| RED'S POV |

"Red, enough with the movement. My head is spinning," Ana said, sounding frustrated as she laid on her bed, scrolling through Witchagram. Ever since I heard from Aunt May a few hours ago, I have been restless about her coming here.

"What if the soul eaters attack again? What if they take both Uncle J and Aunt May? What if..." I trailed off, anxiously running through all the possible scenarios in my mind.

"Red, listen to Ana and relax," Reyes voiced out in my mind, breaking my train of thought. I sighed and jumped on my bed, checking the time on my phone for the eleventh time. I wondered how far they could be and how they would even enter here without people smelling Aunt May's distinct scent.

"Your uncle has that covered," Reyes mentioned, and that's when I felt even more suspicious about him. I never had time to question how he just knew about so many things. I mean, it's nice for someone to tell you what's yet to come, but if one could calmly think about it, it was not entirely normal.

"Reyes, how do you know?" I replied back in my mind, frustration creeping into my tone. Once again, he was silent. Whenever I tried asking him things like this, he would always keep shut, and I'm starting to get tired of it.

"Red!" my mind snapped back to reality when I saw Avery barging into the room, looking upset.

What did I do now?

"Xavier, really?" Her voice was stern and annoyed as she questioned me about including him. During my last class, I had informed Ana, Jacob, and Dean about Xavier knowing my identity. Avery wasn't in that class, so I had planned to tell her later.

Seems like I was too late.

"Who told you?" I asked, sitting back up on my bed, trying to figure out the source of the leak.

"Jacob," she replied, her frustration evident.

"You can't possibly be angry with Red," Ana chimed in, shutting her phone off. "I mean, he was the one who approached her about it. This should all be transferred to him," she said, coming to my defense. I was grateful that at least she understood the situation.

"It's not that I'm upset with her," Avery mumbled, moving towards my bed. "I'm just so tired of new things popping up. We already have a lot on our plate with the dark souls and the Dark Lord coming back, and now Xavier knows about you. What if he tells his mom?" Avery explained, her frustration palpable. I nodded in understanding.

"He won't," I glanced at both Avery and Ana as I spoke. "He's just confused, and he wants to be part of everything that's going on."

"Why? None of this involves him," Ana said, puzzled by Xavier's sudden interest.

"Actually, it does, in a way," I paused, allowing the weight of my words to sink in. They both stayed silent, waiting for me to continue. "So, I just found out that his mom and mine were friends," I revealed.

"What?!" they exclaimed in unison, clearly taken aback by the revelation.

"That's big," Avery said, taking a deep breath. Ana nodded in agreement.

"Wait, you said he wants to be part," Ana interjected. I nodded. "You do know that it means telling your uncle and Mr. Caddel about him knowing about this and his mom's involvement," Avery stated, pointing out another problem.

"And from the way things are, he and Mr. Caddel seem to hate each other," Ana added, highlighting the complications.

I felt fed up with everything. This is why I need Aunt May. She would figure some things out for me.

As we huddled together, contemplating our next move, a notification flashed on my phone, drawing my attention away. I quickly unlocked it, my eyes scanning the message that appeared on the screen.

Meet me in the training room - Nicholas

My heart skipped a beat as I read those words. Nicholas wants to see me now?

"What's wrong?" Ana questioned, walking over to my bed as I handed her the phone. She smirked as she read the message. "So, what are you gonna wear?"

"Wait, he wants to meet you in the training room?" Avery chimed in, also scanning the message on my phone. "Seems like he wants to train with you. Remember, he's your guardian, so don't read too much into it," she suggested, her words laced with a hint of caution. I felt the urge to tell them about the kiss, but I decided to keep it to myself for the time being.

I remained silent, contemplating their words, and eventually nodded in agreement. Ana clapped her hands in excitement, immediately diving into the task of selecting an outfit for me. "Ana, remember, I'll be training, not seducing," I reminded her, trying to bring her back to reality. She pouted momentarily before rolling her eyes and continuing her search. After a few seconds, she handed me a white tank top and black cargo pants. The clothes felt a bit snug, and the top was slightly transparent, but Ana assured me that my bra was barely visible. I pulled my hair back into a tight bun and prepared to head out.

"Red, don't you remember?" Avery stopped me with her question. Confusion furrowed my eyebrows as I tried to recall what she was referring to. Then she glanced at my outfit and back at me. Finally, my brain caught up, and I realized my own stupidity. I couldn't go out dressed like this.

"Right," I closed my eyes and recited the incantation, drawing upon my powers. Despite still being a novice, I had made progress in learning to control my abilities. Avery had explained that it would take years for a witch to master all her powers, but time wasn't something I had on my side at the moment.

As my eyes fluttered open, I found myself back in the training hall where I had been with Nicholas the previous night. "So, you called," I said lamely, turning to face him. He seemed taken aback by my sudden appearance, and I noticed a flicker of something in his eyes. His gaze wandered down to my outfit, and my heart started racing. I quickly averted my eyes, feeling self-conscious and wondering what was wrong.

Did I look bad?

"No," his deep voice cut through my thoughts, as if he could read my mind. My cheek felt hot as I realized he was already aware of my insecurities. I glanced at him again and noticed that he was wearing a similar outfit to mine, but his was all black, and he looked incredibly attractive in it.

"Today, we'll be doing something different," he stated, reverting back to his serious demeanor. I couldn't help but think that he was a bit bipolar in his behavior.

"No sticks?" I asked, remembering our previous training sessions.

