† 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 † Angels Love

Chapter 4

The next morning, I walked into Potions class, still feeling the lingering tension from my encounter with Christopher the night before. I couldn't shake the way he'd looked at me, like he knew something I didn't. Like he could see right through me. It was frustraiting.

Today we got a new Professor. Professor Verity was a strict but fair angel with a passion for her craft, and I loved the way she could mix seemingly ordinary ingredients into powerful elixirs and potions that could heal wounds or kill a soul. The classroom was filled with the scent of herbs and spices, the shelves lined with jars of rare ingredients from both angels and devils. Usually, I found the atmosphere calming, but today, my mind was elsewhere.

"Today," Professor Verity announced as she swept into the room, her wings glimmering in the light, "we'll be working on a special project. You will be paired up, one angel and one devil, to create a potion that blends both light and dark magic. This will require cooperation and balance, as these elements naturally repel each other. Choose your ingredients wisely, and remember: the potion must be stable."

I felt my heart sink. Pairing angels and devils was supposed to encourage cooperation and understanding, but I had a sinking feeling about who my partner would be. Sure enough, as Professor Verity began reading off the pairs, I heard my name.

"Star, you'll be working with Christopher," she said, without even looking up from her list.

Of course, who else than him. My own destenie hates me.

I glanced over at Christopher, who was lounging at his table with an easy smile on his face. He met my eyes and winked, clearly enjoying my discomfort. I gritted my teeth and walked over to his table, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest as I approached him. This was just another challenge, another chance to prove I could handle anything he threw at me.

"Guess we're partners," I said, keeping my voice neutral, but rolled my eyes.

"Lucky me," Christopher replied, his voice smooth. "Looks like we get to spend even more time together. Isn't that nice?"

"Let's just get this over with," I muttered, setting my books down on the table. I wasn't going to let him get under my skin, not today. "Do you have any ideas for the potion?"

Christopher shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "I was thinking we could do something simple. A basic enhancement potion, maybe add a twist of dark energy for an extra kick. What do you think?"

I considered his suggestion, trying to stay focused. An enhancement potion was straightforward, and adding dark energy could make it more potent. But combining light and dark magic was always risky. One wrong move, and the potion could become unstable or even dangerous. We'd have to be careful. But today... nah i didn't wanted even to think.

"Fine," I said. "But we need to make sure the balance is perfect. Too much dark energy, and it could backfire. We'll use moonflower petals for the base and add a drop of shadow essence to bind it."

Christopher nodded, seeming impressed. "Moonflower petals and shadow essence, huh? That's a good combination. You've been paying attention in class."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course I have. Unlike some people, I actually care about doing well."

Christopher just smiled. "I care too. Just not about the same things as you, Starly. Let's start mixing."

We worked side by side, gathering the ingredients from the shelves. As we prepared the potion, I was hyper-aware of Christopher's presence next to me. I could feel the heat radiating from his skin, hear the steady rhythm of his breathing. I focused on grinding the moonflower petals, trying to keep my mind on the task at hand. But Christopher's proximity was distracting, his every movement drawing my attention.