CHAPTER 32: A NEW DUEL INSTRUCTOR

Andria’s POV

I hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard. I wondered how he got my digits. Then I typed.

Me: Do you care to explain how you got my digits?

Zade: Well, let’s say that you are a student in Ashwood Academy, and I have my way around things.

Oh yes, how dumb of me not to remember the academy’s group chat.

Me: Oh, I see you are stealing my number from group chats now.

Zade: Well, you got your answer, now back to my question

Me: I needed space, it’s nothing personal.

He didn’t reply for a minute. Then:

Zade: It’s all for the best, not like I care.

Then a smiling emoji.

Really?

Is he trying to be cute, or just plain irritating?

I stared at the message for a while, thinking about what he meant by that, and why he was interested enough to have my number, and suddenly didn’t care.

And then it hit me, of course, he doesn’t care, he was just being nosy. That’s all this is. I hissed, locked my screen, and tossed the phone onto my nightstand.

With a tired sigh, I rolled over, pulled the covers tighter around me, and let sleep drag me to a peaceful place, away from all this drama.

*******************

I woke up with a start, my heart hammering in my chest. I had a dream last night, but I couldn’t remember it.

Today was another duel class day; memories of the previous duel class came flooding back into my head. The duel between Tricia and me, the mate bond between the Alpha successors, and Zade, my ex-lover.

"This is another day to beat their asses, Athena", I said, walking into the bathroom shower and letting the water release the awful feeling.

The trio no longer disturbed my peace, ’Let’s cheers to that’. I hope it lasts because I no longer attend classes in the same classroom as them.

I took one last glance at the mirror, picked up my backpack and hurried out of my room.

Larissa sat on the couch as I walked into the sitting room, tapping away on her screen, before lifting her eyes to meet mine.

We haven’t spoken to each other in days since the bonfire incident, and we have pretty much avoided talking to each other.

"Aria, you are off to school?" Larissa finally speaks to me after days of pretending I didn’t exist, which I loved, because right now it just seems like she can’t be trusted.

"Yes, I’m off to school, won’t you be going to school today?" I asked her, not like I cared, but since she tried to start a conversation, we might as well just have one before I leave; time is still on my side.

I moved into the kitchen, grabbed some instant coffee, and popped two slices of bread into the toaster. Might as well eat something before training drains me. I returned to the couch and sat beside her, mug in hand.

She gave me a weird smile, then asked, "What happened the other night of the bonfire between you and the Alphas, and what made you pass out like that, that they needed to bring you home?"

I could tell she needed so many answers, not out of affection, but of course, how could I have missed it? She was only being friendly to find out if something had happened between Zade and me, to have a good enough reason to fight me.

Her expression gave her away; I could tell she wasn’t happy, and that reminded me of times Lena was angry simply because I won her in every duel practice.

I took a long sip of my coffee and then turned to her. "Well, if you must know, I was passed out, as you can recall," I quickly stood up and headed for the door.

It dawned on me that I had to be careful with Larissa; she wasn’t my friend, and Mel could be on her side too. ’Dear moon goddess, why?’

I closed the door behind me, and I was hit by the morning cool breeze. I headed straight to the duel hall, and just as I entered, the bell rang.

’I was early today, at least I can process things this time, before the instructor shows up.’

As time passed, the hall began to fill up, yet there was no sign of the instructor. ’What had happened?, He was always punctual; this was unlike him.

"Hey, there," Becca, my new seatmate, called while scooting over to my seat, with a very cheerful face.

"Haven’t you heard?"

"Heard what?" I asked in an alarmed tone. "This Academy is full of surprises, and since I came into it, it has been from one scandal to another, and I just hope this one isn’t about me."

"Ok, first things first, Alpha Kristan, our former duel master/ instructor, won’t be coming again...."

I didn’t quite understand Becca. "Why wouldn’t he be coming again? Was he hurt? Is he dead?" The questions kept coming.

"He isn’t dead, but he was attacked. Some say a weird vampire attacked him, others say it was an unknown monster that had been unleashed from the underworld."

She explained dramatically, energy bursting out of her, and I could tell she was very bubbly and lively, wouldn’t be bad if I started making friends rather than more enemies.

"So does it mean duel class is being cancelled today?" I questioned her, I would be disappointed if it were cancelled because it was one course I knew I would outperform in the upcoming tests.

"They can’t cancel classes; they replace instructors. The duel class or practice, if you had read your prospectus well, is the heart of Ashwood and therefore can’t be ignored."

She seems to be the nerdy type who pays attention to details and also loves to keep up with updates around the school.

’Thank goodness, we have a spy’, I whispered to Athena.

"Now straight to the juicy detail," she clapped her fingers continuously as the words flew from her mouth, excitement pulsating from her.

The news must be such exciting news that she can’t wait to break it.

"Spill it already", I encouraged her, although I couldn’t match her level of excitement.

"Rumor has it that our new instructor is the Alpha king’s nephew," she squealed excitedly as she announced it.

"Not like I’m interested in him, because obviously, he’s got many eyes on him or is probably betrothed by now," she completed in a sad tone.

"But yeah, the good thing is that he is young and probably handsome too, and I can gaze upon his cute face," she chirped on in a dreamy way.

"Better than drowning in misery." I supported her.

"Says who has three, or four mates by her side," she shot me a playful look and we burst out laughing.

My laugh got stuck in my throat as I felt the shift in energy as the duel master walked in. I looked up to meet his eyes, and our eyes locked.

That familiar sensation, that burn, that strong yearn and desire. His scent, my heartbeat, it was pulling me towards him.

’Don’t tell me,’ I muttered to Athena, ’that we are...’