MAGE CHRONICLES: The Beginning.

KEON.

I fight a laugh staring at the look on her face, I doubt that would be very welcome, but it wasn’t my fault she had such an expressive face sometimes.

After the wake-up call, from Khalil last night, I had decided to make my intentions known, despite the fact that she could have multiple mates.

Seeing her seemed to have calmed down my dragon because he was less grumbly and more rumbly if you get my gist. After her escapades with the boy in the amphitheatre, he had been on a warpath only calming down after hours of sparring with Rhys and Khalil, and the assurance that he could still have a chance with his mate.

Mate.

I was still reeling over the fact that I got one.

I lived a secluded life, because of the disdain my dragon had for everyone bar my brothers and music, especially the females. It had turned me into a surly fuck and had been the root of all the ridiculous rumours surrounding me.

It wasn’t, my fault the big oaf was picky as hell, even with food, but finally, finally, we all agreed on one person.

I glance at the person in question, she’s staring intently at the doors willing them to open as the elevator crawled its way down.

I was certain Dru was doing it on purpose and it made me satisfied to see so many people in my corner. Andrei had me pleasantly surprised at his willingness to accept that his mate could have other chosen males.

“I can’t do this, what do you want!”

Her yell jolts me from my musings to find I was still staring at her, nice one you creep.

Then her question registers and I blurt out on autopilot, “You!”

Smooth

Shut up you could at least help, I haven’t done this before.

And I have?

My answer clearly shocked her but before she could answer the doors open and we file out and proceed to walk out of the building in tense silence.

We are almost in the tuition blocks when she speaks.

“Why?”

“Ah…because you’re mine,” I start and the dragon sighs, Oh Ye of little faith, ” and I’m yours if you’d have me.”

She has completely stopped now staring at me eyes wide mouth ajar.

Then she resumes walking towards her class and I follow behind heart falling.

When we get to the door, she stops again turning to me her hands outstretched.

I hand over the bag feeling dejected which is a very foreign feeling.

“Do you know that Andrei is also my mate?”

“Yes, I was there when you almost bonded,” the last words I almost growl out, the dragon coming to the surface.

Her face flushes at my reminder but she continues, “And you are okay with that?”

“I’ll take you any way I can get you,”

Oh fates!

Ignoring him I continue, “What I mean is yes, I’m okay with that, the more the merrier,” I add in a gruff tone.

She looks sceptical, “But you don’t even know me.”

Neither does the boy.

“All in due time, we won’t rush things, and what I know I already like.” I answer ignoring the dragon’s grumble.

She blushes at that finally breaking eye contact, and I can’t mask the satisfaction that fills me.

“Ok, all in due time, okay,” she mutters almost to herself and moves into the class.

That’s all we get?

Shut it! At least she didn’t run for the hills.

Yeah, that’s sort of a bonus, you aren’t really social.

The fucker.

And who’s fault is that?

Let’s go in i want to see her face when she realises you’re her professor.

Smiling genuinely, I comply also eager to see her reaction. Taking a deep breath, I move into the class face schooled, asshole activated, courtesy of snarly with the scales.

******

MAHINA.

I hustle inside struggling to compose myself.

Damn that fireball and his silver tongue, he was also being genuine, not playing, which made it even worse.

Mahina, what are you going to do now?

Head down I make my way to the back of the class and plop in the nearest seat, it’s only after I have sat down that I realise the class is dead silent.

There was chatter before, as I came in but now, I could hear myself breathing.

Hoping I wasn’t the reason, I raise my head gingerly to survey. No such luck everyone and their grandmother were staring at me.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” I ask, projecting my voice with a boldness I didn’t really feel, but fake it till you make it, ay?

“I’d like to know too, there’s not much to look at.”

Oh, dear fates, they were in this class?

I glance towards the speaker and lock eyes with Stephanie, and her merry band of witches.

“Stephanie, here I had thought you had died, no such luck,” normally I’d try to be the bigger person, but scratch that this girl grated on all my nerves.

She gasps scandalized and her entire crew and some of the class stare at me like I just threatened to kill someone, dramatic much?

“Are you, a princess who is supposed to serve her people, saying you’d want me dead.”

“If the shoe fits,” I mutter wanting this conversation over, the last thing I wanted was to ruin my first impression with my professor; after he finds me beating the extensions off the girl which was bound to happen.

But Stephanie had other ideas moving to stand up, “See guys I told you she was weird and all wrong, she doesn’t deserve to be a princess or to get a mate from our fine men.”

Gag.

“She probably goes around, how else would she have a child before being mated? It’s unnatural!” she finishes off her spiel inches away from my outstretched feet a satisfied smirk on her face.

The responding gasps in the class confirm that her words found their target.

Well, that takes care of announcing Blue to everyone. Dad had thought it a good idea to keep it down, private not a secret for both our sakes.

“Are you done?” I ask in a surprisingly calm voice standing up.

“She’d better be because my class just started, Niamh, sit your ass down!” a gruff voice bellows from the front of the class.

No way! No way was my day going like this.

Jaw hanging open I only gawk at Keon as does the rest of the class.

Niamh/Stephanie on the other hand lights up transforming from her normal catty self to the immaculate elf she should have been, to begin with.

Simpering like a fool, she walks down the steps back to her seat which is conveniently right in Keon’s line of sight. Did people go to jail for ‘accidental’ murders here?

I watch dumbfounded as she crosses her legs and then leans on the desk eyes set on Keon, “I’m sorry Professor, please proceed.”

Keon ignores her and turns to me, the glowering face becoming carefully neutral, I almost go to speak when he finally breaks the stare with a resolute nod, as if satisfied with his perusal and turns to address the rest of the class. A smile appears on my face unbidden at the exchange and I move to get my books ready when a chill sweeps through the class.

I look up apprehensive and lock eyes with Niamh again, “I’m coming for you,” I hear her loud and clear despite the distance and that makes it even spookier.

Shuddering I turn my attention back to the class ready to be done and hassle out of here, the more distance between me and the catty woman the better.