CHAPTER 121: CAREFUL*

Sister Mirabel droned on about purification rituals at the front of the classroom.

Aegis barely listened. She was too busy watching Serilla’s pen tap against her notebook.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Serilla caught her staring and smirked.

Aegis stuck her tongue out.

Serilla’s eyes dropped to Aegis’s tongue, then back up. She mouthed something that looked suspiciously like "later."

Aegis felt her cock twitch.

[Down, girl. We’re in class.]

Mirabel turned to write on the board. Chalk scraped against stone.

Serilla leaned over, lips brushing Aegis’s ear.

"You’re staring again."

"Can’t help it. Your ass looks great in that skirt."

"Yours looks fine, I guess."

"Obviously."

Serilla’s hand dropped under the desk, fingers grazing Aegis’s thigh.

Aegis grabbed her wrist.

"Behaving yourselves?" Mirabel called out without turning around.

The entire class knew she was probably talking to Aegis without having to check what she was doing.

"Yes, Sister Mirabel," Aegis said sweetly.

Serilla bit back a laugh.

Mirabel finished writing and faced the class again. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, landing on Aegis and Serilla.

"Miss Starcaller. Miss Frost. Perhaps you’d like to share what’s so amusing?"

"Nothing, Sister," Serilla said. "Just appreciating the lesson."

"Mmm." Mirabel didn’t look convinced.

She turned back to the board, writing more notes about shadow corruption and purification techniques.

Serilla moved fast. Her hand cupped Aegis’s jaw and she pulled her into a kiss.

Aegis’s eyes widened for a second before she kissed back. Their tongues met. Quick. Hot. Wet.

Serilla’s other hand gripped Aegis’s thigh under the desk.

Aegis sucked on Serilla’s tongue.

They heard something shift ahead.

They broke apart. Serilla grabbed her pen. Aegis flipped open her notebook and started scribbling nonsense.

Mirabel had been turning around, eyes sweeping the classroom.

Both Aegis and Serilla were the picture of innocence. Heads down. Writing diligently.

Mirabel’s gaze lingered on them.

"As I was saying," she continued slowly, "constant vigilance is required when dealing with shadow magic. The smallest exposure can corrupt—"

She turned back to the board.

Aegis glanced at Serilla.

Serilla was biting her lip, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

They made eye contact.

Both of them grinned. Not their usual competitive smirks. Just genuine smiles.

[That was... fun.]

---

The class finally ended. Students packed up their things.

"Miss Starcaller. A word."

[Fuck.]

Aegis stopped. Serilla glanced back, raising an eyebrow. Aegis waved her off.

The classroom emptied. Mirabel closed the door.

"Sit."

Aegis sat, keeping her expression neutral.

Mirabel walked to her desk, arms crossed. Her white robes were pristine. Not a wrinkle in sight.

"I’ve been watching you."

"I’m flattered."

"This isn’t a joke." Mirabel’s voice was sharp. "I know what you are."

Aegis’s heart rate spiked.

[Play dumb. Deny everything.]

"I’m a student?"

"No."

"Gay?"

"You’re a shadow mage."

"That’s a serious accusation."

"I can sense it on you. The taint of the Umbral Realm. You will-"

The door burst open.

Professor Nazraya sauntered in, hips swaying. Her black dress clung to every curve. Red eyes gleamed.

"Mirabel, darling. Have you reconsidered my dinner invitation?"

Mirabel’s face went red.

"T-T-This is neither the time nor place—"

"Oh, but it’s been so long since we’ve... talked." Nazraya walked closer, voice dropping. "I miss our conversations."

"Professor Nazraya," Mirabel said through gritted teeth, "I am in the middle of something."

"Are you?" Nazraya glanced at Aegis. "Oh. My pet. Didn’t see you there."

[She absolutely saw me. She’s running interference.]

"I was just leaving," Aegis said, standing.

"Sit down, Miss Starcaller," Mirabel snapped.

"Actually," Nazraya said, stepping between them, "I need to borrow Aegis for a moment. Academic matter."

