Celeste’s POV

*****

Bloodoak Academy, the next morning

So... update.

Even after morning came, the Dean and professors were unable to fix the wards. Or find Professor Amelia.

Last I heard of Natasha, she was still in critical condition. She’d apparently been attacked with Vein magic, pushing back magic potions and healing spells.

Everyone was forced to move back home.

Luther and Silas left for their pack all the way in Manchester, both promising to call and check on me regularly. Atlas also left for his coven.

As for Azrael... he didn’t leave. Not yet.

He insisted on waiting for me and watching my dad’s assistant come pick me up. Anyone can imagine how awkward that must be.

"I told you I’ll be fine, Azrael," I said under my breath, placing the last of my clothes in a travelling bag. I could feel him staring at me from my room’s door and gods was it making me uneasy. "You don’t have to wait."

As I turned around to face him, my heart nearly jumped out of me when I saw his face. He’d taken off his sunglasses, and the door shut behind him. His arms were folded across his chest as he took slow, measured steps toward me.

"Remember all those times you told me to come clean on what I truly am?" He started, voice gruff. "How you called my eyes beautiful. Told me there was no need to hide them even after I warned of the chaos that always follows me leaving them open."

My gaze lowered despite myself. "A–Azrael—"

"I need to know if you remember all that, little miss."

’Come on, girl.’ my wolf urged. ’Just look at him.’

With a heavy inhale, my head rose, meeting his gaze again. Those coal red eyes, calm and unblinking as he peered at me.

"You promised, Celeste," he mumbled. "I admit, I kept it from you for so long. But this is exactly why I kept it hidden. Vampires were never meant to mingle with other supernaturals."

He plucked his sunglasses out of his front pocket, about to put them on again.

"Wait." I raised a hand, inching closer until I could feel his breath on my face. I grabbed the hand he used in holding them, lowering it slowly. "... I’m... I’m sorry, Azrael."

The words came out before I could think.

But I didn’t care.

I found them necessary.

"After everything we’ve gone through. After all the horrors we’ve faced in a matter of weeks... I shouldn’t be so shaken simply because you’re a person who drains blood."

If those words touched him I couldn’t tell.

Even without the sunglasses his expression looked so plain.

"I still don’t quite understand all of it," I went on. "Like... are you immortal? Are there more of your kind out there? Did someone turn you or—"

"Another thing I have to explain, little miss." His face dropped, hand tightening. "I... my kind were created by the High One. The witch you call Nyx."

Any words I had hooked in my throat.

I blinked, almost unable to believe what I just heard. It... it couldn’t be, right?

Azrael... Nyx...

"Alas, that’s sadly not all," Azrael’s voice lowered, making my stomach lurch. "... I was sent by the High One to watch you. And your family. Right from the moment you were born. The mate bond was nothing more than an unexpected turn of events."

He placed a hand on my shoulder while he said words that upended everything I thought I knew. Turned my already wrecked world upside down.

"I’m telling you all this now," he kept on talking. "Because I no longer want secrets between us. I’ve decided that... loving you is far greater than any duty I owe my master."

His hands found mine, lifting them to his chest. I couldn’t respond, move or think. I was just frozen in place, wondering if this was another fucked up nightmare.

He... he just said he loves me...

"Please, forgive my deceit." He said that word again. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Please.

"Celeste?" His fingers trailed to my chin, forcing my gaze to meet his. "Say something... if you want me to leave now—"

The sudden ring of my phone cut him off.

Thank the gods.

For a second, I didn’t move. The sound felt louder than it should’ve been, slicing through the tension in the room like a blade.

Azrael’s hand lingered under my chin. Waiting.

I pulled away first, as if his touch burned.

My fingers fumbled slightly as I reached for my phone on the bed, my chest rising and falling unevenly. The screen lit up, the caller ID staring back at me.

Caelum.

I answered almost immediately, bringing the phone to my ear like it was the only thing tethering me to reality.

"Hello?"

"Cel?" His voice came through, slightly muffled but urgent. "We’re at the gate. Dad’s assistant just got here. You ready?"

