CHAPTER 56: A SPECIAL GUEST

Theodora blinked, her throat running dry.

Did he... just say that? In that way?

Her heart jumped, thinking others might have heard him. Her body froze. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move.

Just then, Zeke ran past them.

In that split second, he glanced her way and their eyes met. He didn’t look as angry as she thought he would be and there was almost a soft look in his eyes. The kind that kick-started her frozen heart.

Almost.

And then, his gaze darted behind to the man standing there, and the burning, vicious look returned explosively.

And then, he was gone.

What the hell was that?!

Quickly, Theodora caught Liam’s arm and dragged him away. As they walked, she could feel a cold gaze following her every step, making her feel even more wary.

Once they were far enough away, she stopped and breathed out a sigh.

Liam watched her inquisitively, lines between his forehead, "What was that all about?"

"That’s what I want to know, too," She replied, sighing again, "I feel like I missed a lot. I can’t remember one thing that happened while I was drunk,"

"You’ll remember, eventually," He said.

"It’s been a week already. I doubt I’ll remember anything again,"

"Then maybe you should just ask him,"

She glanced back at Sylas. He was still watching them - or more like unblinking at them with a neutral expression.

"Nope, he’s glaring," She said.

"Is he?"

"Yup. The calm glare. What the hell should I do?"

"Didn’t you say you were gonna confront the matter when you returned his clothes? Just do it already,"

"You say it like it’s easy,"

"It’s not," Liam agreed, "And I don’t like you being close to him but if that’s the only way to jog your memory then...,"

"Don’t like me being close to him?" She questioned curiously, tilting her head.

"Have you seen the way he looks at you? It feels like he has some personal grudge against you. Ever since he started teaching us. Remember what he did to you during training the other day? It looked like he enjoyed bringing you to your knees,"

Theo nodded in agreement, but then she recalled what happened the other night at the discipline hall when he had her backed her against the wall.

The way he had looked at her.

The things he said.

The moment she could erase from her head.

Especially that forehead Kiss. She could still feel the cold burn of his lips there, and oddly, since she became sober, she had begun to feel that same cold burn...on her lips.

Weird.

Just then, Theo sighted Eric and Finn running toward the field. Professor Shaw saw them too and instructed them to come over. They trudged forward like men on their way to the gallows.

Irritation radiated off Professor Shaw as he spoke to them. Finn replied with frantic hand movements, while Eric didn’t speak.

Shaw lifted a brow. Finn went silent.

After addressing their lateness and what looked like a lot of yelling and cautioning, Shaw returned his attention to the field with a flick of his hand, dismissing the two boys.

Finn muttered something to Eric and he said something back. As she watched them, she had this hot urge to run over and tell him something - like her body remembered, but her brain didn’t.

What the hell did she want to tell him, anyway?

Finn and Eric joined the others in the field.

After a while, the whistle blew once, slicing through the afternoon air.

"Gather up!" Professor Shaw’s voice carried across the field like a roll of thunder.

Theo and Liam followed the forming crowd. First years huddled together on one side, second years on the other, both groups panting and stretching, especially the second years.

Sylas stood already waiting at the boundary, his arms crossed with an expression cut from ice.

Shaw arrived seconds later, grinning like he lived for chaos.

Theo and Liam stood by the side as students murmured and chattered.

"Attention!" Shaw barked.

The murmurs died instantly.

Shaw clasped his hands, his voice booming with excitement, "We saw some impressive competitiveness on the track today. VERY impressive. Enough that we’ve decided to... encourage it,"

A ripple of whispers shot through the students.

Shaw’s grin widened.

Sylas lifted his chin in a single, controlled nod, "You will all participate," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument, "A full academy-wide sparring demonstration,"

Someone cursed under their breath. Someone else cheered.

Theo stood straighter. A sparring demonstration? With the whole school watching?

Shaw slapped a hand to his thigh, "Two first years versus one second year,"

The reaction from the students exploded.

"What?!"

"That’s impossible—"

"Wait, with no weapons or with—?"

"Two-on-one??"

Shaw laughed over them, "Relax, kids. It’ll be fair. Some of you first years are monsters already,"

Sylas shot him a hard look.

Shaw cleared his throat and continued in a slightly more disciplined tone.

"This will be held in three days," Shaw announced, "On the main grounds. All classes will attend,"

Sylas followed with a colder tone, "And it will be officiated. That means injuries within controlled parameters," he said, eyes sweeping across both year groups, "And zero tolerance for personal grudges,"

Shaw stepped forward again, raising his voice, "And as some of you already know... the event will be witnessed by a very important guest,"

The field went dead silent. Theo lifted her eyes.

"Alpha Ashbourne Sinclair, Alpha of the Dark Horse," Shaw declared proudly

Liam stiffened slightly as everyone turned toward him.

She also stole a glance at him. The expression on his face told her he was also hearing this for the first time.

But it was exciting. An actual visiting Alpha for a student match?

Shaw continued, enjoying the awe he’d ignited, "He’ll be attending as part of his visit to the school. But more importantly, he is very interested in seeing the strength of Gravemont’s next generation,"

"And he will be judging your performance," Sylas added quietly, voice cutting through the tension like frostbite, "Your control. Your discipline. Your worth,"

The pressure in the air thickened.

Shaw clapped his hands once—hard, "Pairings will be announced tomorrow. Train. Prepare. I want blood on the sand!" He laughed.

The first years groaned. The second years smirked.

Theo felt her pulse quicken.

A match where first years had to take down a second year?

In front of the entire academy?

In front of an Alpha?

Shaw grinned, "Dismissed!"

Students began to scatter, talking excitedly, or rather, nervously.

She turned to Liam, "You’re shaking," She said.

"I’m trembling, Thad. My Father is coming to watch me either get beaten up or beat someone else up. What if I get beaten up?"

"You’ve got two options - pray I’m on your team so I can save you when you’re about to get beat up," She said cockily, and Liam rolled his eyes at her, "Or, train so hard for the next two days. Moreover, I don’t think you’re gonna lose to anyone here,"

He hugged a laugh, feeling slightly better, threw an arm around her shoulders and dragged her with him as they walked back to their dorm.