Chapter 144: The Poem

Aina

Aina woke up to the faint, sweet humming of morning birds somewhere above her head.

Without even realizing it, during the quiet hours of the freezing night, she had shifted closer to Vance resting her hand lightly against his broad shoulder for warmth. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking away the sleep as her gaze met the forest in front of her. bathed in soft morning sunlight, the towering pines and dew-kissed leaves looked breathtaking.

For a single, fleeting second, Aina sat there, soaking in the absolute quiet. This really is peaceful, she thought to herself, a small, genuine breath escaping her lips.

Then, the peace shattered.

"Prince Vance! Prince Vance!" a loud, desperate voice echoed through the distant trees.

Aina’s eyes went wide. Prince Vance? she gasped internally, her pulse spiking. There’s someone here!

She whipped her head around and slapped her hand against Vance’s shoulder, but he didn’t even flinch. She grabbed his shirt and shook him hard. "Wake up!"

Vance groaned softly, his lashes fluttering as he slowly opened his eyes. "What..."

Aina was already on her feet, her sprained ankle twinging as she bounced up and down on her good leg, waving her arms wildly over her head. "We’re over here! We’re over here!"

Vance sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes like a confused child. "What’s happening?"

"Someone’s here! Someone’s here!" Aina hissed down at him, her eyes bright with relief. "We’re getting out of here!"

Vance blinked, processing the news. "What?"

"Come on, scream!" Aina urged, waving her arms higher. Vance cleared his scratchy throat, adjusting his posture. "Oh, um... over here!"

"We’re over here! Over here!" they both shouted together into the forest.

Within a minute, the heavy bushes rustled, and a man in a green uniform burst through the brush. The forest ranger slid to a stop, his face pale with relief. "My prince! I finally found you! I’ve been searching for you all night!"

Vance pushed himself up from the dirt, brushing the leaves off his pants. "Thank you..." He paused, looking for a badge on the man’s chest. "..."

"My name is Tim, Your Highness," the ranger nodded quickly.

"Thank you, Tim," Vance said, slipping into his natural, commanding prince tone. "Now, would you please be so kind as to escort us out of here?"

"Oh, okay!" Tim said, turning around to lead the way. He paused, looking back over his shoulder at the two dirty, leaf-covered students. "If you don’t mind me asking... did you get lost?"

"No," both Aina and Vance blurted out at the exact same second.

Vance quickly cleared his throat, putting on his crumpled coat. "We just... we just decided to take a little break and sleep under the stars."

Tim looked at the muddy ditch two feet away, then back at them. "Oh. Okay. Let’s go."

Tim turned and led them down the path. As it turned out, getting out of the park was ridiculously simple, they literally just had to walk straight for five minutes to reach the main gates.

An agonizing, awkward silence hung heavy in the air between Vance and Aina as they walked side by side. Neither of them said a word. The memory of the kiss under the oak tree burned brightly in both of their minds, but neither was willing to bring it up

Once they cleared the park gates, the ride back to Moonside Academy in Vance’s sports car was just as dead quiet. The engine hummed, the road blurred past, and both of them kept their eyes glued to their respective sides.

When Vance finally pulled the car into the designated academy parking lot, he put the vehicle in park and killed the engine.

Aina reached for the passenger door handle, but before she could push it open, Vance turned in his seat.

"I promise you," Vance murmured, his dark eyes looking at her with quiet sincerity, "the third date will be better."

Aina paused, her hand on the handle. "All right." She opened the door, stepped out onto the asphalt, and shut it behind her.

That was horrendous, Aina thought, marching away toward the main campus as the cool morning air hit her face. Everything was just so incredibly awkward... and I am so damn hungry.

Her stomach let out a violent growl, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since yesterday’s breakfast. She broke into a full sprint, navigating the stone walkways as fast as her sore ankle would allow, hoping to make it to the cafeteria in time for the very first shift of breakfast.

Luckily, she made such good time that when she slid to a halt outside the grand hall, the massive double doors were just swinging open for the morning.

Wow, Aina thought, letting out a long, breathless sigh. I actually made it.

"Travis?" a quiet voice called out from behind her. "Is that you... or Aina?"

Aina jumped, spinning around to see Ally standing a few feet away, holding a small leather satchel.

"Ally!" Aina breathed out, waving her hand. "What’s up?" Ally stepped closer, her brows pulling together in concern. "What are you doing here so early? You look completely wet... and a bit pale. And your scent is out and about."

