra. About that night when you threw it all away and betrayed Celeste."
His chest suddenly swelled with a pressure that made him nauseous. He rubbed his forehead, remembering that night in detail.
The way he came into Celeste’s room, holding a letter trying to explain his feelings. And how Lysandra walked in and—destroyed that paper.
He was supposed to lash out at her. But instead, he was pulled. Against his will.
"Luther?" Rebecca called out again. "You haven’t answered my question. Are you still thinking or—"
"Regret." He spouted too quickly. "Embarrassment. Disgust at myself and her. And..."
Something twisted his stomach and chest, making it difficult to breathe. He gawked at the night sky, eyes suddenly watering.
’Tears?’ he questioned himself in disbelief.
"And what Luther?" Rebecca’s voice was sharp. "I’m going to take a wild guess. Guilt? If that’s the case, I think I understand why Lysandra insisted on breaking the spell in the morning."
This time she didn’t hesitate. "She’s felt the shift in you. And perhaps you have too."
He blinked back the wetness in his eyes, biting his bottom lip for a second. "What shift?"
"The spell," she uttered softly. "She’s not broken it yet... Because it’s already broken, Luther. Probably from the moment she confessed. Or even before that."
Silence.
Before that?
Only one moment played in his mind as a possible reason.
’Celeste’s magic outburst in the hybrid trial.’ his mind blanked, vision tunnelling. ’So I was right?’
"Hey, Luther?" A sound like static rang from Rebecca’s end. "I’ve got to go now. If you want you can keep me posted. But please... Do everything you can to fight for her."
She didn’t even need to say her name.
Celeste.
"Thank you, Rebecca." He forced a smile. "Good night."
As the line went off, Luther was just about to lower his phone when a notification popped up on his screen. A message.
From... The Dean’s office?
His heart did a little somersault before he hesitantly opened it.
"You’re directed to drop your mission of watching Celeste Bloodoak. Effective immediately. Silas Hale will take over that responsibility indefinitely."
That was it.
No explanations. No further directions. Just cold and straight to the point.
Luther’s fingers shook, the phone nearly slipping out of his grip.
Thorne had just taken away his closest chance of ever getting near Celeste and setting things right. Not only that—he gave it to his brother. The man his mate was currently entangled with.
’So what are you going to do?’ his wolf asked.
He got on his feet, keeping his eyes on the night sky. And the clouds left behind by the storm earlier.
"Fight."