I blinked once, my gaze flickering briefly to Azrael before turning away.

"...Yeah," I said, forcing my voice steady. "I’m coming down now."

"Alright. Don’t keep us waiting."

The line clicked dead.

A suffocating silence followed.

Slowly, I lowered the phone from my ear. Then I looked at him again. Really looked this time.

And just like that—Clarity hit.

A bitter laugh left my lips before I could stop it. "...Wow."

Azrael’s brows drew together slightly.

"Celeste—"

"You’re a creep." The words came out flat.

His expression shifted. Not much. But enough.

"I mean it," I continued, my grip tightening around my phone. "You’ve been watching me since I was a child? Since I was born?" My chest rose with a shaky breath. "That’s not romantic. That’s not devotion. That’s..." I scoffed, shaking my head. "That’s fucked up."

His jaw tightened. "I didn’t have a choice—"

"Oh please," I cut in sharply, grabbing my bag from the bed and slinging it over my shoulder. "Don’t start with that. You always have a choice."

I brushed past him, the air between us crackling with tension.

"Celeste."

I ignored him and walked straight to the door.

"Also, you think I’d believe you just conveniently know nothing about Professor Amelia?" I added, my hand gripping the handle. "After everything? After all this Vein bullshit? You expect me to just nod and go ’oh okay Azrael, sure, you’re innocent’?"

"I told you the truth," he said, his voice controlled now. "I know nothing about Amelia."

I huffed a humourless laugh.

"Right."

The door swung open.

I stepped out. Then paused just long enough to glance over my shoulder.

"Get out of my suite." There was no emotion or hesitation.

He didn’t argue, trailing behind me.

As we stepped out fully, the door slammed shut behind me. With a flick of my fingers, a pulse of energy surged through the lock, shutting it.

I didn’t wait.

I stormed down the hallway, boots hitting the floor harder than necessary as everything inside me churned violently.

He followed. Of course he did.

I could hear his footsteps behind me. Unhurried. Like he had all the time in the world.

"Celeste."

I didn’t stop.

"Listen to me."

"Don’t," I snapped, spinning around so abruptly he almost walked into me. "Just... don’t."

His eyes held mine. Unflinching.

"I was following orders," he said. "At first. That was all it was."

My laugh came out sharp.

"Then follow them again," I shot back, my voice rising despite myself. "Follow them and fuck the hell off, Azrael."

For a split second, my arms glitched. Dark sigils flickered beneath my skin, crawling along my veins like something trying to break free.

He noticed, his eyes darkening.

But just as quickly as they appeared, they vanished. Leaving my skin clear.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to steady.

"...Stay away from me," I added, quieter now. But no less firm.

Then I turned and walked away.

This time, he didn’t follow.

.

.

The academy gates loomed ahead, and students scattered around as families and transports came and went.

A sleek black car waited just outside.

Once I got to it, I yanked the back door open and slid in, slamming it shut behind me.

"Miss Celeste," my father’s assistant greeted from the driver’s seat, his tone polite as ever. "It’s good to see you."

Caelum sat beside me, already watching me closely.

"You okay?" He asked softly.

I nodded once. Wordless.

My hand rose to my jaw, fingers pressing lightly against it as I stared ahead.

"I’m sorry about... everything," he added after a moment. "But it’s going to be okay. We’re going home now."

Home.

The word felt distant. Foreign.

Still... I managed a small smile. "...Yeah," I murmured.

The car engine roared to life.

We pulled away smoothly.

But as the academy gates began to fade behind us, something twisted in my chest. A sharp, painful knot.

The bond.

It throbbed.

I frowned, my gaze drifting to the rear window. And there he stood.

Azrael.

Hands tucked into his pockets. Sunglasses back on. Face unreadable.

Watching.

The distance between us grew. Meter by meter. Until he became nothing more than a silhouette.

Then nothing at all.

I turned away. But the feeling didn’t. Didn’t fade. Didn’t ease.

If anything... It got worse.

And as the road stretched ahead of us, leading me away from Bloodoak Academy... I couldn’t help but wonder.

If I just made the wrong choice.