Chapter 88: _Mystery Of My Love Life
Celeste’s POV
*****
8:00 am, Female Dormitory.
My alarm clock blaring beside my bed got me grunting. I instantly turned, eyes landing on the red digital numbers blinking on it.
Eight in the morning.
Another day in Bloodoak Academy.
Except today felt different, especially after everything that happened last night.
"Look who finally woke up," Willow’s teasing tone as I sat up made me turn my neck her. She was on the move, giving me a wink as she put on her earrings. "Good morning, Cel. I TRUST you had a goodnight."
The stress and certainty behind the word "trust" made me frown.
"Good... Morning." I arched my brow, suspicious. She got in front of our shared vanity and grabbed a diamond-crusted hairpin, trimming it into her short blonde hair. "Willow, why do I feel like you’re up to some mischief?"
She smirked in the mirror but didn’t look back. "What do you mean? I have classes today so I’m getting ready. Unlike someone who got a break alongside other Blood Trials competitors."
Ah—that’s correct.
But it wasn’t what I was referring to.
"You said you TRUST I had a good night." I was so close to flinging a pillow at her. "Explain."
Her smirk turned into a grin so wide I became anxious.
Gods, I knew that look from anywhere.
"Last night," she cleared her throat, finally turning to face me. "Probably around early midnight. I heard you walk in. With... Company."
Heat swelled my cheeks so fast I feared they’d burst.
Fuck, she heard Silas and me!
"You..." I was gobsmacked. "You were supposed to be asleep!"
She giggled, hands folding in front of her chest. "How could I when you two’s lovey-dovey comments woke me up? Oh my goddess, I still remember how eager he was to sleep here. Even if I didn’t focus much on the convo."
The more she spoke, the more it dawned on me what this implied.
Willow had been awake. Meaning she probably heard when Silas mentioned—
"You... So you heard everything?" I swallowed hard. "Like... Like how much did you hear? Did you—"
"Well, now that you mention it." The pause in her expression made my heart beat spike. "I heard Silas mention a woman calling you ’child of chaos’. Whatever that means. And also something about Miss Benedicta’s murder?"
After a few more seconds, she shook her head. "Girl, I was half dreaming, half awake. I just assumed most of that shit might’ve been in my head."
I let out the biggest silent sigh of relief.
Last night I was barely able to sleep. My thoughts were filled with how to avoid Lysandra and her friends.
They heard things from that mysterious woman last night that they had no business knowing. But then again—I also have secrets about Lysandra.
Particularly her so-called "mother" and the spell on Luther.
If the Australian princess keeps mine... I’ll consider keeping hers. Simple.
"Anyway, don’t try deviating." Willow pointed an accusatory finger at me. "You think you’re so sly but Silas’s scent still clung here this morning. And then there’s that kiss you guys had. In front of the entire school!"
She ran to me, lingering beside the bed, hand placed on my shoulder. "Come on, does this mean what I’m thinking? Are you ditching emo boy for your ex’s brother? Are you two even official yet?"
Emo boy?
"Willow, please." I shook my head, brushing her hand off. "You sound like one of those interviewers desperate for celebrity gossip."
We both giggled at that.
However, as she pulled away, her eyes lit up with remembrance. "Speaking of gossip... Check your phone. Blood Eye posted like thirty minutes ago."
My heart dropped down my stomach.
I knew those fuckers would post about last night!
Hurriedly, I grabbed my phone while Willow picked her purse from the vanity.
"I need to be early for Mr Orlando’s class." She chimed, blowing me a kiss as my attention got fixed on the phone screen. "See you later, hon. Love you!"
"Love you too!" I yelled back, barely shaking when the door shut behind her. "Blood Eye..."
There were three different headlines, each already flooded with comments that made me shiver.
My eyes wandered to the first one:
SUSPICIOUS VEIN BEAST ATTACK DURING HYBRID TRIAL.
People commented under it and while it seemed lengthy—it really wasn’t my main focus. That would be the other two:
ACADEMY PRINCESS X HALE ENTERPRISES CEO—THE MYSTERY BEHIND CELESTE BLOODOAK’S LOVE LIFE.
The audacity!
"’Mystery’ as if my love life is public business," I rolled my eyes, clicking the post.
As expected, they had a picture of Silas and me kissing. In the middle of the Crimson Expanse and the entire academy.
Comments were buzzing:
"I thought she was with that new guy?"
"If they don’t want their relationship public they shouldn’t be smooching for everyone to see."
"Gods, did anyone else see the hand placements?"
"A witch and a wolf. Looks like she’s getting the best from both worlds."
"I bet Luther is crashing out somewhere right now. Lol."
I couldn’t stop myself from blushing.
These were absolutely horrendous!
"Wait, Luther..." I swiped out of the post, scrolling to the last one.
And there it was.
LUTHER HALE AND LYSANDRA CARRINGTON BREAKUP.
That was it.
The post itself talked about how Luther was heard splitting with Lysandra, which might be interpreted as a breakup. Then it glossed over the drama between Rebecca and Lysandra and the possibilities of Luther having something with Europe’s wolf princess.
My fists clenched, fingers curling tight around the phone.
There was a picture of Luther and Rebecca walking into the field side by side. Smiling.
"I shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions." A dry laugh left me. "And besides, I shouldn’t be jealous. Maybe there’s a perfect explanation for..."
Words died in my throat when I opened the comments:
"Did anyone else hear something about Lysandra casting a love spell on Luther?"
"I could’ve sworn I heard that too!"
"How’s that even possible?"
"I bet Celeste knows something about it. She was right there when Luther confronted Lysandra."
"Yes! Before they portaled out of the Expanse."
Saying my jaw dropped would be an understatement.
Welp—so much for me thinking I could use Lysandra’s "secret" as leverage.
"Celeste!" A loud bang on my door made me halt, pulse quickening.
That voice...
Lysandra?!
"You better open the fuck up, mate!" She went on, shameless. "If not I’ll do Blood Eye one better and sing every damn thing that happened last night."
Fuck me...
