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Chapter 250
~Valerie’s POV~
Ping!
We paused, each of us staring at our screens. The message was short, stamped with the official academy seal:
ACADEMY FIELD TRIP CONFIRMED. REPORT TO THE CENTRAL GATES AT 7 A.M., TWO DAYS FROM NOW. PACK ACCORDINGLY.
A beat of silence passed.
Then I groaned. "Ugh. So early."
Astraea grinned. "Finally. I’ve been dying to get out of this place."
"Don’t act like you’re not gonna pack three bags for a three-night trip," Valerie muttered, already mentally planning outfits.
Isla just blinked. "Well, girls, time to prepare."
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~Kai’s POV~
For days now, I’ve been lonely—miserably so.
I kept thinking about Valerie, night after night, hoping that she’d finally give us a moment, a conversation—hell, even a glare would be better than this silence.
Yes, we spoke, but still... I wanted it to be better like it used to be.
She’d been avoiding us. Avoiding me.
And the worst part? I understood why.
We’d pushed maybe too hard, maybe not enough. I didn’t even know anymore.
I sat at the edge of my bed, half dressed, my hair damp from a rushed shower, when I heard the knock.
It was soft as though it was almost unsure.
I frowned. "What now..." I muttered under my breath, dragging myself to the door and already preparing a few curses for whoever dared to interrupt my spiral.
I could guess it was Axel or Xade or even Dristan.
He’d been kicking things around the house lately since his fight with Valerie and her rejection. If he were the one, I’d just groan and probably slam the door in his face because we were all in the same shoe.
I swung the door open and froze.
Valerie stood there.
Messy bun. No makeup. One hoodie sleeve was slightly slipping down her shoulder. Her bag slung lazily on one arm like she’d debated coming for hours and finally given in.
"Hey," she said quietly.
I blinked. My brain needed a solid three seconds to compute that she was really here.
"...Valerie?"
She nodded once, chewing the inside of her cheek. "Can I come in?"
"Y-yeah, yeah. Of course." I stepped aside instantly. "Yeah. Get in here."
She walked in with that calm, guarded aura of hers, her eyes flicking around the room like she hadn’t been inside in forever.
I closed the door behind her, heartbeat a steady thunder in my chest.
Valerie stopped in the middle of the room, hands in the front pocket of her hoodie, and turned toward me.
"I’m sorry," she said before I could say anything. "For running today with you and Dristan. It wasn’t about either of you."
Gods, I’d missed this. Missed her.
I walked her backwards slowly until the back of her knees hit the edge of my bed.
She sat, pulling me between her legs without a word.
Our lips broke for a second, just enough for her to catch her breath and for me to stare down at her.
Her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were glassy, dazed.
"I’m not running," she whispered. "Not tonight at least."
I leaned down again, pressing my forehead against hers. "Even if you run, Valerie, I won’t let you."
Then I kissed Valerie again—deeper this time.
The kiss deepened—hungry, reckless, like time had lost all meaning and the world outside these four walls no longer existed.
Valerie tasted like fire and stubbornness, and gods, I’d missed that taste.
My hands weren’t hesitant anymore. I gripped her waist tightly, fingers curling into her hoodie, anchoring myself to her like I needed her to stay or I’d come undone.
Valerie arched into me, her body warm and pliant against mine. I felt her heart hammering through her chest, and it mirrored mine—wild, uncertain, but aligned.
I shouldn’t have wanted this so badly, not after the days of silence or all the tension and space.
But I did, and Valerie let me.
Every hard edge of my body met every soft curve of hers, and I could barely think.
Her shirt lifted slightly when my fingers brushed beneath it, the heat of her bare skin making me feel like I was walking a wire between restraint and pure need.
I paused—just for a second—my eyes flicking to hers, giving her time to stop me.
But she didn’t; instead, she pulled me closer.
"Like I said, no running."
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