by A Y Venona
There was no clear information about the incident that occurred in Alpha Academy two years ago other than a powerful hybrid with an appetite for an omega attacked them. People speculated that the hybrid sensed Daniel’s presence and came to eat him. Yeah, scary.
“What have you heard about the incident?” Adrian asked.
“Nothing really.”
“Then keep it that way,” Adrian said with a little reprimand in his voice. The hell?
“Whoever is sitting at the Ministry of Communication must be so good at preventing any information leak. They even succeeded in keeping the information about the birth of the new species sealed. Considering how significant this event was, people like us only know that this new species can fly and that is all,” I said. “But rest assured that I’ll keep your secret if you’re inclined to share it with me.” I winked at Adrian, just in case he could be persuaded.
Adrian rolled his eyes and then turned to Xander.
“So, what do you want us to do?”
“This Tela,” Xander started. “I want to speak with her.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because there’s a chance it might be hers, and not you.”
“You said the gods thought it was me.”
“Tela did not emit any signature at all,” Xander said.
“Wait, what?”
“Could this Tela be dangerous?” Adrian asked.
“No, she is not,” I answered.
Their combined gazes were unnerving.
“Did Melo share anything about Tela?” Xander asked.
“No.”
“And you’re not going to stay away from her,” Adrian said.
I shook my head. “She’s my only friend.”
“Okay,” Adrian said. He glanced at Xander.
“Okay,” Xander repeated.
I stared at both of them, and I could tell that a plan concerning me had already been in place without me knowing it.
CHAPTER 19
The Gathering Counter: Sunday, one day before the Gatherings
“Is something bothering you?” Adrian asked.
We were on top of Tower One, sitting at the best table in the best restaurant on the island, a restaurant that was so popular it needed a two-week advance reservation. But because it was Adrian, captain of the guardians, a reservation was unnecessary. To add to that, despite it being expensive, it had a reputation of being the best place to go on a date. Except that I wasn’t really certain if this was a date, hence my mind’s preoccupation.
“I was just trying to remember Melo’s instruction about the potion.” The lie drifted out of my mouth so easily it scared me.
“Have I told you how proud I am that you received that internship?”
“Yes, you’ve told me that many times.”
He smirked and then gulped down a glass of wine to half-empty. His eyes were a little misty when his gaze returned to me.
“So how do you like the place?”
“This?” I asked for verification though it was unnecessary. His mouth curved up into a half-smile.
I took it as his way of saying he was seriously awaiting my honest answer. So I gave the place my eye’s assessment.
Tower One was the tallest of the six towers in the Island Castle. This advantage in height gave us the best view of Lake Gaia, and with the flowers decorating the table and a centerpiece of the magically lit candle though the sun had not completely set yet, it was a little romantic.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.” His stare felt heavy on my skin. “I think I’m not doing it right.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I’m making you uncomfortable.”
“I’m just not used to having you look at me like that.”
He leaned his chin on his other hand. “I missed us. I missed how we were with each other, how naturally easy and spontaneous we were towards each other. But now…I doubt my every move, for I’m scared I’m either hurting you or making you uncomfortable.”
I reached out and grabbed his other hand.
“Don’t be. Just do it,” I said, which earned me a dirty look. “In my eyes, you’re perfect.”
He chuckled. Then his amusement turned serious. He leaned over the table and touched my face.
“You stole my line,” he said and stared at me like I was the most precious thing in the world. “You’re perfect to me,” he added.
I leaned over, maneuvering around the burning candle at the center of the table to meet his kiss. His lips were soft and demanding. It awakened all my senses.
“You know we don’t really need to change how we act with each other. Right?” I said.
“Hmmm. I think it’s a good idea.”
“Which means that you don’t need to impress me with this…” I made a hand gesture in reference to this place. “You can take me anywhere you want.”
“No. I’ve always been wanting to do this…just didn’t get much chance because of my obligations. So this has been part of my plan long before fate made a decision for us.”
My eyes narrowed. “Did you know what this place’s reputation is?”
“Uh-huh.”
“And you said you’ve all wanted to take me here?”
“Yes. It must be my werekin side already knowing who you are to me.”
Our waiter arrived with the food. Right on time.
“Here’s for a start creamed flower-mushroom soup,” the waiter said, placing two bowls of soup on our table. His name tag said his name was Buri. “Our house salad with pemchi leaves and sork seeds garnished with shayum brok. And these are kelten strips.” He pointed at a big plate with purple-looking strips. “These are pureed seasoned kelten meat.”
This one came as a surprise. Kelten strips were one of the faes’ food indulgences, the kind of indulgence that usually raised any werekin’s eyebrows. But of course, Buri was not yet finished making a presentation of our order.
“Here’s your order of Kowel wedges, grilled with blissed stones and zi-cha flower oil. And lastly, nectar-brined enk loin steak.”
“Thank you,” Adrian said.
Buri placed two big bowls filled with water that was obviously mixed with quick-sanitizing agents. We used it to wash our hands. Buri offered each of us a hand towel to dry.
