The Dark Twin|1|✔️

Vii.

Atlas||

The cold night air bit into my skin, even through my wolf form. I hated being slowed down by rules, but Dr. Saltzman's announcement about forming a student council wasn't something I could just ignore. He said one vampire, one witch, one werewolf, and one tribrid would be elected by their peers. I should've been the obvious choice for tribrid. But no—Hope got the position without a contest.

She didn't even ask me if I wanted to run.

I was pacing near the abandoned house when I felt it — a sudden, searing pain in my chest. Sharp like a bullet tearing through muscle, a heat that stole the breath from my lungs.

"Ahhh!" I couldn't stop the scream.

"Atlas!" Hope's voice was frantic. I saw her eyes widen in terror.

I clawed at my chest, trying to rip the wolfsbane bullet from my skin. Desiccation was already setting in. "Hope... help. I'm—" My voice broke as the darkness crept closer.

"Rafael and I are on our way," she promised.

The last thing I saw was her face, pale and desperate, before everything went black.

I woke with a weight pressing on me. My chest burned, but the bullet was gone. Hope sat beside me, her hair a tangled mess and cheeks stained with tears.

"Little sister," I rasped. "You scared me."

She blinked, voice trembling, "I almost lost you forever. The bullet was coated with white ash."

My eyes narrowed. "I thought Father destroyed all of that."

She nodded. "Apparently not."

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. There was no time to rest. Landon Kirby's tests were next.

Later, we knocked on Landon's door. He opened, looking unimpressed.

"Dr. Saltzman wants us to do some tests," I said, trying to sound official.

"No," Landon said flatly.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not letting you run tests on me. Not when you're biased."

Hope and I exchanged glances. "I'm not biased," I said.

"Neither am I," Hope added.

He sneered. "Yeah, sure."

Hope took a step forward. "Landon, you want answers, right? About who or what you are?"

His shoulders stiffened. "I want answers. Not from you."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Let's get this over with."

The tests went as expected. He failed the strength, climbing, and swimming trials, but refused to give up. Hope and I exchanged knowing looks.

Emma stopped by. "What exactly are you testing for?"

I smirked. "His ability to outrun me and date my sister."

Hope rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous."

Emma laughed softly, then grew serious. "Did you run the lineage spell I gave you?"

"Yeah," Hope said. "Zero magic in his bloodline."

Emma frowned. "Interesting..."

By the lake, I set a glowing orb between us.

"Your name?"

"Landon Kirby," he said. The orb glowed blue.

"Lie," Hope commanded. The orb pulsed red.

"Favorite food?"

"Rabbit."

The orb glowed red again.

"Basically a supernatural lie detector," I said.

He smiled. "Bring it on."

I asked, "Why can't you be compelled?"

"No idea. I didn't even know what compulsion was a few days ago."

Hope's voice softened. "Why did you take the knife?"

"I don't remember. Just did."

I shook my head. "We need more than that."

Hope's gaze hardened. "If we can't figure out what you are, you can't stay."

The council meeting was tense. Emma introduced the reps: Rafael for werewolves, Kaleb for vampires, Josie for witches, and Colin for tribrids.

I opened the door late, hoping to avoid the spotlight. Colin was already there, adjusting his jacket like he owned the place.

Kaleb raised an eyebrow. "Who voted for him?"

Colin smirked. "More than you did."

Emma nodded. "Colin was elected by a slim margin. He's an important voice."

I felt my jaw clench. Colin and I had been keeping our relationship under wraps — no one knew. It wasn't the right time.

Emma started the discussion. "Landon. My vote is inclusion. We exist to help kids like him."

Kaleb scoffed. "Humans don't belong here. Landon's a risk."

Rafael growled, "He's my brother. We owe him."

Colin said quietly, "Focus on who Landon wants to be, not what he is."

I glanced at Colin, grateful. He always had my back.

The votes split, tension thick in the air.

Josie finally said, "I can't risk my family."

Rafael snapped, "Enough!" His voice cracked as he glanced at Hope.

Later, I found Colin alone in the library.

He looked up and gave me that mischievous grin I knew so well.

"You think this council nonsense is all politics, huh?"

I smirked. "You and me both."

Colin closed the distance, voice low. "You protect Hope like she's your whole world. But who protects you?"

My heart thudded hard.

His fingers brushed my arm, sending heat up my spine.

"I do," he whispered.

The room felt like it shrank around us. The weight of our secret, the council, the danger — it all faded.

Colin's hands slid from my arm to my neck, threading through my hair.

I leaned in, breath hitching as his lips brushed mine, slow and deliberate.

Our kiss deepened, electric and grounding all at once.

His hands explored me, igniting every nerve.

I lost myself in the moment — no council, no politics, just us.

When footsteps echoed nearby, Colin pulled back with a smirk.

"We'll finish this later."

I nodded, heart racing. "Can't wait."