Parent's visit: Part I

It had been a week since Rea and Annabella began exchanging letters through Killian. With the student-parent visit approaching, Harry and Arthur had eased up on their stalking to avoid drawing attention. Meanwhile, Rea, who already had the patience of a sleep-deprived cat, seemed even quicker to anger, snapping at anything that moved (or didn't).

After practice today, Rea and her group looked crustier than usual—like they'd just crawled out of a battlefield rather than a training session. They had made so many powerful enemies that practice had turned into a full-contact sport, minus the rules and basic human decency. Rea slumped onto the bench, visibly pissed.

Arthur and Torry had singled out her group again, this time not even bothering to hide it. And the magister—that spineless sellout—had just stood there, pretending not to notice. It was insane.

Killian stretched, wincing as if his very soul ached. "Fuck... is it just me, or are they actually trying to murder us?"

Raizel collapsed next to him, groaning. "If they keep ganging up on us like that, we're not making it out alive next time."

Issey, popping Kaizel's dislocated arm back into place like she was assembling furniture, scoffed. "Fuck them! They're only making us stronger."

Baldur from the Qzartian clan and Remus from Killian's clan—the ever-gossipy Chester—plopped down at their table, eager to spill the latest drama.

Meanwhile, Annabella glided past, taking her usual spot with effortless grace. Unlike the rest of them, who looked like they had barely survived an apocalypse, she looked fresh, barely breaking a sweat despite her impressive performance during practice.

And, as always, she made sure to sit just far enough to avoid suspicion, yet close enough to exchange secret smiles with Rea.

Rea, even though battered and bruised, still found the energy to smile and think: Damn, she looks good.

Baldur, eyes gleaming with mischief, leaned in and murmured lustfully, "Is it just me, or has Annabella gotten even sexier?"

Killian, sensing the incoming storm, quickly tried to steer the conversation elsewhere—especially since Rea had visibly stiffened at Annabella being mentioned in that way. "So, uh… how was practice for you guys? Remus, how's your dad? I heard he got chosen as our clan's spokesperson."

Remus snorted, waving a dismissive hand. "Shut the fuck up, Killian. If I wanted to talk clan politics, I wouldn't come to you."

Issey let out a low growl, cracking her knuckles. "Mind your tongue, boy, or feel my wrath."

Normally, Killian and the others wouldn't have cared about Remus and Baldur' s rudeness, but right now, their focus was on the sudden, palpable shift in the atmosphere. A thick, murderous aura was rolling off Rea in waves, her attention now fully locked on the Two idiots behind her.

Baldur, oblivious—or maybe just stupid—grinned wider and continued, "Are you guys blind? Stop bickering and just look at her. Those tight pants, the high boots, that cleavage—to die for! I swear, I just wanna grab that ponytail and take her for a ride… uhn uhn uhn—"

Killian, Raizel, Kaizel and Issey all exchanged glances that screamed: Here we Go Again!!

Kaizel and Raizel spoke simultaneously, their voices eerily synchronized, as if foretelling impending doom:"Do not speak this way of Lady De la Croix. You have been warned."

Baldur, the poor fool, just laughed. "Oh, come on, I'm just appreciating beauty" 

Remus high-fived Badlur as he said:" If in the past I wanted to kiss the earth she walks on... Now I really wanna have a taste of those voluptuous nipples." 

Killian, sensing the inevitable, muttered under his breath, "Fucking idiots."

Issey let out a low whistle. "Men just wrote their own obituary."

Before anyone could react, Rea moved. In an instant, she effortlessly pinned both men to the ground, flames flickering dangerously along her arms as her irises burned a bright red. She was moments away from reducing them to ashes when her friends lunged forward, desperately trying to pull her away—but they were failing.

The crowd thickened around them, whispers spreading like wildfire. The two men she had pinned belonged to prominent life mage families, making the scene all the more scandalous. Then, the murmurs hushed as the crowd instinctively parted, making way for the sound of measured, elegant footsteps. The footsteps halted, and a gentle yet commanding voice cut through the tension.

"Reagan... would you be so kind as to release them this instant?"

A shiver ran down Rea's spine at the sound of Annabella's voice. Without taking her eyes off her captives, she responded coldly, "I'll let them go—if they apologize to you for what they said."

Remus coughed, his voice rasping with indignation. "Release us, you brute! We did nothing wrong!"

Baldur opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Rea's voice turned deadly quiet.

