"I couldn’t wait"

He said, trying to move forward, but paused after a few steps and slumped forward. Ryker caught Azrael by the shoulder.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, and Ryker gazed at Azrael for a while.

"He’s in heat," he said, and I froze.

Heat? What was that? Since when did Beast-men start going into heat? I’ve never read anything like that in the novel before. I watched Azrael, his gaze flickered to me, full of restraint and... actual embarrassment.

"It’s okay, Az—"

"He’s a demon. They usually go into a frenzy to breed. He clearly has to be satisfied," Ryker said, and Azrael snorted through his nostrils.

"You didn’t have to explain that," he said coldly, and Ryker rolled his eyes and turned to me, smiling. That smile means trouble, I just know it.

"Don’t worry, Azrael. Once we’re back, Master will take good care of you," he said, and my cheeks turned bright red. I knew it, but how could he be so blunt? Ughhhh.

Veyra’s hands reached for my waist and gently pinched me. He then landed a soft kiss on my lips...

"Gross. Do that at the Academy," Sonia’s sharp voice came through, drawing everyone’s attention and reminding us she was still present.

"Do I sense jealousy?" I teased, and watched as she rolled her eyes. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"You wish," she said, gently picking up a stone. Really, what was her obsession with those stones? I really wanted to ask, but...

"We should head back, or we’ll be the last ones out," Sonia said, staring up at the sky. Her lips moved. "Plus, I sense something ominous approaching."

Hearing her words, my legs trembled.

She started walking deeper into the woods, with us following closely behind her. We didn’t meet other students on the path, until we made our way to the portal entrance, and there we met other students. There was a mix of emotions evident as we approached the group: fear, relief, confidence. But one thing was clear on all of those faces: they wanted nothing more than to leave and never return.

As soon as we joined the group, they all stared at my clearly ravaged dress but didn’t dare to make a sound. However, two girls decided to test their luck and my patience.

"She’s not wearing anything underneath."

"I can’t believe she had sex here. That’s disgusting. I bet she just fooled around with her beast-men and didn’t kill anything."

The girls gossiped, and I paused mid-step. My Beast-men stopped too.

"What did you say? I’d like to hear it one more time," I said, and they fidgeted.

"We said nothing," the first girl said, and my lips twitched.

The other girl scoffed and folded her arms under her chest. "Stop being such a scaredy-cat," she told the first girl, then turned to gaze at me, bitterly sizing me up head to toe.

"I should pluck out those eyes," I spat, and everyone on the path stopped, staring between me and her.

"What’s so good about you? Just because you’re the Duke’s daughter doesn’t mean you can act how you want. Look at your skin, full of hickeys. I’m sure you barely participated at all. Maybe the only action you got was spreading your le—"

I shut her up the moment my hand reached for her hair.

"Ahhh!" she screamed, wincing, while I stared down at her.

"You have such a vile tongue. I should cut it off. And so what if I had sex with my Beast-men? That makes me shameless? I don’t hide what I do with my Beast-men. They are mine. What I do with them and where is none of your business," I said, still grabbing her hair, watching her eyes fill with horror. She parted her lips to speak, but—

"Or perhaps your Beast-man doesn’t satisfy you... or maybe you’re feeling guilty... the hickeys on your thighs and chest are visible, shithead," I cursed, and everyone’s gaze shifted to where I pointed. They gasped.

"Oh my, Raven was right!"

"Why bring it up when you did the exact same thing!"

"Oh my, Raven is so blunt."

She pressed her lips together in embarrassment, and I yanked harder.

"Ahhh! I’m sorry!" she cried, but I rolled my eyes.

"Speak up to me again, and I’ll cut your tongue," I said, pushing her head away.

I watched as she staggered, and her Beast-man came to hold her. She stepped on his foot angrily. "Now you show up?" she grunted, slapping him across the face...

My face went blank.

She was angry because I humiliated her, so she took it out on her Beast-man? How dare she!

I stepped forward, and my hand landed straight on her face. No one gasped. They knew she deserved it.

"Because you are his Master doesn’t mean you can touch or maltreat him. Especially not in front of me," I said.

People like her reminded me of my family... always pushing the blame on me so my precious twin would be free.

I turned to my Beast-men. "People like her need to be eliminated from society," I said, and walked off.

The portal opened, and everyone rushed in. After they were all in, I moved to step forward, but I felt a chilly gaze from behind brushing against my head.

"What’s wrong?" Veyra asked.

I smiled. "Nothing."

With that, I went in. The portal closed, and every student stood outside.

The principal, Lysanadra, of course, was waiting. She stared at the students with pride, but when her gaze landed on me, her eyes darkened. She sneered, especially as her eyes moved down. I was barefoot and the only one in a makeshift short mini shirt.

"Decency..." she trailed off, and I groaned internally. Here goes the usual hate speech.

"It’s barbaric. The void isn’t meant for breeding. Such clothes bring shame upon the academy," she spat, turning her gaze to me.

"Raven!" she yelled my name so loudly everyone trembled, even me. "You should be an example to them, not—"

"Ahhh," I said softly, and her lips snapped shut.

"Example..." The word tasted like sin in my mouth.

"Even at such an old age, Headmistress, you also have your Beast-man take care of you, don’t you?!!" I spat.

Everyone’s face went pale, including hers. The bite mark on her neck was still visible, and she blushed in embarrassment.

"Ahem," she cleared her throat and turned to the others. "As I was saying...Let the leaderboard reveal who won."

"Amazing. I haven’t seen anyone shut Headmistress Lysanadra up," I heard a soft voice from behind. I turned quickly, Liora.

Her face was covered in dirt, and she had small bruises on her arm.

"What happened?" I asked.

Her smile widened, but not in happiness. Tears slipped out suddenly, and my heart tightened.

"Who hurt you?" I asked, placing my hands on her shoulders.

She sniffed. "My eag—"

Gasp!

"Elowen is the brightest. Why isn’t Raven even on the ranking? Did she really only have sex?"

The murmurs interrupted us as Elowen walked out.

"Sister, did you really not kill even one monster!" she added and gasps filled the air. My eyes darkened. I didn’t have time for this.

"What happened?" I turned back to Liora, but as she opened her lips, Elowen spoke again.

"Aren’t you ashamed? Did you even see your name?" she asked softly, and everyone began murmuring, giving me judging looks.

"Although I pointed that out, I was disgraced and everyone supported Raven," the girl from earlier chimed in, pointing fingers at me.

I saw the smug smirk on her lips and rolled my eyes.

"Pathetic again," I said, watching the color drain from their faces.

I turned back to Liora, unimpressed, but Elowen wasn’t backing off.

"Raven..." Liora trailed off...

Elowen’s hand shot out toward Liora. "How dare you address a Duke by her name?" she said, raising her hand, but one glare from me and she froze.

At that second, my three Beast-men moved closer, standing in front of me. Elowen’s lashes trembled. She felt their power, intimidating and crushing, like she saw something hidden.

"Sorry," she said in confusion, stepping back.

"Everyone!" Lysanadra called, and all heads snapped to the leaderboard.

Their eyes widened.

"Six kills and 2000 diamond gems. D-rank." The screen flashed.

"SHE’S LEADING THE LEADERBOARD."