(Alnilam)

The taste of Amaia’s lips, her lingering scent and the look of betrayal on her face are making me dizzy. My actions are truly going to make her hate me.

But the bond between us says otherwise. Even with my manipulative actions all I feel is worries and attachment through the bond. She is incessantly worrying about me.

I truly don’t deserve her.

"We are going to win. I just wish you had told me the truth about the Reavers." Concerns and disappointment cling to every word Jamina says. She is gearing up beside me.

This is another woman I have wronged. Little does she know, I couldn’t have told her.

"That was my mess, I didn’t need to drag others into it."

Jamina sighs, she knows it’s a losing battle to argue with me.

"Who is leading the battalion?" Jamina asks, instead.

"The twins." My answer makes her halt. Her hands hover while trying to fasten the strap of her glove.

"Betelgeuse and Bellatrix?" She questions, blinking at me.

"Yes!"

The twin brother and sister duo are from the State of Istrale; who own the Dread Army. Betelgeuse is the crown prince while Bellatrix is the beloved princess to her father and the mad king Natianu Jahaz.

During our time at the academy, we faced them during Inter Guild Wars and barely won against them in the finals. They almost killed one of our Guildmates. Betelgeuse is barbaric, just like his father, and Bellatrix is ruthless; she comes with the kill intent.

"They joined the Dread Army. Why am I not surprised?" Jamina says with a huff, tying her gloves and reaching for her hair.

"Battalion Commanders, both of them. And you know their powers are deadly," I remind her.

"How can I forget?" She painfully says. But I know the ache in her voice is because of me.

"We will need a plan."

Saiph joins us and so do the two other hunters I have chosen to accompany me. General Bakshi had asked if I needed more hunters or if I wanted him there, but I refused.

Zabiel and Karna, the two hunters I chose, are fated mates, and they were our guildmates when we were at Orion. Kayla, Kacir’s sister was the fifth one and we lost her too soon.

Zabiel is the closest to what I can call a male best friend. He and Karna were away for assignments in another state.

States that don’t have trained hunters hire them from powerful states like Orion. They sign contracts for a few years where they are required to live in that state and protect their people in case of an attack.

They had just completed their assignment and returned. Both of them enter the preparation room and we exchange hugs.

"My man!" Zabiel embraces me with his cheeky smile. "Landing yourself in trouble as usual." His long golden hair is tied back in a man bun.

"Something like that. You know how it goes when the Dread Army is involved."

Karna and Jamina hug each other and the former comes forward to do a high five with me. "We will get them, don’t worry. Nothing is happening to you on our watch."

Karna has her black hair tied in a braid which is wrapped around the base of her head. There are many piercings on her face, and her dark lipstick gives her a gothic vibe, as does her all-black attire.

Her power suits her personality. She can create black fires which burn worse than the regular fires and it’s almost impossible to escape them.

Zabiel fights with a mace while Karna uses a spiked whip, which she can coat with her fire and end the enemy with one single strike.

"So when are you two getting married?" Zabiel asks, adjusting his belt which holds enchanted shuriken stars. He can throw and increase or decrease their size according to his will.

The question makes my shoulders drop while Jamina lets out a resounding sigh. We steal a glance at each other, and all I find is hurt in her eyes, which are still swollen.

"Do you want to tell them?" Jamina asks through the mindlink.

"Why do I sense trouble in paradise?" Karna asks, deeply concerned, her gaze wavering between the two of us.

We have always been a couple, who never fought, never had problems and suddenly here we are.

"No!" I simply tell her through the mindlink.

"At the end of this year," I calmly say, snatching away my gaze from her.

But Jamina has other plans.

"We will not. He found his mate, and now, as usual, he is running from the feelings and complications the mate bond brings," she tells them, the shadows of sadness dance on her face.

I grit my teeth in annoyance as we stare at each other again. Zabiel and Karna stand like statues staring from one to the other. Unable to believe what they had just heard.

"You did?" Zabiel finally asks and I shift my gaze towards him but doesn’t answer.

"Who? When?" Karna questions, with curiosity hanging from her words.

"Yes, but it’s complicated. Let’s talk about it after we have sent those bastards to where they came from."

They nod stiffly. Karna moves near Jamina and hugs her.

"I am sorry, I didn’t know. Are you alright?"

Jamina’s gaze stays on me. "I will be. Let’s go get this done first."

We move out and Saiph is waiting for us, all ready and set. Karna and Zabiel do high five with him.

Jamina steps forward and swirls her hand, opening the portal for us. The swirling mess of black appears. Karna and Zabiel pass through first, followed by Saip and then me. My body and head whirl for a second before I find solid footing again. Jamina comes to land beside me and her portal closes behind us.

We have chosen a secluded ground so no one has an advantage. At a distance, we see them, they are already here along with the neutral officiator they have brought. He will decide the outcome of this show down.

"Tha Battalion of Bastards," Zabiel spits out. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

My eyes find the smirking twins as they walk forward and stand face to face with us.