Chapter 138: She Is Mine. No, She Is Mine.

(Amaia)

Rigel stands absolutely still while every eye in the hall is focused on him. Eyes closed, stance relaxed, legs slightly parted with his hands still tucked safely in his pockets.

My eyes refuse to leave his dangerously handsome face. I count seconds with a bated breath.

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’Please, don’t be suffering in there.’

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His face is calm like the surface of a summer lake; not a single crease appears on his forehead. Nor does he scream.

How hellish his life has been that nothing is fazing him.

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Saiph uneasily shifts from one foot to another. A hint of surprise passes on his face. I imagine he has never seen someone undergo his nightmares with such calmness and finesse.

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Rigel’s eyes open, and he stares directly at Saiph before calmly saying.

"That was easy. I thought it would be more challenging."

"Impressive!"

"Did he just overcome the nightmare without even letting out a single scream?"

"How did he do that?"

Murmurs and whispers sound all around us.

Alnitak mumbles something incoherent but my mind is too occupied ogling at Rigel.

"You did well. That’s the indication of a strong mind and it can only be achieved when you overcome your fears." Saiph faces us, seeming impressed although he is trying to hide it.

Rigel takes long strides and goes on to stand alone near the wall, his back touching it. His body angles towards me and our eyes lock.

"Good job!" I mime and send him a thumbs up.

An effortless smile decorates his carmine lips and he doesn’t blink as if afraid to lose sight of me. A single strand of his hair obscures his right eye.

The session resumes and everyone else just ends up screaming, unable to break out of Saiph’s nightmares. Only Rigel has been successful in achieving it.

"Alnitak!" Saiph finally calls him out and I squeeze his arm.

"Good luck!"

He appears slightly nervous.

It could be because Rigel did so well, and now it’s his turn, and he doesn’t want to appear weak in front of everyone.

Personally, I don’t think it’s a sign of weakness. Some people have spent more traumatic lives than others. Like Rigel and that makes them fearless.

Some have traumas which they don’t heal from making them vulnerable, like Mintaka.

But, Alnitak is all smiles and positive energy. He has never complained about any aspect of his life and I wonder what will trigger him or if he will remain unaffected.

Keeping my fingers crossed I watch. Kacir and Rahria, too, appear nervous beside me. Kacir rubs his hands while Rahria says.

"Go, Ali!"

I cross my arms over my chest. My fingers dig into my flesh as Saiph puts Alnitak under.

My teeth bite my lower lip to keep it from trembling when Rigel’s smooth voice breathes down my neck, making me shudder.

"I can bet he will scream."

What? How did he creep up on me?

Like a silent shadow, he stands behind me.

I turn my head a fraction and watch him above my shoulder.

Amusement dances in his eyes where sunsets seem to have bled, painful and yet beautiful.

"He won’t," I confidently answer.

"If he does, I will be announcing you as my mate in front of everyone today," he smoothly says, no hint of reluctance.

And just to prove his point, Alnitak’s facial expressions change within the first 20 seconds, and he lets out a scream, which makes my blood run cold. It invades my very chest and almost stops my heart.

He keeps standing, but the spasms of pain and agony seem to have twisted his features. The bond burned in my chest when he let out another scream and I tried to rush towards him.

"No, stay back," Saiph’s stern voice comes, warning me not to interrupt. He has interpreted my actions.

But I don’t care, I have to get to my mate who appears to be stuck in God knows what nightmare.

Rigel’s hand reaches out and grabs my wrist, restricting me. His icy fingers wrap around my skin and pull me back.

"You don’t want to interrupt him. Let the caster do his job and let him find his way." I hadn’t expected Rigel to say something like that.

To my surprise, Alnitak’s screams halt, and his features soften, and then he opens his gorgeous eyes on his own and we cheer.

That’s my boy.

Saiph places his hands on Alnitak’s heaving shoulders and asks, "You good?"

"Yeah!" His chest is heaving and sweat coats his face. His eyes swivel towards us and find me. Wholeheartedly I smile at him.

A scowl appears on his face, seeing Rigel beside me, holding my arm.

He prowls towards us when the bell for the end of the session rings.

"We will continue next week. Don’t forget your reading on Chittering," Saiph says in the background while I watch Alnitak making his way towards us.

Trouble!

Rahria and Kacir stay beside me, watching silently at what’s about to unfold. Everyone else leaves.

"Let her go," Alnitak demands, halting in front of me and levelling his gaze with Rigel.

"Why? Didn’t she tell you?" Rigel drags his words out on purpose. Pulling me further into himself so that my back touches his chest.

"Tell me what?" Anger and rage have descended in both Alnitak’s eyes and voice. His hands are tightly fisted at his sides, ready to swing.

"That she is my mate," Rigel amusedly informs him, keeping his promise. His fingers slowly glide down my arms.

Alnitak already knows but hearing it so smugly from Rigel puts him on the edge.

Rahria and Kacir let out surprised gasps at this new information.

"This is not the place or time to discuss this. Can we not do this here?" My gaze shifts from Rigel to Alnitak, but both of them are hellbent on making this difficult.

"I know and she did. What you don’t know is, she is my mate too, and I am not the sharing kind, especially with a bloodsucker who literally put her into the infirmary by endangering her life." Alnitak throws it in his face and Rigel stiffens behind me, turning into a statue. Rigel also has an inclination that Alnitak is my mate but that infirmary part he didn’t need to know.

"Alnitak," I angrily call him out. He has no right to share that information with Rigel, but the damage has been done.

Everything after that happens in slow motion as Rigel pushes me aside and lunges at Alnitak. Saiph and Kacir intervene before both males can collide.

While Saiph holds Rigel, Kacir pushes Alnitak back.

"Stop! Or all of you will end up in detention," Saiph’s heavy and angry command comes.