Solasta Academy: Blood & Moonlight

Chapter Twenty-One

The quad was filled with students and faculty as they celebrated the annual showcase events. Booths with numerous prizes and games surrounded Calia, almost like a carnival her mother had taken her to when she was younger. Some of the Royal families attended the celebration, even the King and Queen of Ambrosia—making Calia more nervous than she already was. There were four sections with stages in the middle of the booths, and she wondered if it was the place where she would show everyone her powers. Arzhel must have noticed her confusion, for she leaned into her ear and whispered, "They have to make it a spectacle for us young immortals. Though, if you ask me, it was King Sebastian's doing,"

She turned her head. "How so?"

Arzhel's lips curled to the side. He never met the King of Vampires, but everyone talked about him as if he was a celebrity. But to Calia, he was just a man who loved his wife and children. There was no hint of violence in the man's body when she met him all those months ago. Nothing but love. "He lives for the dramatic, of course."

Calia laughed softly because of course Arzhel would be the only one distracting her from her own anxiety at a time like this. "No wonder he lived so long," Arzhel barked out a laugh, shaking his head as if he wasn't brooding and almost kissing her hours before. As she glanced at the Fae male standing beside her, his eyes darkened as if he knew what she was thinking now. As though he sensed it. Before he could say anything about the topic, she pointed toward the booths with teddy bears as prizes. "So if I don't choke up there, you should definitely get me one of those."

His brows rose. "I should?"

"Yes."

"I studied with you for weeks, and I don't get a thank you," he grinned. "Nor a please when you ask me to win that giant teddy bear for you?"

Calia fluttered her eyelashes as though it would give him a reason to win the prize for her. "Please. If not for me, then for Mister Cuddles. He needs a companion when I'm in class."

Arzhel snorted. "Fine. But I'm only playing for Mister Cuddles."

"He would very much like that."

She and Arzhel had less than thirty minutes before they were supposed to line up with all the other Fae students at Solasta, so they strolled around the quad and took in the magic that the annual showcase brought. The games and prizes to be won, cotton candy hanging deliciously on some of the booths, made Calia's mouth water. Some of the older Fae were showing off their powers, she noticed. She stopped to stare at the Flame Princess, also known as Kalama Breevort. She wielded her fire like a child, using it to shoot embers into the sky while the crowd around her gasped in delight. Kalama gave them all a mischievous smile, and Aeson, her twin brother, used his ice to freeze the fire in place. The crowd clapped, but from the look they gave each other, Calia knew they were not done yet. Kala let her fire escape one more time and into the ice around them, melting it quickly until it turned into snow. It fell down on top of everyone, and the crowd clapped even harder. Calia and Arzhel did the same. The twins of Ambrosia were pure magic—even if their own people claimed the opposite.

They saw Calia simultaneously and brightened, waving at her as if she were family. Well, she was family to them once the adoption papers were finalized. She beamed and waved back. "I'll see you later?" she asked the twins, knowing they could hear her despite the noise.

"Yes. Good luck, Calia." Aeson replied.

His sister, Kalama, winked at her. "Knock 'em dead."

Calia nodded as she turned to face Arzhel again, who pretended he wasn't paying attention to her interaction with two of the most powerful beings in the world aside from Soari. They strolled to the other sections, where she watched the Werewolves perform—all quickly turning from person to wolf in a matter of seconds. She had never seen canines so long and sharp, but it was in front of her, ready to attack if needed. One of the wolves, the color of pure black, sat on the corner of the stage and winked at her. Well, that had to be Elliot. "Pass?" He nodded once, and she gave him a gracious smile. "Congrats."

They passed the Vampire and Witches stage, and no matter how much she tried to ignore it, she couldn't help but feel anxious about her own performance. Lottie, Torin, and Jade all passed, leaving her and Arzhel to finish. He silently guided her to the line that other Fae stood with so much confidence, she wondered if she was the only one that felt this way.

Principal Orla stood up on the stage, and despite the magic of the annual showcase, her expression was the opposite. Serious, as if she wasn't the one that canceled this event because of the murders. With her short black hair and navy pantsuit, she picked up the microphone and placed it close to her mouth. She was nothing compared to Calia, who only wore her Solasta uniform with white knee socks and the same black bow in her silver hair. "The day's final performance is the Fae!" she said, turning her serious expression into giddy excitement. The entire school clapped, and as she turned around, she found the Royal family doing the same in the back. Elora and Sebastian stood next to each other, both in casual attire. Then, the twins stood on their opposite side. Beside Kalama were her guardians, Soari and Amias—looking right at her in pride. Something cracked in her heart at the picture before her, but she ignored it as she turned around and found Arzhel giving her a half-assed smirk.

"Remember what I taught you."

"I recall everything you said to me, but it doesn't stop the anxiety. Nothing really ever does." It was a lie, but he didn't catch on. Good because it would embarrass her thoroughly if she told him there was one thing that stopped her nervousness: his warmth. Him, no matter which mood he was in.

He nodded as if he knew all too well what she felt. As if he understood. But Arzhel slowly turned back around, but she placed a hand on his shoulder before he did. His eyes widened at her touch as she whispered, "Wait. Before you get up there..."

"What is it?"

Her chest was beating rapidly as she stared into Arzhel's moss-green eyes. His sharp features that could slice her in half and the curve of his smirk...yeah, Calia couldn't stop looking away. And she tried so badly to do so. "Ask me."

Arzhel's expression turned into confusion. "What?"

"Ask me," she said again, gulping down air. "To be your date."

Once she said those words, it was as if Arzhel's entire demeanor changed. Blossomed into something beautiful, and only she knew how rare this was. Calia saw it when she woke up to him in her bed and the moments after when they were not finding dead bodies of their peers but when it was just...them—Calia and Arzhel—both Fae that were dealt a bad hand in their life. The Lightball captain and Swim captain wanted to run away from every bad thing but decided not to because it landed them here to each other. "Calia Nox, would you do me the honor of being my date to the masquerade ball tonight?"

Scarlet rushed into her cheeks as she nodded once. "Yes."

"Great," he whispered.

This felt right, she realized. But how was she going to tell Torin she couldn't go? That she was going with his friend instead? Calia didn't particularly care at the moment, for Arzhel Koen was staring at her as if she were his entire world. Universe. And somehow, that made her forget all her worries. More so when Orla announced the next name to come out and perform. "Next up is Arzhel Koen!"

The Fae male grinned as though it was the best day ever and somehow that made her heart bloom even bigger at the thought. Arzhel walked up the stairs to the stage, but before he turned around, he gave her the most dazzling grin in the world, making Calia chuckle. When Calia watched Arzhel up on stage, her breath caught her in her throat. Here was a man who was broody and defensive toward her and everyone else. But once he wielded his magic given to him by nature, she could have sworn the Earth let out a breath of relief—of happiness and gratitude. He showcased his ability to glamor and healing magic with excellence that the entire school clapped alongside her.

When he was done, he let out a dramatic bow, and she and everyone laughed. Arzhel Koen, you are going to ruin me, she thought.

She didn't dwell on the thought; it was her turn now.