Fury Unleashed

Arvanya's POV:

The moment we stepped into the mess hall, I knew something was coming. The silence that fell over the room, the dozens of eyes burning into us—it was suffocating.

Lucian walked beside me, his presence commanding, unshaken. He was used to this attention. I wasn’t. And I didn’t want it.

As we walked toward our friends, I felt the shift in the air—unease creeping over me like a storm waiting to break. And then, as if summoned by my worst instincts, Celeste appeared out of nowhere, flanked by the same friends who had been with her in the canteen earlier.

The moment our eyes met, I sighed internally. I didn’t want any drama, not in front of everyone, not when all I wanted was a quiet meal. But, of course, Celeste had other plans.

Her smirk was razor-sharp, her gaze dripping with amusement—an amusement that felt more like a challenge.

“Well, look at this,” she drawled, her smirk sharp. “A lowly air dragon walking into the mess hall with Prince Lucian. How adorable.”

One of Celeste’s friends, Brielle, let out a fake gasp. “Oh, Celeste, do you think she actually believes she belongs here? With us?”

Another girl, Livia, snickered. “It’s hilarious, isn’t it? The little air dragon thinks she’s special.”

Celeste gave a mock pout. “I almost feel bad. Maybe she doesn’t know how this works.” Then her gaze hardened. “Or maybe she’s just too stubborn to accept her place.”

I clenched my jaw, refusing to take the bait. That was exactly what she wanted.

Suddenly Kai stepped forward out of nowhere, his presence a storm of barely contained fury.

“Don’t you dare pull a stunt like you did in the canteen today,” he snapped, his voice like rolling thunder.

My breath caught.

Canteen.

Lucian didn’t have any idea about it, and I didn’t want to explain it here in front of everyone. Across the room, our friends must have noticed the tension because, one by one, they pushed back their chairs and made their way toward us. I quickly glanced at them, silently pleading with them to keep quiet. The last thing I wanted was to make a scene, especially not in front of the entire mess hall. I could feel Zane and Ryker’s confusion—they wanted to know what had happened too, but now wasn’t the time.

Celeste let out a soft, mocking laugh. “She was just lucky that time,” she mused. “But luck doesn’t last forever.”

Her friends chuckled behind her. “Maybe next time, she won’t be so lucky,” Livia muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.

I tensed, but before I could say anything, Sofia scoffed. “You act like you actually did something impressive.”

Celeste arched a brow. “Oh, please. I didn’t even have to try.”

Dante snorted. “Yeah, and yet here you are, making a whole scene about it. Sounds like someone’s trying really hard to convince themselves.”

Brielle crossed her arms, her gaze icy. “She doesn’t need to convince herself of anything. We all saw what happened.”

“Did we, though?” Calen interjected lazily. “Because from what I remember, Aria’s standing here perfectly fine. Meanwhile, you lot are the ones looking desperate.”

Celeste’s smirk faltered for just a second before she flicked her hair over her shoulder and shrugged. “Believe whatever you want. Doesn’t change the truth.”

Esme stopped beside me, arms folded, her gaze cold. “No, it doesn’t.”

The conversation had shifted enough that now, the spotlight wasn’t entirely on me anymore—at least, not as intensely. People were talking amongst themselves, but the hall didn’t seem like it was holding its breath, waiting for what would happen next.

Beside me, Lucian stiffened. It was subtle—the smallest shift in posture—but I felt it. The crackle of something dangerous. Uncontrolled.

Then, he stepped in front of me.

Shielding me.

My heart pounded.

Lucian turned his gaze to Kai, his tone deceptively calm. “What happened in the canteen?”

I moved before Kai could answer.

“Nothing,” I said quickly. “It wasn’t that important.”

His golden eyes snapped to me, sharp and unyielding.

“You always love to hide everything.” His voice was low, controlled. Too controlled. “And I wasn’t asking you.”

My breath hitched.

“So don’t say a word when I’m asking them.”

