Ice to Fire

Chapter 1

A/N: Hey there, beautiful people! This is officially the first chapter of Ice to Fire. Hope you like it. This book is definitely not what Wattpad is used to seeing, meaning its not your cliche type of story, BUT it has a love triangle sooooo ;) 

Let me know what you guys think of it, or if you're too lazy to write, just press on that vote button, and that's it :D DONT FORGET TO FOLLOW ME, AS THIS WAY YOU'LL KNOW WHEN THERE'S A NEW CHAPTER YAY

Alright, I won't hold you back anymore - enjoy! 

P.S. The gif above is Alexander Ludwig as Asher, the leader of the Crows ;) 

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Chapter 1

Pressing myself closer to the cold wall, I peeked out into the bustling street. Quickly scanning the area, I finally met Fallon's eyes and gave him a wink. He grinned back and jerked his head, indicating for me to hurry up. I rolled my eyes and slid back behind the wall.

"He's ready," I breathed to the boy next to me.

Xander took my hand and, quickly kissing me on the lips, looked into my eyes.

"I can do this alone, you know?"

I smirked, looking up at him, "Xander, you know that's not an option."

With a deep sigh, he stroked my chin and, taking my hand, pulled me out into the busy street. I instantly looped my arm through his and batted my eyelashes at him, swishing my yellow dress flirtatiously. He grinned down at me and pressed me closer, lowering his head to mine as if to whisper something cute.

"In case something goes wrong, run to The Tower – we'll meet each other there," he murmured into my hair.

I giggled, pretending he said something funny, and smacked his chest lightly.

We had to seem like this happy, carefree couple walking the bustling market streets, checking out the stalls and buying anything we wanted. But truly, that was all an act. An act that Xander and I had to perform flawlessly so that the others could do their job without getting caught.

We approached a fruit stall on our left. 

"Oh my god," I squealed, tugging on Xander's arm and leading him towards the tent. 

He rolled his eyes but grinned down at me, as he let me lead him towards the stall. Xander and I knew that by now, Fallon and Caleb were both ready to start working. 

The woman at the stall smiled warmly at us and made her way over to where we were standing, so she could assist us. I felt a pang of guilt for this woman. She probably had her own family to feed, and here we were, stealing her food. But that pang quickly disappears.

We need to survive, too.

"Oh, Xander, I want some of these apples! Please, Xander, please!"

He chuckled, "Alright, alright. What else do you want, love?"

I clapped my hands in delight and looked at the woman. She smiled warmly at me and spread her hands, showing me I could choose anything. I squealed and jumped up and down on the spot, but not moving from where we were standing.

"Which pomegranate would you say is the best here?" Xander asked, leaning towards the lady and flashing her his signature smile.

She blushed a little, and began explaining to Xander how to pick the best fruit. From the corner of my eye I saw Fallon creep from the back and begin filling his canvas bag with apples and oranges. Caleb, on the other hand, decided to go for big, and grabbed three melons, tucking one under each arm and balancing the third on his head.

I tried not to stare at him and quickly looked back at Xander, who has moved on in into the last stage of our mission - flirtation. But I could see that he was already running out of words to say. I quickly glanced at Fallon, but he was already looking at me. I raised my eyebrows a fraction to ask if they were done or not.

He grinned and threw me a quick wink, before scurrying off and grabbing a couple of watermelons on the way. I shook my head in amusement.

I mentally thanked the Gods that everything went well and nobody was caught. It was time to move onto a different stall now.

I tugged on Xander's arm and leaned dramatically on his shoulder. "Xander!" I whined, "I'm bored. I don't want fruit anymore. I want pastry tarts!"

Xander chuckled and patted my arm, "Alright, dear, let's go and get you some pastry tarts," he said, and started leading me away from the stall.

She was annoyed and slightly disgusted at my behavior, and that we just wasted her time. Again, I felt that pang of sadness for this woman but I quickly turned it off.

Xander shot the woman an apologetic glance before pulling me away.

He drew me close and draped an arm over my shoulders.

"You're such a drama queen," he murmured in my ear.

I swatted at his arm.

He laughed before pulling me closer and kissed my cheek.

"I'm only joking," he whispered, "But everything went well, though."

I nodded and wrapped my arm around his waist, as we walked in step. We had to get several stalls away from the fruit one, away from the annoyed glance of the woman.

As we approached the next stall, I noticed Opal and Talia skipping to the jewelry stall. I tugged on Xander's arm and jerked my head in their direction. He squeezed my hand in response, before stopping abruptly and, wrapping one hand behind my legs and the other under my arms, flung me into the air and spun me around.

I shrieked, as Xander spun me around. "Put me down," I squealed, smacking his chest playfully.

He chuckled, before spinning me one last time and placed me back on my feet, slowly. People in the square were shaking their heads and smiling, as they walked past us.