“Do you need anything else, Captain?”
“None so far, Buri. Thank you,” Adrian answered.
“You’re welcome, Captain,” Buri said. “Have a blissful meal.” Then he left.
I took a few sips of the soup to prepare my stomach. Adrian did the same.
“Remember the first time I took you to a formal meal? You were thirteen then?”
I wiped the tiny drip of creamy soup off my mouth with the napkin. “That was when Angus went somewhere for two days and he asked you to babysit me?”
“He asked me to accompany you.”
And you brought Xander with you.
I glanced at Adrian’s side. Skipping the faekin meal, he was already ravishing the enk steak with his hands. Typical werekin.
Adrian grabbed the towel on his side of the table. He wiped his mouth first and then his hands, and then stared at me with a pensive look on his face.
“I took you to the Food Garden.”
Food Garden was a restaurant where all the food was made of the flowers and plants that were in the garden. You picked your food in the garden, and they would prepare it for you. One of their popular delicacies was the Nectin, a flower-bud chocolate that melted in your mouth. It was popular with kids, and everybody below eighteen liked to go there. I wanted to go there, or at least I had when I was a bit younger. It had been one of my childhood dreams to stroll in the garden with Adrian, and then we would smirch each other’s faces with chocolate from the fountain.
But with Xander in our company, my fantasy was ruined. It didn’t take me long to realize I was third-wheeling what could be their first date. I hated every second of it.
“An
d you hated it.”
Unable to stare at Adrian’s gray eyes without giving myself away, I picked a strip of kelten and threw it in my mouth. It was surprisingly juicy and sweet.
“Since then, I’ve become hesitant to take you to places,” Adrian continued. “I’m too afraid that you would hate it.”
I couldn’t help but stare back at him. I wanted him to take me to different places. It didn’t matter where to me. As long as Xander was not with us.
“I thought you were going to hate this place too.”
Oh.
“I love it,” I said.
“I’m glad,” he replied with a smile. “I’m glad I didn’t ruin it this time.”
CHAPTER 20
The Arrivals
The Gatherings: Day One
“They are here! Sweet Apollo, they’re finally here!” Picture this line being repeated many times in a piercing, shrieking voice. And now add two dozen of these voices shrieking simultaneously. Then put me in the middle of it. It was pandemonium.
Funny thing was that the ushers and usherettes were told to stay calm and be the fortress of composure. We were the guide. We controlled movements and directed human traffic upon which hinged the success of the event. We were primed for this, chosen for the strength of our nonchalance and unruffled personalities. And then came the event.
And they all freaked out.
We were inside the antechamber attached to the hover-port, the landing pad of all the arriving hovers carrying the academy and university delegates coming from all over the Seven Realms. There were four docking pads in the port, but only one antechamber. To free the place from congestion, each group of delegates was received one at a time. As it was before and in every Gatherings, the representatives from Alpha Academy were always the first to enter the Pershiane outdoor arena. And so when the first gong heralded their arrival, the faes went panicky in extreme excitement, forgetting that they were not the one chosen to usher them—it was yours truly.
Donning their signature color—red shoulder cape, which covered half of their chest, and warrior skirt—paired with black knee-high boots, the alphas entered the fray, and everyone lost their shit.
Except for me.
But my composure was short-lived. When the trumpet blared and the alphas started marching, I was at the front leading them.
And it was a little bit intimidating.
The crowd roared at the sight of the alphas. Other than the attendance of the gods, leaders, and famous personalities, Alpha Academy was one of the highlights of the Gatherings.
“It’s okay. One alpha shithead doesn’t represent all of us,” came the voice behind me.
I glanced at the speaker. Curly brown hair. Hazel eyes. Tall and broad like all alphas. And most of all, heading the pack.
I gave him an annoyed look. “Why would I think that?”
Not waiting for a reply, I shifted my gaze back to the stage that was getting closer and closer with every step. I could see the gods were all seated already. Seven. I counted. We would have been lucky to have two, for only Deity Fenrir attended this kind of event. But seven? Everyone must be on edge.
“Because you look like you’re constipated.”
A quick movement behind me and the next thing I knew, the alpha leader was now strutting beside me. That was against protocol. That concern I voiced.
“No worry. I don’t believe they’re paying attention to us.”
“Oh, believe me, they are. At least to you and your whole pack.”
“Lucky for you, then, I don’t actually enjoy all the attention.”
I glanced to his side and missed a step in the process. His hand on me kept me upright and subsequently saved me from public embarrassment.
“It’s your fault anyway,” I said instead of “thank you.”
I turned in time to see him smirking.
“What? You think alphas are gluttons for attention?”
Here’s the thing. Although I was raised with Angus, who was an alpha, and grew up with a delta alpha, obviously Adrian, I had never really associated them with the image of an alpha the society advertised. When I thought of alpha, I didn’t think of Adrian and Angus, or even Killian. Alphas for me were the superior species chosen by the gods to overlord the Seven Realms. At least that’s how the society defined them. So naturally, when I encountered one and they talked un-alpha-like by society’s definition, my brain would experience a temporary discombobulation. This was why I looked like this—dumb-faced.
