#10 Royal Twins of La Lune

Chapter 7 Stella

I was sitting in Mr. Hanes' chemistry class, madly jotting down the equations he erased as quickly as he wrote them, when, suddenly, my hand involuntarily twitched and the pencil clattered loudly to the ground. Before I had time to think about it, my head split open and it felt like I was being repeatedly stabbed in the stomach.

I discreetly pulled up my shirt under the desk, but I knew there would be no injuries to speak of. I didn’t have time to excuse myself to the bathroom before the pain took over. I heard myself scream as I dropped to the floor, curling around my stomach as I cried out in pain.

“Stella!” I heard Mylah call out my name before everything went black.

The next thing I knew I was waking up in a bed in the nurse's office. I groaned and sat up, my body ached all over. I blinked away the fogginess and looked around the room. Through the glass wall I could see Eliot speaking to the nurse. I cleared my throat loudly and Eliot glanced over, his eyes widening before he rushed into the room.

“Ella, are you okay?” He asked, moving swiftly to my side.

“What the hell happened?” I groaned.

“I was hoping you could tell me.” Eliot said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

“I ache all over.” I said, rubbing my temple and willing the pounding headache to leave me alone.

“What happened in the classroom?” Eliot asked.

“I don’t know. All the sudden my head split open and it felt like I was being stabbed in the stomach, like a battle wound or something. I swear, Eliot, it was the worst pain I’ve ever felt.” I said, my body beginning to shake all over.

“It’s like you were feeling someone else's pain. But, that only happens through the matebond.” Eliot said thoughtfully.

“I’m almost 18, maybe it is the matebond.” I shrugged and Eliot’s eyes locked with mine,

“It could be but that would make your bond incredibly strong.” He said,

“Does that mean….is my mate hurt?” I felt panic begin to take hold of my heart.

“You’d know if he was dead.” Eliot said matter-of-factly, squeezing my shoulder before standing up.

I sighed and stood up, wincing at the pain that shattered my bones. Eliot was at my side in an instant, helping to support my weight.

“Come on, I’m taking you home.” He said,

“No, I have class.” I argued lamely.

“You can barely stand, Ella.” He rolled his eyes at my stubbornness. I shoved him away and stood up straighter, determined to prove that I could make it on my own. Eliot shook his head at me,

“You’re ridiculous, petite lutine.” Eliot said, laughing as he called me a little elf.

“I’m late for class.” I said, lifting my chin up in the air and stomping out of the room.

“Do you even know which class you’re going to? You were out for over an hour.” Eliot said and I tripped over my own feet.

“An hour?” I gasped. Looking up at the clock, I saw that he was right and I was supposed to be in probability and statistics right now. I glared angrily at Eliot before continuing out of the nurses office.

“When she’s back in here, give me a call.” I heard him say to the nurse with an irritated sigh.

I ignored him until I could no longer see or hear him, turning the corner to the main hall of the school and hurrying towards the math wing. In all honesty, I hated probability and statistics with a passion, like I hated all mathematical subjects. Let’s just say that I was more of a right brain thinker.

“Ella.” A deep, throaty voice called my name. I didn’t have to turn around to know who the voice belonged to.

“Gavin.” I smirked, turning around to greet him.

Gavin was in front of me in a flash, running his hand down my arm. He had the most ridiculous blue eyes and shaggy, blonde hair. When he smiled at me, a dimple popped out in his left cheek. His touch was warm as his fingers caressed my bare skin.

“Are you okay?” He asked, “I heard about what happened in Hanes’ class.”

I knew better than to think that Gavin actually cared about me or my wellbeing. He was good at faking a loving and caring partnership, but we both knew he was only in it for one thing. And, honestly, so was I. Gavin was a royal pack member, a part of Colette’s group of icy royal rich kids. He wouldn’t dare be seen with me in public, but what we did in private was a completely different story.

“I’m fine.” I said as desire began to knot itself in my stomach.

“You shouldn’t pull a stunt like that, you know? It only makes you look more like a…..” He started to say something but I silenced him with a hot, open mouthed kiss.

“Do you want to talk or screw?” I said against his lips. He chuckled into my mouth and drug me into the janitor’s closet.