"Yes, no sticks," he affirmed, and I caught a glimpse of his tattoos peeking out from the side of his back. I hadn't had a chance to see his complete set of tattoos during his transformation, but can you blame a girl? My mind swirled with sinful thoughts just from seeing the sweat glistening on his body, tracing down his muscles. And to top it off, he was injured!

"You need to learn how to sense danger," Nicholas said, his words swirling in my mind and leaving me bewildered.

"Sense danger?" I repeated, seeking clarification. He nodded, his eyes locked with mine, and continued to explain. "You see, discovering your powers is only the first step. There is so much more you need to learn. One of the most crucial skills is the ability to sense danger and to harness the power of fire."

A flicker of annoyance crossed my face as I interrupted him. "I already know how to create fire from my hands," I declared, my frustration evident in my voice. Without hesitation, I performed the same incantation I had used to impress Uncle J and Xavier before. But Nicholas's expression remained unimpressed, as if my display held no significance.

"That's good," he responded nonchalantly, his words contradicting his lackluster reaction. I extinguished the flames, feeling a surge of irritation toward him. What did he want from me? To set the school on fire? That's not a bad idea though.

A fleeting smirk danced on Nicholas's face, as if he had read my thoughts, but it vanished almost instantly. "Let's take it one step at a time," he suggested, his voice steady and composed. "Close your eyes and try to find me when I attack."

"Wait a minute," I interjected, my voice tinged with frustration. "You said no sticks." I was growing weary of these unexpected twists and turns. All I had wanted was to wait for Aunt May, not to partake in a peculiar game of hide-and-seek.

"I didn't say I'm using weapons," Nicholas clarified, striding over to a nearby table. He retrieved something that remained hidden from my view and returned to stand before me. I squinted, trying to discern what he held in his hand. It appeared to be a black cloth, reminiscent of a tie. "You can use this to blindfold yourself," he explained.

Taking a deep breath, I accepted the black strap from Nicholas, its fabric cool against my fingertips. Without hesitation, I securely tied it around my eyes, plunging myself into a realm of absolute darkness. The world vanished, leaving only the sound of our breathing and the anticipation that crackled in the air.

"Now, remain calm and focus on the movements of my leg," Nicholas instructed, his voice taking on a deeper timbre that made my body nervous and excited at the same time.

"Now find me," Nicholas whispered, his voice barely audible yet reverberating through the air. I could sense his presence, his energy enveloping me like an invisible cloak. My body felt vulnerable, exposed to his gaze even though I couldn't meet his piercing baby blue eyes. I focused on controlling my breathing, attempting to calm the frantic beating of my heart that resonated loudly in my ears. The silence was deafening, and for a moment, I wondered if he had vanished into thin air. But just as doubt began to creep in, my body tensed as I felt a warm breath graze against my ear.

"You're not finding me, Red," he murmured, his voice laced with amusement. Even without seeing him, I was certain that a mischievous smirk was etched across his face. Determination surged within me, and I swiftly turned to face him, prepared to catch him off guard. However, to my astonishment, he had vanished. How did he manage to slip away so effortlessly? The question lingered in my mind, but I refused to let frustration consume me. Instead, I chose to remain composed.

Moving cautiously, I took slow, deliberate steps, relying on my heightened senses to guide me. A faint presence, almost imperceptible, trailed behind me. I knew Nicholas was attempting to sneak up on me once again, but I decided to feign ignorance, biding my time until he drew closer.

In a split second, fueled by adrenaline and determination, I gathered every ounce of strength within me and lunged forward, thrusting my weight against his unsuspecting form. Triumph surged through my veins as I felt him topple to the ground, my sudden burst of power leaving me slightly breathless. Pushing aside the remnants of weakness, I swiftly removed the black strap from my eyes, revealing the world once more.

His widened pupils reflected surprise and a hint of amusement, clearly impressed by my unexpected display of strength. A smirk tugged at the corners of my lips, mirroring the satisfaction that danced in my eyes.

"I found you," I declared, my voice tinged with a mix of triumph and playful tone.

I couldn't fathom why he hadn't moved yet. Confusion clouded my thoughts until my gaze dropped, and in that moment, I wished the world would crumble beneath me. Our bodies were pressed intimately close, and my ass found itself resting upon his most sensitive area. Heat flooded my face, and I felt my entire being freeze in a mortifying blush. Panic surged within me, urging me to escape this compromising position. But before I could even take a step back, his strong hand firmly gripped my waist, holding me in place. In the blink of an eye, I found myself abruptly on the ground, my eyes widening in shock as I stared up at Nicholas.

"Not bad," he growled, his voice resonating with a deep, husky tone that sent shivers down my spine. His eyes darkened, the once vibrant blue transforming into a smoldering gaze. Slowly, his face drew nearer to mine, every inch of space between us charged with an undeniable electricity. My breath grew heavy, and my body trembled with a mixture of anticipation and desire. I couldn't comprehend how everything had escalated so rapidly, but in that moment, I didn't care. All I yearned for was to feel the soft touch of his lips against mine once more.

His lips hovered just a few inches away, teasing me with their proximity. My own lips felt dry, and I instinctively licked them, a low groan escaping from between his parted lips. Reality faded away, and my mind delved into the depths of my darkest desires, consumed by the intoxicating allure of the moment.

His lips finally made contact with mine, a slow and tantalizing connection that caused my breath to catch in my throat. Time seemed to stand still as the world around us faded into insignificance. His kiss deepened, his lips exploring mine with an intensity that ignited a fire within me. Just as the passion between us reached its peak...

*DING!*