Fortunately, his chuckle pulled me out of it.
We came to a full stop and knelt down for a few seconds in front of the gods sitting on the elevated platform a few feet above us. When we were asked to rise, the crowd cheered, thereby reminding me that it was my job to direct them to their spot in the arena where they could sit for a while to watch as the rest of the delegates arrived.
So I did what I was told to do. What I was trained to do.
“This way, alpha leader.”
An amused smirk wrinkled his smooth face. “You call me alpha lieutenant, not alpha leader—though it sounds like alpha elder, which will probably be what becomes of me several years from now.” He leaned closer and dropped his voice. “But you know what, since you’re cute, I’ll let you call me Jordan.”
I dismissed the shiver that ran down my spine. In response, I rolled my eyes.
“All right, Jordan, here’s the section for the Alpha Academy delegates.”
It was at the front corner of the arena and considered one of the best seats. The only one that rivaled it was the one across from us, which was given to Pershiane University’s very own delegates. I know, home team advantage.
Jordan nodded at his pack as he stood beside me. The flag bearer followed him and slotted the staff into the much bigger pole that raised the alpha banner even higher. The rest of the alphas settled into their box behind us, and I sighed in relief thinking that I had done the first part of my job, and had done so well despite the little side conversation with their chatty leader, which I believed was against protocol. So yeah, I did pretty well.
Or so I thought.
The flow of alphas who obediently found their respective seats halted at the count of—I turned around—five? The rest continued walking at the periphery of the arena.
“Hey! Your section is right here.”
“Relax, they’re just doing their job,” Jordan said beside me.
“What about my job? Call them right now!” My voice was a little panicky.
The renegade alphas each found a spot at the head of each section, looking much like…
Then it dawned on me.
“You’re not here to represent Alpha Academy, are you?” I said, looking directly into Jordan’s brown eyes.
He smiled. “Not a chance. We are alpha officers summoned directly from Fort Crimson and Fort Ares.”
That triggered my brain to rerun the events leading up to the Gatherings. The shutting down of the Pershiane Shield stood out as the obvious reason for their attendance. These alphas were here as security measures for a possible intrusion. And if Xander was going to be believed, this was nothing but an overblown reaction to the blunder I incited at An-Kian Forest.
“What’s your mission?” I asked anyway out of curiosity.
He tilted his head sideways and raised his eyebrow. “Cute and brave. But you know the rules—confidentiality. Don’t worry. There are more of us here than the one on record.”
“Are you telling me others are undercover?”
“What’s with the term? Call it cloak-under-glamor.”
“Is that the official term for that?”
He simply smirked at me.
The event proceeded despite the slight setback. I could just imagine what our team leader Mali thought about this breach of well-constructed propriety. She probably had a mental visual of the many ways to chop my head off.
The stunt the alphas pulled off right under my nose did not go unnoticed by the crowd. There was a huge “
huh” moment from them as they watched the alphas circling around the arena as they each claimed a section to guard. But this moment passed as the festive atmosphere persevered. The trumpet blared as the next delegates entered and were acknowledged—the joined forces of gammas and betas.
“So have we talked enough to earn me a privilege of knowing your name?” Jordan said as I ruefully watched the gamma and beta delegates obediently follow their guide to their intended spot.
“Eli,” I replied despite my hesitation. I didn’t look to see his reaction. I was sure he was smirking at the moment.
“Hi, Eli. Nice meeting you. I’m Jordan Wayne. Do you have a last name, or will Eli a-pretty-elf do?”
Jordan was so irksome he made me smile.
“Eli Gustan,” I answered nonetheless.
The next group of delegates came, and then another. They all followed their respective guides without much hassle. Unlike mine, of course. Each group of delegates wore their respective ceremonial uniforms with their own unique flavor of visual aesthetics, which got the crowd roaring in delight.
“Watch for the scir delegates. They’re usually the best dressed,” Jordan said.
I glanced to his side and caught the amused twinkle in his eyes.
“How do you know?”
“I know because I grew up in scir. Scir society evolves without losing connection to the antiquity. In fact, they celebrate it and hold it in high regard. That the present has somehow moved away from the perfection that is the past. Pay attention to their clothes, and you’ll see silver glowing lines. Those are no ordinary lines, for they are stories about the golden age of the gods.”
I threw him a side glance when the trumpet again blared, and the delegates from the University of Droom marched into the arena wearing all-black ensembles, looking like they were from a coven of witches and vampires. The crowd’s reaction was mixed. Some applauded the audacity. Others raised their eyebrows. And quite a few booed.
“What are they protesting now?” I said.
“They’re trying to get the attention of the Council of Elders to abolish the discrimination law against vampire refugees in Droom. They also want to end the long war between werekin and vampires.”