"I'll start with you," she said, her flames surging. "By the time I'm done, there won't even be ashes left. It will be as if you never existed."

All who were present felt as if the very air was scorching their lungs. It was a vision of horror for those watching. And beneath it all, imagine Baldur and Remus, trapped in that suffocating intensity.

Annabella folded her arms and sighed. "Well… get on with it and end this unnecessary display."

Rea smirked cynically. "You heard the lady. I can… end you."

Terrified, Remus stammered, "W-We lied."

Baldur, trembling, added, "We were… being vile in the way we spoke about your… f-features, my Lady De La Croix."

A murmur of outrage spread through the crowd. How dare they speak of Annabella in such a way? She was not only respected but deeply loved for her calm and kind demeanor.

In unison, the two pleaded, "We're sorry!"

Annabella turned away, her voice steady. "I will not indulge this any longer."

Rea clenched her jaw but, with clear reluctance, released them. "Get the fuck out of here before I change my mind."

As Rea turned to leave, her crew intercepted her.

Killian stepped forward, his voice firm. "Rea… this can't keep happening. This is the tenth time you've nearly killed someone just for speaking badly about Annabella."

Issey frowned, concern evident in her voice. "Boss, we can't fight the whole school. We already have too many people after us."

Sensing the rising tension, Raizel spoke carefully. "Boss… we get it. But you need to lay low. I can't keep these gossipers at bay if we keep giving them more fuel."

Killian placed a firm hand on Rea's shoulder, his voice dropping to something almost conspiratorial. "Besides… today's the day. You and Annabella will finally meet. We've got it all planned. You'll have all the time you need to… you know."

Rea's smirk was slow, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. The group exhaled in relief as they made their way to class.

Later, as Rea was heading to her room, Killian discreetly slipped a folded sheet of paper into her hand. A single glance was enough to set her pulse racing.

"West Wing Theatre. Urgent."

Rea already knew what awaited her. And she was more than ready.

The theater was dimly lit, shadows stretching along the old velvet seats. Behind the heavy curtain, Annabella stood with her arms crossed, looking more irritated than anxious. Her chest rose and fell in a slow, measured breath, and when she ran a hand through her hair, Rea's mouth went dry.

"This is getting old," Annabella sighed.

Rea took a lazy step forward, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "Not even a kiss? Geez, you're so cruel."

She leaned in, her fingers grazing Annabella's waist, but before their lips could meet, Annabella shoved her back—hard. Rea stumbled slightly, caught off guard by the force of it.

Annabella's voice was sharper now, edged with frustration. "Why are you fighting every idiot who talks obscenely about me? This happened before I met you, and it's going to keep happening long after."

Rea let out a low chuckle, undeterred. Her eyes darkened as she reached for Annabella's wrist, tugging her closer.

"Maybe… I don't like hearing them say your name at all."

Annabella's breath hitched for just a second. Rea took advantage of it, tilting her head so their lips were almost touching, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Or maybe… I just think, You're mine, and nobody should ever talk about you like that and get away with it."

For a moment, Annabella's resolve wavered, her fingers twitching against Rea's chest. Then, with a huff, she rolled her eyes, but this time, she didn't push her away.

"You're impossible," she muttered.

Reagan knew Annabella had every right to be annoyed—but she couldn't focus on that. Not when Annabella's body was betraying her, leaning ever so slightly into the heat between them, her breath coming just a little faster. Rea smirked, savoring the effect she had on her.

Annabella let out a sharp groan, "I can't believe this. Now that I think about it, Arthur's way of handling this is way better than yours. He takes it as a compliment. Why can't you do the same?"

Rea's eyes darkened. The words hit her harder than she expected, and before she could even think, she had Annabella pressed against her, her grip firm, possessive. Her lips crashed onto Annabella's, biting down just enough to draw a gasp.

"Are you saying this just to annoy me? First, you deny me—now you tease me? Is this some twisted strategy to drive me mad?" Her voice was low, husky, dripping with frustration and hunger.

Annabella gasped between words, her resistance faltering. "Wha—? No! I… ngh… I'm being serious… ah… aha—"

Rea didn't give her room to finish. She pinned Annabella against the wall, her body flush against hers, trapping her completely. One hand gripped her ass, pulling her in hard, while the other slid up to her breast, fingers teasing over the thin fabric, rolling her nipple between them. A strangled moan escaped Annabella's lips—one she clearly didn't want to let out, but her body had other plans.

