Chapter 20

Anila POV

The shopkeeper shook his head with a mirthless laugh.

“I can’t believe it actually chose someone,” He said more to himself than to us.

He slammed his hand on the table, causing me to jump.

“What does that mean?” I found myself asking.

“It means it’s all yours, young lady.”

He begrudgingly hands the necklace over, and I am slow to grab it.

No way something so exquisite was free. But from the deep frown on the old shopkeeper's face, I could tell he wasn’t very happy about it.

“Thank you,” My voice was kind as I held the necklace. Its weight was surprising, considering how much metal is a part of it.

It weighed almost nothing.

Xaden looked at the necklace for a long moment, thoughts upon thoughts flashing behind his eyes before he gave a warm smile.

“Congratulations, Anila. Let’s get back, so you can rest before tomorrow. You have orientation at 11 and then you’ll get your schedule. We can find time to meet tomorrow and begin your training.”

I looked at the necklace in my hands, “Do I put it on now?” I mumbled.

Xaden shook his head.

“Not unless you don’t want to. You’ll need it tomorrow, however.”

I looked at the necklace for a few seconds longer, feeling an urge to slip it around my neck and wear it proudly, like a queen.

A queen.

I internally chuckled at that strange word and the sensation I felt when I spoke it in my mind.

I wasn’t sure why that popped into my head. But it was alarming enough for me to gently fold it up and slip it into my pocket. I have enough urges to manage already, I don’t need another at this moment. Not when I’m about to be confined in the car with Xaden again, his delectable smell teasing and tantalizing me.

I was hyperaware of the heat spreading in my leg from the necklace—not painful, but certainly noticeable.

I followed Xaden out, trailing after him as he held open the door for me.

Once we were outside, Xaden said, “Now the magical medium is in hand, do you need anything else? I don’t think you brought anything with you.”

That’s right. I came here alone and with nothing.

“I guess I need some basic essentials,” I admitted. “And maybe some new clothes. Are we allowed to wear clothes other than the school uniform?”

Xaden chuckled and nodded.

“Yes. Outside of class hours, you are allowed to wear whatever you want,” Xaden answered. “They aren’t even too strict about standard uniforms, If you couldn’t tell, students at this school had made their uniforms fit their personalities.”

“I might have noticed,” I teased. “I was wondering how they managed to do all that. Did you see Sarah’s uniform? Half of it was gone.”

He laughed.

“Like any school, there’s a lot of clubs at this one, including a design club. They are happy to help you modify anything you want, including your uniform,” Xaden explained. “You’ll learn all about it as you get used to the school. But the board encourages creativity.”

Taking hold of my hand, he led me toward a few different stores. He was patient as I shopped to my heart's content. I bought tons of clothes and fresh undergarments that fit more my style, along with new pajamas so I didn’t have ot wear the generic ones the school provided.

I bought some makeup as well; not that I wear much makeup, but I wasn’t sure if I would need any at some point. So bought basic stuff just in case. I bought a bunch of toiletries so I could comfortably take a shower tonight using my own scents.

During my shopping spree, Xaden never once spoke. When I looked at him, I noticed his eyes were lost in thought.

I wondered what he was thinking.

Was it about me?

After I finished shopping, we went back to the car.

Finally, Xaden spoke, asking a question I was not prepared for, “I’m curious, Anila. Would you ever want to learn more information about your mother?”

I stared at him, baffled by the question.

“What?” I asked, breathy.

“I know you don’t know much about her and we already found out she went to this school. It might be good to find out more about her. We might be able to find out what you are truly capable of,” Xaden explained. “Having 3 mates and being able to touch Damien’s wand…. You are special, Anila. We might be able to find some answers.”

I nodded along with his words, still trying to register them.

“Yeah,” I finally said after a short pause. “I would like to learn more information about her. Maybe we can check out the library and see if there’s any information there?”

Xaden nodded.

“I just wanted to see where your head was at. We can wait until after you’ve trained for your first shift. I’ll go with you and help you.”

I smiled at him. But then my smile faltered as I thought about Damien and the fiasco with his wand.

“It was weird that his wand helped me earlier,” I said, shaking my head. On the way into town, I filled Xaden in about everything that had happened. Especially how Damien’s wand helped me get free from Sarah’s spell.

Xaden didn’t comment much; he just listened, and I felt peace while talking to him. But now that we were on the subject of my mother and me being special, I felt like there were still unresolved questions forming in my head.