I clenched my fists, trying again. “Lucian, it’s not—”

“Aria.” His voice cut through me like steel. Unyielding. Absolute. “Quiet.”

I tensed, pressing my lips together. Now the weight of the entire hall’s attention burned against my skin. I wasn’t the kind of person who could be dominated by others. I never had been. But right now?

Right now, I could feel it.

I had hidden so many things from him. And he knew.

If I tried to bury this too, if I pushed it down like I always did… it would only make things worse.

Much worse.

I didn’t want this.

I didn’t want their eyes on me.

I just wanted this moment to disappear.

But it wouldn’t.

And neither would he.

I shot a desperate glance at my friends, silently begging them not to say anything.

Unfortunately, Sofia had other plans.

She met my gaze, her eyes steady, and said, “He should know.”

My stomach plummeted. I tried to catch her arm, whispering urgently, “Don’t—” but before I could stop her, Lucian grabbed my wrist, his grip firm but not painful. His voice was low, warning, “Will you stop? Do you really want me to stop you in a way you won’t like?”

I hesitated, torn between wanting to keep things hidden and the weight of the situation. Eventually, I had no choice but to give up, nodding reluctantly.

Sofia didn’t hesitate. She turned toward Lucian, her expression unflinching. “It’s also related to you.”

Lucian’s brows knitted together. “What do you mean?”

Sofia’s breath came out in a sharp exhale. “It happened because of you.”

I could see the tension tighten in his jaw. A dangerous edge crept into his eyes, and his voice dropped, a threat lacing his words. “Explain.”

Dante crossed his arms and leaned back, his tone surprisingly light. “Your ex-girlfriend—” He motioned toward Celeste with a casual hand. “—thought Aria stole her boyfriend. Meaning you.”

Calen, never one for subtlety, let out a low whistle. “Honestly, mate, you sure know how to attract the crazies.”

Nico’s usual smirk was gone, replaced by a dark look. “She wasn’t just talking trash. She made sure everyone heard exactly what she thought of Aria.”

Then, Esme’s voice broke through, colder than I’d ever heard it before. “Not just that,” she said, her gaze locked on Lucian now. “She attacked her.”

The words landed with a suffocating weight, hanging in the air.

“If Lila hadn’t reacted in time,” Esme continued, her tone sharp, “Aria would have been seriously injured.”

The shift in the room was immediate. Lucian’s gaze, once sharp and full of anger, now seemed colder, calculating. The tension was palpable. The moment those words slipped from Esme’s lips, the air shifted.

Lucian went still.

Too still.

A crackling energy pulsed around him, an invisible force pressing against the room. Zane and Ryker stiffened, their shoulders tensing as if bracing for what was to come. The entire hall seemed to hold its breath, as if everyone collectively realized that this dinner was about to take a very dramatic turn.

Lucian turned to Celeste, his gaze colder than ice. “I told you before—our breakup wasn’t because of her. But you didn’t listen.” His voice was low, sharp. “You’re so full of yourself, huh?”

Celeste’s smirk faltered, but she quickly masked it with a roll of her eyes. “Oh, come on, Lucian. I didn’t actually attack her. It was just a mere move. It’s not my fault if she’s so weak that she couldn’t even defend herself.”

He took a step forward, and his shadow dragon flared from his hands, dark tendrils curling at his fingertips. My instincts screamed that something huge was about to happen.

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My confusion grew—why was he reacting this strongly? Celeste was his ex-girlfriend, and I was… nobody. Right?

Unless… he felt something.

Some part of our mate bond.

And if he did—Celeste was in huge trouble.

Lucian’s energy surged, the mess hall’s lights flickering as shadows coiled around his form. Celeste’s smug expression drained into one of sheer panic. It was like she suddenly realized that today might very well be her last day.

“Lucian,” Zane warned, stepping forward with Ryker, both of them grabbing his arms. “Don’t.”

“Not here,” Ryker added. “Not now.”

Lucian’s gaze flicked to Zane and Ryker, his golden eyes flashing with intensity. “Move,” he commanded, his tone cold, demanding. “Don’t interfere.”

