Serene’s POV

Ayrden, Ralph, Zilver, Ziva, and Alvene were already in the room waiting for us. " Mikasim couldn’t make it but he passed me some intel. " Arlo told us. " Yes, Arlo what information have you acquired? From Mikasim and on your own? " Zilver inquired. That meant it was Arlo who had gathered here.

"Mikasim, told me that when he jokingly told Tanzil that Zeph and Lourden make a really powerful and cute couple. She laughed and said, you are so naive. Your thick head can’t even figure out what happened." Arlo filled us in.

" So, she is being careful even with Mikasim. She doesn’t want to leak anything but what she said surely reveals our suspicions. " Alvene pipped in while standing with one hand on the table and the other on her waist.

" It doesn’t stop here. My source has confirmed some kind of powder was used on Zeph that night to make him act the way he acted. " Arlo continued surprising everyone.

" What do you mean by some kind of powder? Did your source confirm that they are not mates and what is making Zeph act like that? Zilver asked with a confused expression.

" Who exactly is that source of yours? " Ralph asked excitedly rubbing his head.

" I don’t have any more details for now. This is all I know, once I do I will let you all know. And, one should never reveal his or her source. So, that’s a secret. But, you have to trust me on this. " Arlo replied calmly.

" I trust you," I told him as I glanced at him and he nodded politely.

" I am so tempted to use my hallucinations on Lourden and bring her to her knees. That damn woman is doing exactly what she did to Zilver. " Ziva gritted her teeth, her eyes full of hatred. Zilver held her hand and tried to calm her down.

" The more we wait, the more Zeph will suffer. Try to get to the root of it as soon as possible. " Zilver told Arlo, who nodded lightly.

" Did you talk at all to, Zeph? " Ayrden asked Ralph. " I tried several times but he becomes tight-lipped, no matter what I say to him he doesn’t talk to me. " Ralph replied in a hurt voice. Alvene placed her hand on his shoulder: " We will soon get him out of this mess. If it prolongs we will involve a Sensei if we have to. So, try not to beat yourself too much about it. " She consoled him.

" That’s it, you guys can go. Prepare for your tournament and if anyone has any more intel then you know what to do. " Zilver announced.

Arlo was the first one to leave and then we left after about two minutes. We made our way to the training grounds. As we walked past the dining hall, a senior girl whom I had seen hanging out with Lourden was standing there. " Serene, Mariela Sensei wants to see you." She called out to me.

I turned around and told her that I had training. "Well, that’s up to you if you don’t wanna listen to a Sensei." She told me blankly. " Ayrden and Ralph had stopped as well. " No, that’s not what I meant. It’s unlike her to call me during training. " I replied. "I delivered the message, it’s up to you to do whatever you want with it." She shrugged.

" Ayrden, Ralph you guys go ahead. I will see Mariela Sensei and be back soon. " I turned towards them. " I will come with you, " Ralph added. " No, no you guys go ahead. If all of us will be late, Sarim Sensei will be upset and all of us will end up doing laps. You go ahead and tell him that Mariela Sensei has called me. " I didn’t want them to get in trouble because of me.

" Ok, be back soon." They waved and left. I began to head toward Mariela Sensei’s office. As soon as I turned the corner into a deserted corridor a strong pair of hands pushed me towards the wall and tried to punch me. I dodged and tried to move away, but my wrist was caught and spun back colliding with the wall. I hit my head hard and it began to bleed.

I looked towards my assaulter and it was the same girl who had given me the message. " You are a filthy whore, first you went for Tanzil’s mate, then Lourden’s mate and now you have set eyes on Arlo. Don’t you have any shame at all? You Fae kind are real hoes, that’s why we all hate you. Stay away from Arlo or I will drink every last drop of blood from your body. " She shouted with extreme hate at me, her eyes red with anger and her nose flared and her fangs visible.

I was too stunned to speak and my head was exploding with pain. Blood drenched my hair and dripped down my eyes and face, I tried to move away but she held my wrist so tightly that I thought it would break.

" Now, now Dria. We don’t wanna kill her, do we? " A sweet voice echoed from behind making us both look in that direction. To my amazement, it was Arlo. He drew closer with a strange smile on his face which didn’t reach his cold deadly eyes, which gave me chills to even look at. He stepped closer to her and took her face in his right hand and with his left hand, he pulled my wrist away from her grasp and pushed me back.

I landed hard on my hips and moved further away from them. He didn’t glance at me, instead, he placed his other hand on her face as well and kissed her deeply as she clung to him. As her body began to relax he stepped back a bit.

" We had a team meeting today and she is my teammate and I was asked to fetch her. That’s why I went with her earlier. " Arlo explained to her in a very sweet voice without breaking eye contact, her face still in his hands.

" You were smiling, you never smile for anyone. Why were you smiling with her? " She asked curiously. To answer that he stepped closer to her and whispered something in her ear which seemed to have satisfied her as she began to grin back at him.

They were fully engrossed with each other. I, couldn’t comprehend what was going on. I looked in disbelief from her to him as I gradually picked myself up and stood by placing my hand on the wall. I had to get away from them, so I slowly began to move, blood dripping from my forehead.

" You, don’t you dare utter a word of this to anyone." She finally turned towards me and threatened me. I stopped in my tracks looking at both of them. " And, what will you do if I did? Kill me? Let’s see you try. " I was done being bullied by everyone.

"Let’s not get ahead of yourself here. No one is killing anyone. Dria we should go before anyone comes and makes a scene. Besides, it’s impossible to keep control with all that blood. Serene, no one can know about Dria and me, she is my girlfriend and I would like this to be kept secret. So, keep your mouth shut." Arlo replied calmly, his perfect red hair falling in his eyes, and his face showing zero expressions.

Then he took her hand and with one swoosh they were gone, leaving me in a state of shock. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. He had a girlfriend? Wasn’t he helping us or was he helping them? Everything became hazy after that, as I began to lose consciousness and fell to the ground.