Chapter 3 Orientation

Arabella’s POV

The moment we stepped into the orientation hall, my stomach twisted itself into another knot.

The room was enormous. Rows of seats stretched across the polished floor while large windows lined the walls, allowing sunlight to pour inside. The high ceiling made the space feel even larger than it already was, and conversations echoed from every direction as students settled into their seats.

My brothers followed close behind me as we made our way toward the back.

I slid into an empty chair. Kieran immediately took the seat on my left. Dominic claimed the one directly behind me. Xavier dropped into the chair on my right.

I stared at them. They stared back

“What?” I rolled my eyes. I sighed dramatically. “You three are ridiculous.”

“Protective,” Xavier corrected.

“Overprotective,” I mumbled under my breath.

I shook my head before sinking farther into my chair. Honestly, arguing was pointless. They weren’t going to change. Not today.  Not tomorrow. Probably not ever.

While we waited for orientation to begin, my attention drifted around the room. Every student wore the same Kingsveil uniform, but the crests stitched onto their sleeves were different. A wolf marked the lycan heirs. A dragon wrapped around a crown represented the dragon bloodlines. Elegant silver wings identified the fae. A black bat rested against a crimson crest for the vampire heirs.

There were others too. Symbols I didn’t immediately recognize. Each one represented a powerful family, kingdom, coven, or bloodline.

Future rulers. Future leaders. Future legends. The realization was intimidating.

Back home, my brothers and I had always been surrounded by people who knew us. People who knew our parents. People who knew our history. Here? Nobody cared. Everyone in this room was important. Everyone carried expectations. Everyone had a future waiting for them.

A movement near the entrance caught my attention. A boy with blonde hair and ice-blue eyes walked confidently through the room. Several students looked his way. I couldn’t blame them. The guy looked like he’d stepped off the cover of a magazine.

He had a sharp jawline with perfect features. He was tall and seemed to be very confident.

His eyes swept across the room before landing on our row. Then he smiled.

My stomach immediately started flip flopping. The smile looked dangerous.

The boy headed straight toward us. He stopped beside my chair. “Hello.” His voice was smooth. “I’m Asher. The Fae Prince.”His hand extended toward me. I hesitated briefly before placing mine in his. Instead of shaking it, he lifted my hand and brushed his lips across my knuckles.

The movement was old-fashioned. Unexpected. And surprisingly charming. My cheeks immediately betrayed me.

“Nice to meet you…” he said. The pause was clearly intentional.

“Arabella,” I said softly.

His smile widened. “Arabella.”

I pointed toward my brothers. “Kieran. Dominic. Xavier.”

The four exchanged greetings before Asher settled into an empty seat nearby.

I glanced toward his sleeve again. The silver-winged crest gleamed against the fabric. Definitely fae. That explained a lot. Something told me charm came naturally to him.

A few minutes later, another pair entered the room. This time a boy and girl walked through the doorway together. Twins. They had to be. The resemblance was impossible to miss. They had dark hair and sharp features. And Identical confident expressions.

I looked toward their sleeves. Then immediately covered my mouth. The crest embroidered onto their uniforms was unlike any of the others. A black heart surrounded by silver flames. Incubus.

My attention sharpened immediately.

The pair headed toward the back of the room. Exactly where we were sitting.

The boy smiled first. A smile that practically screamed trouble. “Well hello, beautiful.” He certainly wasn’t shy. “I’m Vesper.” He motioned toward the girl beside him. “And this is my twin sister, Veronica.”

The girl offered a small wave. Vesper shot me a wink.

Kieran immediately leaned forward. “Oh, we’re going to regret meeting you.”

Vesper looked delighted. “Most people do.”

Veronica sighed. “Please ignore him.”

The room around us slowly filled as more students arrived. Conversations blended together into constant buzz of noise. Eventually, an older gentleman stepped onto the platform at the front. Instantly the room quieted. Well. Mostly. Vesper was still talking.

The older man cleared his throat. That finally earned everyone’s attention. His gaze swept across the room before he nodded. “Good morning. Welcome to Kingsveil Academy.” His voice carried easily throughout the hall. “We are honored to welcome the next generation of supernatural leaders.”

The speech started strong. It really did. Unfortunately, it continued. And continued. And continued. At some point, he began discussing policies. Then procedures. Then expectations. Then additional procedures. Then policies about procedures. I wasn’t entirely sure anymore.

My attention drifted. Around me, students fought varying levels of boredom. Dominic looked half asleep. Xavier was staring at the ceiling. Kieran had somehow started doodling on a piece of paper. Even Asher appeared less interested than before. Only Vesper seemed fully engaged. Actually…No. He was drawing mustaches on the photos inside the orientation packet.

Finally, after what felt like several years, staff members began distributing welcome packets. The room collectively looked relieved. Inside each packet was a schedule, academy information, a room assignment, and a key.

I immediately opened mine. Room 314. Not bad. Before I could examine the packet further, movement near the entrance caught my attention.

A guy stood in the doorway. He was tall.  At least six feet. Dark shoulder-length hair framed a face that looked unfairly attractive. Hazel eyes with golden undertones swept across the room. For a second, everything seemed to slow. The room. The conversations. Even my thoughts. The guy was gorgeous. Completely. Ridiculously. Annoyingly gorgeous.

He didn’t seem concerned by the fact that orientation was nearly over. Instead, he casually shoved his hands into his pockets. “Oh, sorry I’m late.” The sarcasm in his voice suggested he wasn’t sorry at all.

Several students rolled their eyes. Apparently this wasn’t unusual.

The older gentleman pinched the bridge of his nose. Clearly exhausted.

The newcomer ignored him completely. Then he started walking through the rows. Toward us.

My heartbeat picked up for reasons I refused to examine. The guy stopped directly beside my chair. His gaze lowered to me. Then to the seat beneath me. Then back to me.

One dark eyebrow lifted. “You’re in my chair.”