Zane and Ryker hesitated, exchanging uncertain looks, but they stepped back, the tension thick between them.

Lucian’s fury was uncontainable. His breathing was sharp, his posture rigid, like a storm ready to break free.

I didn’t think. I acted, stepping in front of him, my hand wrapping around his clenched fist. As soon as our skin touched, I felt a surge—like electricity coursing through me, the heat from his skin making my heart race.

“Lucian.”

The moment my voice reached him, he froze.

Slowly, his eyes snapped to mine, the fire within them still raging but flickering, faltering. He looked at me like he was still caught between two choices: giving in to the rage or holding back.

“Let it go,” I said softly.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, his fists loosened slightly. But instead of pulling away, he grabbed my hand.

“I can’t just let her go like this,” he murmured, voice rough. “Otherwise, she’ll do this again. Maybe worse.”

His grip tightened for just a second before he finally let go of my hand. But his attention shifted back to Celeste, his fury far from gone. Shadows swirled around him, thick and suffocating, and suddenly—Celeste choked.

My eyes widened in horror. The entire hall gasped, the air thick with panic.

Lucian’s voice came out low and cold, a threat woven into every syllable. “Don’t you dare go near her again.” His gaze didn’t falter, unwavering and unforgiving. “I’m letting you off with a warning this time. But next time? Next time, I’ll show everyone exactly what happens when someone goes against my will.”

The hall was deathly quiet. Every person in the room was paralyzed by the weight of his words, staring at Lucian, at me, and at Celeste, who was gasping for air, her face ghostly pale from the invisible grip of his power.

Lucian stepped back and finally released her, and the pressure vanished as quickly as it had come. Celeste staggered back, breathless, and the silence that followed was deafening.

The message was clear.

And no one would forget it.

But Celeste wasn’t done.

She straightened, brushing invisible dust off her sleeve, then fixed me with a stare that sent a shiver down my spine. Her eyes burned with something dangerous—something that told me this wasn’t over.

“This isn’t finished,” she said, her voice low but filled with venom. “I won’t let this go so easily.”

A bad feeling curled in my gut. This was just the beginning.

Celeste turned her gaze to Lucian, then back to me, her lips curling into a smirk that made my skin crawl. “You both will pay for this.”

Lucian’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as the shadows around him flared, reflecting the danger simmering just beneath his calm exterior. He took a step toward her, his words icy and sharp. “You can try, Celeste. But you’re walking on dangerous ground. If you think I won’t act when you cross the line again, think again.”

Celeste’s smirk faltered for just a heartbeat before she turned on her heel, walking away with her friends. Her presence left an oppressive weight in the air.

Lucian tensed beside me, his hands twitching, and I grabbed his arm, gripping it tightly.

“Just let it go,” I murmured, barely above a whisper. “We shouldn’t waste our time on her.”

For a moment, he didn’t move. His muscles were still tight beneath my grip, but then, with a sharp exhale, he turned away.

Dante was the first to break the silence. “Well… that was dramatic.”

Nico ran a hand through his hair, his expression dark. “We should keep an eye on her. She’s not bluffing.”

Sofia crossed her arms. “I told you he needed to know.”

Lucian remained silent beside me, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable. But I could feel it—the storm brewing beneath the surface.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Then he turned to me, his eyes dark and intense. His voice held an undeniable command as he said, “If anything like this happens again, I mean anything, the first person you will tell is me. Got it?”

I swallowed, my mind racing. There was no room for argument in his tone, no space for me to push back. I knew better than to test him right now. So, I nodded and murmured, “Okay… I will.”

I hadn’t expected him to react like this.

The weight of his gaze lingered on me, a silent conversation passing between us. I could see the unspoken question in his eyes, just as I was sure he could see my confusion in mine.

Why did he do that?

Lucian wasn’t the kind of person who cared about things like this. Everyone knew he didn’t believe in mates or relationships—only power mattered to him. And yet, here he was, standing between me and a threat, demanding that I come to him first.

