Chapter 77: mid terms

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: mid terms

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "That didn’t sound sincere at all."

Skye’s carefully constructed composure cracked. The words came out in a rush, almost against her will.

"I’m not allowed to like you." She exhaled hard, shoulders dropping in defeat. "My romantic partner doesn’t like you. At all. It would be weird if I started liking you—or worse, became actual friends with you."

"Isn’t that more reason why you shouldn’t be my servant?"

"True." Skye’s voice lowered. "But that would also mean I wouldn’t be working in this house at all. We’ve had a distant relationship for a few years now. It’s been stiff. Cold. I need to be close if I want any chance of bringing back the spark I’ve missed. So please... I can’t lose this job."

Amelia’s tone was a bit down. "That’s sad."

Then it shifted into something cold. "But that isn’t my business. And it has nothing to add to my life."

A beat of silence. "That’s exactly how you would have sounded if I ever tried telling you my personal problems."

Skye’s mouth twisted into a small, defeated smile.

"That’s definitely true."

Amelia sat up.

"Which is why I won’t act like you. I’ll give you another chance. Don’t waste it. You don’t have to like me. I’m only asking for respect. Nothing more."

Skye nodded once. "Agreed."

The conversation was cut short by a sharp ringing tone.

Amelia’s phone vibrated against the desk. Kate’s name lit up the screen. She swallowed once, then picked up.

Kate’s voice came through immediately.

"Hello? I am calling to ask if Amelia is finally awake now?"

"Yeah... I’m awake...kate."

"That’s good news—hold on." Kate’s voice turned away from the phone as she called out to someone nearby. "She’s awake guys!"

In the background, Amelia hears Lila’s loud voice. "Tell her to come immediately! How did this even happen?"

Amelia’s grip on the phone tightened slightly.

"How are the twins doing? Did something happen"

"Better than ever, apparently," Kate answered. "They’re more than fine."

"I’d like to apologize for what happened."

"That can wait," Kate said firmly. "Right after you finish your mid term exams tomorrow. Because we have a surprise for you."

A surprise.

Amelia stared at the far wall of the room, the word settling strangely in her chest.

What could it possibly be?

After the call ended and the discussion with skye was over, Amelia starts to read her books until the words began to blur. Whenever her focus slipped, Swifty hopped closer, tugging lightly at the edge of the page or settling against her arm until she set the book aside and gave him the attention he clearly demanded.

By evening she was exhausted in a way that felt almost ordinary. She fell asleep with the silver bird perched near her pillow.

**

The next day, the campus felt different.

Exams should have begun a full week earlier. Everything had been delayed after the destruction in the Blacksmith Territory. Amelia sat among rows of students, the only sound the steady scratch of pens and the occasional soft turn of a page. Everyone looked locked in the same tense, narrow focus.

By afternoon the last paper of the day had been submitted. The hall emptied in a slow, noisy wave. Outside, clusters of students immediately began comparing answers—some laughing too loudly about certain failure, others hunting for anyone who might have done worse than they had.

Kate found her outside the hall.

"That was brutal," she said without preamble, falling into step beside her. "I swear half those questions were designed by someone who hates joy."

Amelia slowed. "I want to apologize for what happened that day in the Blacksmith Territory. I understand if you’re scared of me."

Kate stopped walking and turned fully toward her, eyebrows climbing.

"Are you kidding?"

She let out a short breath, then continued more honestly.

"Yeah, what I saw shocked me so badly I couldn’t even move. And of course it was scary—anyone with a working brain would be scared. That doesn’t mean I want to stay away from you. If anything, it’s more reason to stay close. That way, if I ever have an ex-boyfriend who needs dealing with, you can just... you know. Strike him for me."

Amelia gave her a flat look. "That should seriously be the least of your concerns."

Kate’s mouth curved.

"Please. My romantic history is a national disaster. Having a lightning-wielding friend on standby is the first practical decision I’ve made all year."

She sobered only slightly. "We’re meeting at the huge field on the far side of campus."

Amelia frowned.

"Why not the secret room?"

Kate’s expression turned deliberately mysterious.

"You’ll understand when you see the surprise."

As they walked, Kate glanced sideways at her. "I really envy the relationship you have with your partners. "

Amelia’s steps slowed. "Why would you say that?"

"Because the day you struck yourself with that lightning," Kate replied, "I never thought I’d see that kind of look on those three men’s faces. Pain and worry. They care about you, Amelia. Way more than i thought."

Amelia couldn’t quite believe it.

Still, something warm and unwelcome spread through her chest. She forced a small, almost syrupy smile that felt foreign on her face.

"They’re... surprisingly attentive. Protective in their own terrifying way. And they make sure I never lack anything."

She swallowed hard afterward, faintly amazed she hadn’t gagged on the sweetness of her own words.

Kate let out a short, envious breath.

"That’s actually unfair. They’re not even your destined mates and they still treat you that well."

Amelia kept her eyes on the path ahead.

I’m only staying because of what Night Menace said about something to do with fate, and just to believe her. Those underworld subjects are going to come after me. As much as I hate relying on anyone, I can’t survive alone, yet.

They reached the wide open field on the far side of campus.

The rest of the crew was already waiting. Marcus, Kai, Theo, and the twins stood near a scatter of abandoned practice chairs and training markers. The moment Amelia saw Lila and Lana looking completely well, something tight in her chest finally loosened.

Lana crossed the grass in a few quick steps and pulled Amelia into a firm hug.

Amelia froze, arms hovering awkwardly.

"Thank you," Lana said against her shoulder. "You rock."

Amelia blinked, stunned.

Is she... thanking me for accidentally striking her with lightning?

Lila tugged her sister back with an impatient hand.

"Okay, enough. We need to show her." She turned to Amelia, eyes shining with barely contained excitement. "After we woke up, my sister and I woke up with something new. Watch."

The twins stepped side by side and linked hands.

A low electric current sparked visibly around their joined fingers. Their eyes flared with the same sharp light. The air between them seemed to vibrate.

Amelia’s gaze dropped to the field.

The scattered chairs trembled, then rose cleanly off the ground, hovering in an uneven, floating cluster.