"This is more important."

"Is it?" Nazraya tilted her head. "What were you discussing?"

Mirabel’s jaw tightened.

"That’s private."

"Mmm. I’m sure it can wait." Nazraya moved closer to Mirabel. Close enough that their tits almost touched. "Unless you’d rather discuss it over dinner? Just the two of us?"

Mirabel’s face went from red to crimson.

"I already told you. I’m not interested."

"Really? Because your body language says otherwise."

"My body language—" Mirabel sputtered. "You are insufferable!"

"You used to like that about me."

"That was before you—" Mirabel stopped herself, glancing at Aegis.

Aegis tried to look invisible.

"Before I what?" Nazraya’s smile was dangerous. "Before I kissed you? Before I made you scream my name?"

"ENOUGH!"

Mirabel’s magic flared. The room brightened with holy light.

Nazraya didn’t flinch. Aegis did.

"Still so reactive. I always loved that about you."

Mirabel grabbed her bag.

"I don’t have time for this. Or you."

She stormed toward the door, robes billowing. She paused at the threshold, looking back at Aegis.

"We will finish this conversation later, Miss Starcaller."

Then she was gone.

Silence.

Nazraya turned to Aegis, grinning.

"You’re welcome, pet."

"Thanks." Aegis exhaled. "That was close."

"Mirabel’s all bark, no bite. Mostly." Nazraya walked to the desk, sitting on the edge. "Though you should be more careful. She’s suspicious."

"I know."

"Good." Nazraya’s eyes gleamed. "Now run along. I have papers to grade. Unless you’d like to distract me."

Aegis nearly accepted, but her pussy still ached from last time.

---

The dining hall was packed with students when Aegis arrived.

She grabbed a tray, loading it with food. Her eyes scanned the room.

Scarlett sat with some combat students. Lune was alone, reading. Talia and Liora were at separate tables, pointedly not looking at each other.

And in the corner, the Summerfang twins glared at her over their plates.

[Time to make a move.]

Aegis walked over and plopped down across from them.

Both twins froze.

"What do you want, nya?" Kai’Lin hissed.

"To eat lunch." Aegis took a bite of bread. "This seat taken?"

"Yes," Mei’Lin said flatly.

"Cool. I’ll sit here anyway."

Kai’Lin’s ears flattened. Her hand moved toward her knife.

"Relax. I’m not here to fight." Aegis leaned back. "Just wanted to talk."

"We don’t want to talk to you," Kai’Lin said.

"About what?" Mei’Lin asked at the same time.

Kai’Lin shot her sister a look.

"What? I’m curious, nya."

Aegis bit back a smile.

"How’s the Red Canyon this time of year?"

Both twins blinked.

"What?" Kai’Lin said.

"The Red Canyon. Your home, right? I heard the sunsets there are incredible."

Mei’Lin’s ears perked up slightly.

"They are. The whole sky turns orange and pink."

"Mei’Lin!" Kai’Lin elbowed her. "Don’t talk to her!"

"She asked a question, nya!"

Aegis took another bite of food, giving them space to argue.

Finally, Mei’Lin sighed.

"The sunsets are nice. We miss them."

"Yeah?" Aegis kept her tone casual. "What else do you miss?"

"The heat," Mei’Lin said. "It’s so cold here."

"The food," Kai’Lin muttered, apparently giving up on staying silent. "Rosevale food is bland."

"And the sand," Mei’Lin added. "It gets everywhere, but it’s... home."

Aegis nodded.

"You two are on scholarship, right?"

Both twins stiffened.

"How do you know that?" Kai’Lin’s hand went back to her knife.

"Relax. I am too. Just figured it out from context."

They exchanged glances.

"Yes," Mei’Lin said slowly. "We’re on scholarship. Our mercenary group needed the money. Commander said if we did well here, we could get better contracts."

"That why you took the Roseheart job?"

Silence.

Kai’Lin’s eyes narrowed.

"You know about that?"

"I was there, remember? Interrupted the whole thing."