Rea smirked against her ear, her voice dark and possessive. "I love you too much to ever take an insult to your beauty and dignity as a compliment." 

Annabella's fingers curled into Rea's shirt, her resolve slipping like sand through her fingers. However forcing herself to maintain a stern expression, she said "This doesn't make assaulting fellow students acceptable," 

Rea didn't answer with words. Instead, she kissed Annabella again—hungry, relentless, her lips trailing along her jaw, down her neck, each touch more demanding than the last. She moaned against her skin, the sound deep and shameless, as she pressed closer.

"It's definitely worth killing for," Rea murmured between kisses, her voice rough with desire. "God, I can't get enough of you. I want you now… your scent is intoxicating."

Annabella squeezed her eyes shut, a low moan slipping past her lips before she could stop it. Her entire body trembled, her nails digging into Rea's back as heat coiled low in her belly. She could already feel herself growing tight and wet in all the wrong places.

This was bad.

Resisting Rea had always been hard, but lately, it felt impossible. Rea never missed an opportunity to touch her—to grab her waist, her hips, her thighs—whenever they were alone, no matter how brief the moment. And Annabella had become too sensitive to her touch. But the real problem wasn't just Rea's relentless hunger—it was the way Annabella's body reacted to it.

Her pheromones were slipping out of her control, thickening the air between them. And Rea—her feverish kisses, the way she pressed against her, moaning with reckless need—was she truly this desperate for her, or was it the pheromones driving her mad?

Annabella's breathing hitched as Rea's hands roamed lower. She needed to stop this before it spiraled any further, before she lost herself completely. But with every touch, every whisper of Rea's lips against her skin, her resolve cracked just a little more. 

And Rea? She was already too far gone.

In a desperate attempt to break free, Annabella's fingers wrapped around Rea's throat, squeezing just enough to push her back. With her other hand, she struggled to pry Rea's grip from her ass. But the more she fought, the more their bodies pressed together, rubbing in ways that sent heat flooding through both of them.

Rea's breath came in ragged gasps, her lips parting as she shuddered against Annabella. "I'm so crazy about you…"she panted, eyes dark with hunger. "Come to my bed tonight. Please… It's been 7 days, 3 hours, 25 minutes, and 45 seconds since I last touched you. It's driving me mad."

"How… ngh… can you… ahh… be so sure it's me you want…?" she managed between moans, her body betraying her as pleasure coiled deep inside her.

Rea's lips curled into a wicked smile, knowing she had finally cracked through Annabella's defenses. A whole week of resistance—gone. Tonight was her game, and she was winning.

Moaning loudly, she gripped Annabella's ass even harder, pulling her closer against her arousal. Her free hand slipped beneath Annabella's shirt, fingers trailing over soft, heated skin until they found their way to her breast. She rolled her nipple between her fingers, and Annabella gasped, arching her back as a shuddering moan escaped her lips.

Rea growled, her own body trembling with need. "I wouldn't even mind if you were using your pheromones on me… It feels too good. I'm addicted."

As Rea's words sank in, something shifted in Annabella. The haze of desire cleared just enough for her to regain control. In one swift, fluid motion, she flipped their positions, pinning Rea against the wall with a skillful twist of her body.

Rea barely had time to react before Annabella's lips found her neck, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses downward—slow, deliberate, teasing. Every brush of her lips sent electricity through Rea's skin, making her pulse race, her breath hitch and her groin stiffen more. For a fleeting, breathless moment, Rea thought Annabella was going to go all the way—

But then, just as quickly, the heat vanished.

Annabella pulled back, putting space between them, her expression shifting from seduction to something colder. "I can't believe you just said that." Her voice was quiet, but the weight of it hit harder than any slap.

Rea's brows furrowed in confusion. "What—?"

Annabella exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "How different are you from those other creeps if you wouldn't even mind me taking away your freedom of choice? Bending your will with my pheromones just to spend a night?"

Rea blinked, her head spinning. "Where is that coming from?"

Annabella shook her head, her movements stiff, as if she was trying to hold something back. She straightened her clothes, avoiding Rea's gaze as she turned to leave.

"Uhm… This is just—uhm… You are so annoying."

"Annabella—what the hell?" Rea called after her, still absolutely lost. "Baby—Anna—Bella—come back right now!"

But Annabella didn't stop. She didn't even look back.

Rea let out a long, frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair as she sank onto a nearby chair.

"Fuck."