He hastily removed my shirt, pulling it over my head and dropping it to the floor. He gazed openly at my chest as my breasts spilled out of the lacy black bra. I moaned quietly as he buried his face in my chest, kissing his way inside my bra. His hand snuck down my leggings, the elastic material giving him plenty of space to move his fingers. I started kissing his neck, muffling my moans against his skin. Gavin shoved me against the wall, yanking my pants down and undoing his belt. Grabbing a handful of my ass, he lifted me up and on top of him.

“See you around, red.” Gavin winked at me before leaving the closet.

I frowned as I adjusted my clothes and smoothed down my hair. Gavin was a good lay but an absolutely terrible person. I was under no delusions that he was my mate and we would live happily ever after. In fact, I’m pretty sure I would pitch myself off a cliff if I found out he was my mate, or shove him off a cliff, either way.

It was already time for my last class, English, by the time I left the janitor’s closet. I caught up with Dallas in the hallway who was happy to see me.

“You’re alright?” She said, giving me a quick hug before we entered the classroom.

“I’m fine,” I explained Eliot’s theory about the matebond connection.

“That means your mate has to be nearby.” Dallas grinned.

“Well, I turn 18 in two days so I guess we’ll find out.” I shrugged.

“Yeah and you’ll have to stop screwing Gavin in school closets then.” She rolled her eyes at me and I covered up a snicker as Mr. Hughs started class.

“You reek of sleazebag wolf.” She mumbled under her breath and I shushed her.

“Who can tell me the translation of this title?” Mr. Hughs asked, looking directly at me as he pointed towards a title on the whiteboard: “Le Comte de Monte-Cristo”. I didn’t even bother to raise my hand, no one else was going to offer an answer anyway.

“The Count of Monte Cristo.”

“Thank you, Ms. Dubois-Summers.” Mr. Hughs grinned.

“Toute la sagesse humaine est contenue dans ces deux mots - Attendre et Espérer,” I spoke in French, “All human wisdom is contained in these two words - Wait and Hope. Alexandre Dumas.” I translated.

“Ahh, I hoped you had read his work.” Mr. Hughs said while other classmates mumbled words like kiss ass and teacher’s pet but I didn’t care.

It was no lie that books were my thing. I was a proud book nerd and it didn’t matter what anyone else had to say about it. I was already enrolled in the realm’s university summer literature program. After that, I would earn a Master’s in Literature at either the realm’s university or some college in the human realm, depending on my mate situation at the time.

“And in French no less.” Mr. Hughs added and I shrugged in response.

Mr. Hughs went on to discuss the philosophy of France at the time of publication and the plot of the book. He handed out articles to the class with passages from the book for us to read and analyze. Then, he asked which quote best describes the theme of the novel. Of course, I was the first to raise my hand and quote a line that wasn't included in the reading passages he provided,

“Fool that I am," said he,"that I did not tear out my heart the day I resolved to revenge myself.”

“And why does that describe the theme of the novel to you, Ms. Dubois-Summers?” Mr. Hughs just loved to use my French surname, I think it made him feel more sophisticated than he really was. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him.

“Edmond Dantès' pursuit of justice caused injustice. The Count believed that those who do evil deserve evil, and those who do good, deserve good. But punishing those who wronged him does not make the world better, because undeserving individuals are punished as well.” I explained. Mr. Hughs grinned widely at me,

“Brava, Ms. Dubois-Summers, that was quite the synopsis. Anyone else care to take a stab at it?” Mr. Hughs peeled his attention away from me to glance at the rest of the class who looked bored out of their minds.

The next day came and went, and then it was Saturday. The day of my 18th birthday. As was tradition inside the realm, a coming of age party was being thrown for me by my family and closest friends. The thing about a coming of age party was, everyone showed up, whether they were friends with you or not. The parties were extravagant with only the best food, drinks, bands, and decorations. No one turned down an invitation to enjoy such lavish amenities.

So, for one day, everyone would show up with gifts and smiles to celebrate me, even Colette and her icicles. I would dress up in the fanciest, most expensive dress I’ve ever owned, gifted to me by my parents, and be escorted into the grand ballroom of the palace, as was every female inside the realm who came of age. With any luck, I’d meet my mate today and not have to go to the Mating Ball at all.

I guess we would find out soon enough.