"We should have killed you then," Kai’Lin said.

"Probably. But you didn’t."

Aegis leaned forward, keeping her voice low.

"Look. You took a job. It went sideways. Now you’re stuck here glaring at me every day while worrying about getting expelled if you fuck up."

Both twins went very still.

"We’re not worried about—" Kai’Lin started.

"You are. I can see it." Aegis kept her tone gentle. "And I get it. I’m one bad grade away from getting kicked out too. We’re all just trying to survive."

Mei’Lin’s ears twitched.

"What’s your point, nya?"

"My point is we’re not enemies. Not really." Aegis shrugged. "Yeah, I screwed up your contract. But I didn’t report you. I didn’t tell anyone you were involved. You’re still here, right?"

The twins looked at each other. Some silent communication passed between them.

"You... didn’t report us?" Mei’Lin said slowly.

"Nope."

"Why not?" Kai’Lin demanded.

"Because you were just doing your job. I don’t hold that against you."

Kai’Lin’s eyes narrowed further.

"You’re lying."

"I’m not."

"Then what do you want?"

Aegis got dialogue options.

[HONEST] "Nothing. Just tired of being hissed at every day."

[FLIRT] "Maybe I just like catgirls."

[INTIMIDATE] "I want you to stop trying to kill me."

She picked the first one.

"Nothing. Just tired of being hissed at every day."

Both twins stared at her.

Mei’Lin’s tail swished.

"That’s... it?"

"That’s it."

"No demands? No threats?"

"Nope."

Kai’Lin looked like she didn’t believe her. But Mei’Lin’s expression softened slightly.

"We’ll... think about it, nya."

"Cool." Aegis stood, grabbing her tray. "See you around."

She walked away, feeling their eyes on her back.

Her HUD pinged.

Hearts and Minds Event Update

Kai’Lin Summerfang: Relationship Status - Hostile (Considering)

Mei’Lin Summerfang: Relationship Status - Hostile (Warming)

[Progress. Slow, but progress.]

---

{Serilla}

Night fell over Rosevale.

In a private room on the third floor, Serilla Frost pinned a noble girl against the wall.

The girl moaned as Serilla kissed her neck. Her hands fumbled with Serilla’s shirt buttons.

"You’re so beautiful," the girl breathed.

"I know." Serilla bit down on her pulse point.

The girl gasped.

Serilla’s hands moved lower, hiking up the girl’s skirt. She slipped her fingers inside, finding her already wet.

"Please," the girl whimpered.

Serilla pushed two fingers inside. The girl’s head fell back against the wall.

It should have been satisfying. The girl was pretty. Eager. Making all the right noises.

But Serilla’s mind kept drifting.

To silver hair. To that infuriating smirk. To grey eyes that saw right through her bullshit.

[Stop it. Focus.]

She pumped her fingers faster. The girl’s moans got louder.

Serilla thought about Aegis’s hands. How they’d felt gripping her hips. How Aegis had looked at her like she was the only person in the room.

The girl came, crying out.

Serilla pulled her fingers free, wiping them on a handkerchief.

"That was amazing," the girl panted. "Your turn?"

"No." Serilla straightened her clothes. "I’m good."

"But—"

"I said I’m good."

The girl shrugged and left, closing the door behind her.

In the empty hallway, she leaned against the wall.

[Ridiculous. Serilla Frost does not share.]

She’d never shared. Not once. When she wanted something, she took it. Completely. No compromises.

But Aegis wouldn’t be taken. Wouldn’t be owned.

And somehow, that just made Serilla want her more.

[Fuck.]

She pushed off the wall and headed back to her dorm. Her cock was still hard. Frustrated.

Inside her room, she stripped and lay on her bed. Her hand wrapped around her cock.

She thought about Aegis. About the Crystal Masquerade. About losing to her.

About wanting to lose again.

She came alone, angry at herself for it.

Outside, the moon watched. Uncaring.

Four days until the Winter Trials.

And Serilla Frost had no idea what she was doing anymore.