SERAPHINA'S POV
The garden is one of the most marvelous places in school I've realized.
Its almost ethereal beauty is one of the reasons I seldom hang out here during school hours. I know it could easily distract me from reading.
Moreover, given the chaos of my life, resting under tree shades and appreciating the delicate dance of blossoms just seemed out of place.
However, when my eyes land on Kamila, everything changes.
She's meditating beneath an ivory tree with captivating ombré leaves, appearing like an angel nestled in nature.
I find myself wondering: Why isn't Artemis head over heels for Kamila? She's dangerously alluring, possessing a beauty that's both otherworldly and powerfully intense.
This thought brings a flutter of insecurity, compelling me to compare myself to her involuntarily. The truth hits me hard; I could never match her elegance and poise, not even in a hundred lifetimes.
I approach her, and as I pause by her side, she graces me with a sly, knowing smile - almost as if she had been waiting for this very moment.
"I see you've finally come to accept my offer," she observes, giving more weight to my earlier suspicion.
She was expecting me.
"How do you know I came here for that?"
"Because, sweetheart, whether human, wolf, or even a freaking elf, no one can resist the allure of having their deepest desires met without a catch," she retorts nonchalantly.
Her words stab me with guilt. She paints a picture of a greedy teenager ready to betray a trust to fulfill her whims.
She makes it seem so dirty, as if I'm the very essence of treachery, ready to strike a pact with the devil.
'He never cared about your feelings either. Why care for his?'
That voice again, echoing in my mind.
Disturbingly, it grows more familiar by the day, emulating my tone so perfectly that I could almost believe these thoughts originate from me.
But deep down, I know they don't. Although, this time, I can't help but think it may have a point.
"I have a proposal."
"Go on," she replies, allowing her luxurious red hair to dance in the gentle breeze.
Taking a deep breath, bracing myself for the hell I might be stirring up, I begin, "Rumors suggest there's a secret library filled with the mysteries and hidden truths of the wolf realm and its genesis. Entry is restricted to a chosen few, and one can't gain access without a special pass. I want in."
For the first time, her eyes lock onto mine, amusement sparkling in their depths. A chuckle escapes her lips, making me feel momentarily insignificant.
When she regains her composure, her gaze is filled with playful mockery.
"My, Hawthrone," she muses, "I never imagined you, of all people, would be driven by greed, especially after you've played the role of the righteous vigilante for so long in school."
"Excuse me?"
She rises gracefully from the bench, her silhouette outlined against the serene backdrop of the garden.
"It's fine, honey. We all have our cravings. Occasionally indulging in them doesn't kill your integrity. If anything, denying them would be the real lie."
She flips her perfect hair on cue, the wind rippling through it, momentarily blinding my eyes in the process.
"I'm curious though, why that library? I assumed you'd use the offer I gave you for something more... just." She taunts again, another jab at my integrity, her eyes keenly watching for any reaction.
"It's for personal reasons you wouldn't understand," I say, avoiding her gaze. A wave of guilt washes over me, coupled with shame.
'Your desires are important. Don't you want to find out what you are?'
Shut up.
"Color me intrigued." Her eyes liger for a moment, like she's trying to decipher something within my words. Then she shrugs casually, turning away from me. "Well, if you say so."
Sometimes I wonder if all this is just a game to her, and if I'm merely one of her numerous toys to play with. But then I see glimpses of genuine emotion in her eyes, hinting that this means more to her than I realize.
"It's a deal then," I say, trying to sound confident. "When do I get the pass?"
"When the deed is done and he's no longer hovering over you like before," she replies, her tone matter-of-fact.
I gulp, feeling a ball of anxiety settle in my throat.
"That's fine, I guess," I murmur, attempting to mask my nervousness.
"You do know how to seduce a man, right?" She looks at me with a raised brow, clearly seeing through my facade.
"I-Is that important? I just need to sleep with him...right?"
She chuckles at my trembling tone, drawing even more embarrassment from me.
Damn it. She just knows how to pull at my strings, making me feel the need to prove myself to her.
A true queen of manipulation.
"Sure. Good luck, human girl," she calls out with a casual wave as I make my exit.
As I re-enter the school, a rush of logic and reason engulfs me, making me second-guess everything I've just agreed to.
If I'm being truly honest with myself, I have no flipping idea how I'm going to fulfill my end of the bargain. I've never tried to seduce a guy before, and it being Artemis doesn't make it any easier.
But, I guess there's a first time for everything.
***
Hours and three periods later, the school bell rings as usual, signaling for lunch. As the class dismisses and I walk out, Artemis is there waiting just like he had earlier.
My mood earlier clearly wasn't enough to dissuade him from keeping me around. Seeing him standing there reminds me about his words earlier about waiting for me till our desires become one.
He leans off the wall now, walking closer with the same beautiful smile, looking over the clear attitude I offered to him this morning.
His attempt at possibly winning me over remains ceaseless, and for that reason again, I'm filled with a bit of guilt once more.
"Hey," I offer, avoiding his eyes that stare at me intently.
"About earlier... I wanted to apologize for being too forward. You have a right to be angry, and I understand that."
"No, it's fine. It's okay. I did a lot of thinking, and I want things to be like they were before. There's no point being angry anymore, right?"
He takes a step back, looking perplexed by my sudden change of mood compared to earlier today. I laugh nervously at the look on his face, rubbing my sweaty palms against my jeans and hoping he doesn't see through it.
"Right," he finally responds, nodding his head slowly.
"Let's go eat," I say, suddenly desperate to change the conversation and scenery.
I have to get close enough with him to let his guard down, yet I'm too nervous being the only one around him.
"Wait, uhm... Ace won't be joining us today, or ever," he says suddenly, stopping me in my tracks.
I slowly turn to look at him, recalling the memory surrounding the person in question. The mood around us suddenly turns solemn and cold.
I hadn't even considered meeting him again yet, or what it would feel like.
"Oh."
"I made a mistake keeping him around you while he made his grievances against you subtly known. I should have done something then before he did something like this to you," he announces.
It hits me that all this is because of me.
He's ending a relationship that's probably steeped for god knows how long because of me. Yes, the issue wasn't something small, but still... I assumed it would just be a beefing period before they got back together as friends.
"No, it's okay..."
"I promise, from now on, I'll protect you. No one will ever lay a hand on you again. Not even my friends."
His blue, gem-like eyes convey his sincerity, glaring at me and reminding me of the difficult task ahead: to take that genuine look in his eyes and shatter it.
My chest aches, making it hard to meet his gaze for too long.
I quickly divert my attention, wanting to shift the conversation before I get cold feet about what must be done.
"I want to invite you over tonight, to hang out."
"Oh, that's nice," he says, his smile soft and gentle, as always.
Only for me, I've noticed.
"Yeah, I felt bad for being rude earlier. I thought the best way to reconcile was to hang out, just the two of us."
"What about Olivia?"
"She has other plans tonight. So, it'll just be us."
I silently apologize to Olivia in my mind, vowing to make it up to her later.
He contemplates my offer, or at least seems to, before he smiles again, playfully twirling a strand of my hair between his fingers.
His proximity, the feel of his fingers brushing against my hair, momentarily takes my breath away.
I push the fluttering feelings down, trying to keep my focus.
"I'd like that," he finally responds, his gaze locking onto mine, an inscrutable expression in his eyes.
"Me too."