For a fleeting second, something flickered in his expression—something unreadable. But just as quickly as it came, it was gone.

I exhaled, trying to shake off the strange feeling curling in my chest. This wasn’t normal. Lucian didn’t do things like this.

The teasing banter flowed easily as we sat down for dinner, and the usual lightheartedness seemed to help break the tension from earlier.

Dante leaned back in his chair with a grin. “So, Lucian, how’s it feel knowing your ex-girlfriend’s been plotting revenge? Do you miss the drama?”

Lucian shot him a quick, irritated look, but Calen wasn’t done. “Guess it’s true what they say about your exes—can’t shake them off no matter how much you want to.”

Nico, trying to lighten the mood, raised his glass. “Well, let’s not forget about Aria. I think we all know who’s really attracting the crazy this time.”

Sofia, smirking, leaned toward me. “Well, we have to admit, she has a knack for drama.”

I shot them all an exasperated look, but despite the teasing, I couldn't help but laugh.

Esme, with a rare, amused glint in her eyes, chimed in. “Seriously though, it’s like a soap opera around here.”

Once the banter died down, the room fell into a quiet hum as we ate. But underneath the chatter, I could feel the tension lingering. What had happened just a few moments ago wasn’t something any of us could easily brush off. I caught myself thinking, again, about all the things I had to protect.

First, my identity—something I had to keep under wraps at all costs. Second, those poor air elementals. They needed my help, and I couldn’t fail them. Third, there was Lucian. My mate. I had to handle him carefully, especially now that he was so close, and I still couldn’t let him know the full truth. And now, Celeste was involved, chasing after me with her threats. And that voice—that dangerous, haunting voice—I couldn’t shake it.

How could I be expected to help the elementals with all this weighing on me?

I glanced up at Lucian, who was sitting across from me, looking down at his plate, but his mind clearly somewhere else. Our eyes met suddenly, and I was caught in his gaze. He smirked, his expression challenging, almost like he knew I was watching him.

I quickly looked away, feeling my face flush.

The dinner ended, and we stood up to leave. At the entrance of the mess hall, I turned to the group. “We should head to our rooms now. Tomorrow’s another busy day of classes,” I said. Then, glancing at Nico, Dante, Kai, Sofia, and Lila, I smirked. “Especially you guys—first day at the academy. Get some rest.”

They all nodded, exchanging murmurs of agreement, and we began walking toward our respective rooms. When we reached the split in the hall where our dormitories separated into East, West, North, and South, everyone bid their goodbyes.

I noticed Zane and Ryker were heading to the West Dormitory, the water elementals’ dorm where Sofia and Lila, their mates, were staying.

Naturally, this didn’t go unnoticed.

Dante was the first to smirk. “Ohhh, look at them. Two wolves, loyally trailing after their she-wolves.”

Calen snickered. “Didn’t even put up a fight. Just wagged their tails and went running.”

Nico raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t take much, huh? What’d they do, bat their lashes at you?”

Zane rolled his eyes. “You’re all just jealous.”

Lucian, who had been mostly quiet up until now, raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Jealous? No. Impressed? Maybe. You two really can’t spend a night away from them, huh?”

Ryker grinned. “What can I say? When you have a mate, you don’t waste time.”

Lila, completely unfazed, looked at Ryker with amusement. “Oh? So you’re saying you have stamina?”

Sofia joined in, pretending to ponder. “Hmm, I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

Zane groaned. “Can you guys not—”

Calen whistled. “Damn, she called you out, mate. Better make sure you can keep up.”

Nico smirked. “Or we’ll be hearing some very disappointed sighs tomorrow.”

Kai, who had been watching with amusement, finally spoke up, shaking his head. “Damn, even I didn’t expect you two to fold so fast. At least pretend to put up a fight.”

Ryker shot him a dry look. “Says the guy who’s still single.”

Kai shrugged. “Exactly. Which means I have zero responsibilities. Meanwhile, you two? You’re practically house-trained.”