I was still gigging as I smoothed down my short dress. Taking Xander's hand again, I looked up at his profile. He winked down at me and pulled me to our next stall. Our distraction has worked. I darted a glance towards the girls, but they were already gone.

Approaching the grain stall, we saw that the stalls seller was busy with a couple of clients, so we took the time to look around the different kinds of grain. Rico scurried over, crouching behind the tent and gave me a small wave. I nodded a fraction before moving over and bending over the table as if to get a better look at the farthest products.

I mentally cringed at myself. This was a very shallow move. I absolutely hated this part of our plan. The man at the stall darted a glance towards the low cut of my dress, eyes widening, before remembering he was serving a client. I could feel Xander tense beside me, as he moved forward and gripped my waist in warning.

"What should we get, Xander?" I asked, as I looked back at Xander.

His face darkened, as he stared at me. He was about to say something, when I felt a sudden squeeze on my backside.

Shrieking, I whirled around to see who did it.

A tall guy with coal dark hair was smirking down at me, "Nice view you got there, pretty girl," he whistled, looking me over. A gang of boys and girls, wearing all black, were surrounding him at the back. I threw them a glance before crossing my arms across my chest, annoyed and looked at him. Sculpted jawline, green eyes, straight nose and messy hair, I could of easily called him attractive, if it weren't for his move.

"Back the hell off," Xander barked, standing between the boy and me.

I placed my hands on his strong back and peeked from behind his shoulder. Even though I could fend for myself, I loved it when he got over-protective of me.

"Tell your sister that she offers a damn nice view," the black-haired guy said, chuckling, crossing his arms across his chest, making his muscles bulge.

"That's my girlfriend you're talking about," Xander growled, fists clenched.

"Yeah, okay, tell her she's got a nice-."

Xander lunged at the boy, throwing a punch straight to his jaw. The boy staggered back a few steps, the guys behind him rushing to his aid.

Smacking them away angrily, he regained his balance and, seething into Xander's direction, spat, "Oh, you're going to regret that big time," he growled, before lunging at Xander with all his strength. Shrieking, I jumped out of the way, because the momentum caught Xander off guard, and they both came crashing down into the grain stall behind them.

The stalls seller shouted, as he tried to get out of the way. People were scurrying over to see what was going on.

"Xander!" I screamed, as I watched the boys roll around on the ground. The stalls seller was trying to get the two boys off of each other when suddenly, another boy jumped right into the mayhem and, grabbing Xander, who was on top of the other boy, around the waist, hauled him off of the black-haired guy.

"Dammit, Brass!" The guy roared, springing back to his feet, "What the hell do you thing you're doing!"

Xander shoved the boy away from him and prepared to lunge at the black-haired guy again.

"Cut it out!" The guy who pulled Xander off of the black-haired guy said, gripping his arms. He, too, had hair as dark as a raven.

"Get off of me!" Xander growled, as he shoved the boy away from him but made no move to lunge at the boy.

"Xander!" I called, running over and throwing my arms around his neck, "Don't, please," I murmured into his shoulder.

He was tense all over, ready to spring into action.

"Yes, don't, Xander!" The black-haired guy whined, mockingly, wiping away the blood on his lip.

Xander growled, tensing, but I kept my arms strongly wrapped around his torso.

"Ash, cut it out," the boy who broke up the fight, said.

The dark-haired guy, Ash, stepped towards the guy with raven black hair.

"Who do youthink you are, Brass?" He growled, starring daggers at the boy.

The boy seemed completely unfazed by Ash, as heheld his ground.

"Do you have something to say?" Ashasked, stepping even closer to the other boy.

"Yes," he growled, voice deep,"I'm done."

Ash narrowed his eyes, "You're done?"He whispered, dangerously.

"I'm done, Asher," he said, turningaway.

"Don't you dare to turn away from me,"Asher growled, grabbing his hand.

The boy stopped and looked back at Asher,"Let go of me," he growled in warning.

"Or what?" Asher replied, gripping hisarm harder, "You're going to fight me?"

The boy didn't have time to reply, when suddenlythunderous footsteps of the street patrol and their siren, sounded not too faraway.

"Xander," I whispered, tugging on hisshirt.

He only squeezed my hand, acknowledging mywarning, as he looked around for our group.

"They're at the meeting point, Xander,let's go," I said, tugging on his arm again.

He whirled around and grabbed my hand, alreadypulling me away with him. I darted a glance at the two boys, as Xander hauledme away.

They were arguing furiously. Asher jammed afinger into the dark haired boys chest and said something. The boy tensed,fists clenched at his sides. Asher staredat him one last time before rushing over to the boys and girls who were waitingfor him. Together, they disappeared from the market place.

I whirled back to Xander as the sirens grewlouder and he let go of my arm. Glancing back at me, he mouthed,"run."