Aina froze.

Her blood ran stone cold. Only then did she register the soft, unmistakable scent of wild jasmine lingering heavily around her damp clothes.

Because she was so damn hungry she had completely forgotten that her scent was out and about. Damn it! Aina screamed, slapping a hand over her face. I forgot all about it!

"Where have you been?" Ally asked softly, looking around the empty hallway. "What’s going on?"

"Oh, this is bad," Aina groaned, clutching her wet hair. "This is really bad."

"What happened?" Ally pressed.

"I can’t smell like an omega out here," Aina whispered frantically, leaning in close. "I need to go back to my dorm room and change, but I can’t! The princes might be awake, and if I walk in smelling like jasmine, I’ll just be completely revealing myself!"

Ally looked at her for a second, then reached into her pocket. "You know... I still don’t understand why you’re hiding the fact that you’re their mate, if it was me I’d be screaming it at the top of my lungs, but in my room, I have a bottle of de-scenting cream in the bathroom. I don’t use it much, but you can go there and put it on."

Aina’s eyes went wide. "Seriously?!"

"Yeah," Ally smiled gently.

Aina threw her arms around Ally, hugging her tight. "You are an absolute lifesaver, Ally! I owe you one!"

Ally chuckled softly, patting Aina’s back. "Oh, please... I owe you my life. You totally saved me back at the tournament."

"Oh, that was nothing," Aina said, pulling back with a grin. "It’s what friends do."

Ally blinked, her eyes lighting up with genuine surprise. "We’re... friends?"

"Of course we’re friends!" Aina said sincerely. "I trust you with my life, Ally. I’ve given you all my secrets, and honestly, you’re the kindest person I’ve met at this entire academy."

A soft, bright smile spread across Ally’s face. "Aw... you’re the first real friend I’ve ever had."

"Oh, stop, you’re going to make me cry," Aina laughed, wiping an imaginary tear. "But seriously... I need that key before all the other students start storming into the halls."

"Oh! Right!" Ally quickly dug into her pocket, pulling out a small brass key. "I’m on floor three, room three-zero-one."

Aina snatched the key, nodding frantically. "Thank you, thank you! I need to go now!"

She turned on her heel and sprinted down the corridor, dodging behind stone pillars and ducking into side hallways whenever she spotted a distant group of early-rising students coming her way.

Inside the girl was fuming. She had been this close to being first in line for breakfast to get the good pastries, but now she had to go all the way up to the third floor, scrub her skin, and apply cream.

She reached room 301, shoved the key into the lock, and pushed the door open, slipping inside and slamming it shut with a heavy huff.

Standing in the entryway, Aina let out a quiet breath of gratitude that Ally didn’t have to share her space with anyone. But then again, it was because she was a rogue, and none of the noble students wanted to board with a rogue.

As Aina looked around the room, she was momentarily struck by how bare it was. There was almost nothing inside. Just a small wooden table, a chair, and a single tiny bed covered in plain white linens. That was it.

Aina felt a strange pang in her chest. The dorm suite she was staying in with the princes was a premium deluxe layout with plush sofas, a grand window view, and private baths. But even though Ally’s room was on the third floor, it didn’t even have a window.

It looks like a glorified utility closet, Aina thought, her jaw clenching. The truth is so simple... it’s just because she’s a rogue.

She walked quickly into the adjoined bathroom, which was tiny compared to her own, holding nothing but a narrow shower stall and a raggedy-looking toilet. She spotted the bottle of de-scenting cream sitting on the counter, grabbed it, and immediately began slathering it over her neck and wrists.

"People in this capital really hate rogues," Aina muttered to herself, rubbing the cold cream into her skin.

Massaging her neck, she walked back out into the main bedroom. Her feet unconsciously carried her over to the small wooden table in the corner.

Resting on the wood was a single sheet of paper covered in Ally’s neat handwriting. It looked like a poem, and before Aina could stop herself, her eyes scanned the lines written on the page:

The highest crown now slumbers deep in gray,

While silver shadows weep the night away.

The master’s hounds now hunt the hidden thread,

To strike down any hand by shadow fed.

So stay far from the city’s gilded gates,

Where quiet fire for the traveler waits.

I keep my watch beneath the silent stone,

To bury what was broken, flesh and bone.