Calen whistled. “He’s got a point. You wagged your tails and ran off obediently.”

The whole group burst into laughter while Ryker and Zane just shook their heads. Sofia and Lila high-fived each other before grabbing their mates’ hands and pulling them along.

Before they disappeared, I smirked at them. “Don’t let them get you so easily. Make them work for it.”

Sofia, without missing a beat, grinned. “Oh, trust me, Aria. They’ll be working hard.”

Lila winked. “Very hard.”

Ryker coughed, while Zane muttered something under his breath, rubbing his neck. The rest of us laughed.

As the laughter settled, Esme’s gaze lingered on the hallway where Zane, Ryker, Sofia, and Lila had disappeared.

Her voice was soft, almost thoughtful. “Having a mate is a blessing, though.” She smiled faintly. “You’ll never feel alone. No matter what happens, there’s always someone by your side.”

The teasing faded slightly, her words settling over the group like an unspoken truth.

Kai snorted, shattering the moment. “Yeah, yeah, sounds great… until they start bossing you around.” He smirked, nodding toward the now-empty hallway. “Or dragging you off before you even say goodnight.”

The group laughed again, but I barely heard it.

Because Esme’s words struck something deep in me.

A mate who will always be by your side. But here I was, unable to even tell him who I truly was.

Being with him was impossible.

Because he didn’t believe in mates.

Instinctively, my gaze flickered toward Lucian. He wasn’t laughing like the others. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes… they were watching me, sharp and searching.

I quickly looked away.

He couldn’t know. He could never know.

As we started walking toward our own dorms, Lucian suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm, stopping me.

“Be careful,” he said, his tone quiet but firm. “Don’t wander out of your room late at night.”

I frowned. “Why would I wander out of my room?”

Lucian gave me a slow, knowing smirk. “Oh? So it wasn’t you sneaking around near the forest the very first day you arrived in the academy?”

I scoffed. “Maybe it was my ghost.”

His smirk deepened. “That would explain why you disappear every time I turn around.”

Before I could respond, Dante, clearly eavesdropping, grinned. “Wait, wait, wait. Are you two sneaking around at night? Should we be concerned?”

Calen waggled his eyebrows. “Or should we be impressed?”

Lucian shot them a glare, but I smirked. “Oh, absolutely. He caught me performing ancient moon rituals in the courtyard. Very intense stuff.”

Lucian let out a dark chuckle, and I hated how much I liked the sound of it.

He stepped closer, his voice dropping low. “You should be careful, Aria. You never know who—or what—might be watching you at night.”

I refused to give him the satisfaction of reacting, so I forced a smirk. “Good to know you’re watching, then. Should I be flattered?”

Lucian’s eyes gleamed. “I don’t think ‘flattered’ is the word you’re looking for.”

Something about the way he said it made my breath hitch. The mate bond stirred inside me, and my dragons shifted restlessly.

I quickly looked away, pushing down the warmth curling in my chest. “Good night, Lucian.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked toward my room, following Esme and Calen.

But even as I left, I could feel his gaze still on me.

As we reached our room, Esme and I stopped at the door. Calen was about to say goodbye, but I held up a hand, stopping him.

"Come inside we need to talk" I said, my voice low but firm.

Calen frowned, clearly confused. Esme gave me a questioning look, her eyes narrowing as she followed us in. There was an edge to the air now, a tension building that wasn’t there before.

I shut the door behind us with a soft thud, and as I turned to face them, I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me. Without saying a word, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, quickly typing something with a sense of urgency. I didn’t look at them as I did, but I could feel their eyes on me.

Esme crossed her arms, her voice sharp. “Okay, what’s this about? Why did you stop him?”

I didn’t immediately answer. My fingers paused over the keys, sending a message, and then I turned to them slowly, my gaze intense.

“Wait,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “You’ll find out in a few minutes.”

The air in the room felt heavier, the seconds stretching as the tension built. They both stood there, waiting, unsure of what was coming next.