“I was thinking a lot about it earlier,” he said, his jaw tensing but his eyes remained fixated on the road before us.

So, that’s what he was thinking about when he looked lost in thought while I was shopping?

“What were you thinking about?” I asked.

“How Damien’s wand had taken a liking to you,” he said simply, making my brows knit together. “I was thinking that maybe it was because his wand sympathizes with you and your story.”

My front depends.

“How so?”

“You and Damien have similar stories,” he answered. My brows shot up at his words but before I could say or ask anything, he continued. “Damien was an orphan. His mother died giving birth and his father passed away when he was young. He grew up in an orphanage and went to a normal public school. That’s when he met Sarah. Her parents adopted him.”

I tensed in my seat, hating how my body was reacting to the thought of Sarah and Damien sharing that close bond that they’d had since childhood. I know Becca said she grew up with them as well, so I’m assuming she went to the same public school as them.

“I don’t get it,” I breathed, shaking my head. “If they grew up together and they share such a bond, how could she treat him so poorly?”

“Damien is the most talented wizard in the school, and his skills grow every day. But he lacks the status others might have from being an alpha, or a noble. I guess that gives Sarah the excuse to be involved with so many other people just to get what she wants. She likes to play with other's feelings.”

Xaden shifted in his seat as the school came into view. My gaze settled on him.

Listening to the story about Sarah and Damien, I found a shroud coming over my mind as the warmth that settled in my chest started to turn cold.

I remembered my conversation with Penny and the other girls about how cold and domineering Xaden was. I remembered they spoke about the quick flings he’s had, and even if they begged him to continue the relationship, he ditched them and cared for nothing.

“What about you, Xaden? Any past relationships or previous flings I should be aware of?” My voice was measured and steady, and Xaden’s shoulders fell as it grew silent in the car.

The only sound was the tires on asphalt.

The longer he sat in silence, the more hope died in within my chest.

Will this man… my fated mate… ditch me mercilessly like he has done to others before?

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Xaden POV

My thoughts were racing.

They have been since we left the Magic shop, since she touched such an ancient necklace and it responded to her like it was excited. Her delicious scent of lemons and honey soothed my thoughts and ignited a spark in my groin.

I was such an idiot; I should have known that word about my… reputation… would get back to her sooner than later.

I took a deep breath, pushing away the titillating sensation racing across my skin.

I knew I should have said something. I found myself unable to answer her.

Not because I didn’t want to, I was just… distracted. My head was clouded.

The anomaly that was Anila was beginning to make me nervous, everything about her suggested that she was a part of something more. Something bigger than just me.

I offered something else, instead.

“Did you know that my parents weren’t fated mates?” I began with a defeated smile. “Zach’s mother was my father's mate. Once he found her, he split on my mother so fast it was like he discovered her to be a monster. She wasn’t, of course. Just dominant.”

I smiled to myself, keeping my eyes on the road as I felt Anila’s gaze on me. We entered through the main gates of the school, and I headed toward the small parking lot.

“My mother was a no-nonsense kind of woman. A magnificent woman. But, when the mate was discovered, everything about her started to fall apart. It was hard to dedicate your life to a man, only to have him find his fated mate and leave her behind like nothing.”

I sighed as I unbuckled my belt and slid out of the car, Anila followed my lead. Before she could go into the trunk to get her things, I stepped in front of her, leaning against the car and pulling her toward me, crushing her to my body.

“I never wanted to be tied down to anybody else like that. Not after seeing how it destroyed my mother. Why would I be sincere with others when I was so sure I would find my own fated mate? I didn’t want to put others through what my father put my mother through.”

I dropped my eyes to hers, a sad smile coming to my lips as I watched tears fill her gorgeous gray eyes.

“You are a unique mate, but you are mine all the same. I’m not going anywhere, and I am willing to wait until you see me as your lifelong partner. We have all our lives to figure this mate situation out.” I cupped her cheek, “I promise to figure it out with you, Anila. I want to find out everything about you, and us.”

She leaned into my hand, sending shocks of electricity running up my arm and forcing my heart to skip a few beats. My eyes drank her in, basking in her beauty.

Her light gray eyes reminded me of the moonlight, her blonde hair was whisked around her face in the breeze as I brought my lips down to meet hers.

My wolf breathed throughout my entire head, “Mine…”