"Raelyn! Are you okay?" Ember said when she saw me stumbling into my dorm room.

"I'm fine," I answered, the splintering, slicing pain already reducing to an ache after applying some ointment to the injured area.

"Oh really? You're yowling every  second on our way back like a wounded cat," he said, winking.

"Am not!" I shot back.

"Am too!"

"Oh, shut up," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Keep your flirting to a minimum, Lynch, not a woman would be interested, even a person like her. Just suggesting."  a familiar velvety voice taunted.

Azriel, in the flesh.

I didn't know that I was advancing towards Azriel until Lynch put his hand on my arm, halting me.

"Or maybe you should stop talking to us to spare is your idiocy. Just suggesting," I retorted.

"Hey, guys, stop," Ember said.

"Not able to form a simple sentence, Embs?" Azriel said silkily.

Ember looked at him, unruffled.

"Azriel, please leave," Ember said. I silently praised her to have managed it so well.

Azriel flushed darkly, and his predatory gaze was targeted on me as he sauntered away, his steps swift, graceful.

I loosened a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"So.. Whatcha wanna wear for the party..." Ember said, faking brightness at first, but trailing off when she saw Lynch's incredulous gaze.

"She-what?" Lynch said.

"Party? Tonight?" Ember said, her eyes flitting from me to him, her brows furrowed.

"Oh, have a nice time," he said, but his tone suggested otherwise. I shrugged it off.

"No partying no sleeping with boys.." No harm with trying once, right?

"Now," Ember said, after Lynch exited the room, "Let's get ready for it!" She tugged out a few dresses. A dress with low neckline, a skirt with a slit reaching so high to the upper thighs, and..

"Uhm. Bra?" I asked as she dangled a piece of flimsy undergarments. She snickered.

"No!" She half screamed with laughter, "It's called thongs, ya dumbnut,"

I  gawked at the three pieces of clothing.

"So..?" Ember asked, her keen eyes eager.

"Uhmm..." I stammered, looking at the ridiculously revealing clothes, "I'll um, go with my own ones, uh.. thank you so much.."

"Aww.." She pouted, jutting her lips out, "You don't like it?"

"I- It's just not my usual style,"

"Okay then, I'm off to change now, see you in a few," she shot me a grin and dashed towards the bathroom.

I chastised myself for agreeing to go to the party- I can smell trouble in the air. Ugh, this night's not going to end well. I knelt onto the floor, groaning, and tugged out a dress from my bag. A long black flowy dress that reached my ankles. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth At last something pretty.

"Raelyn! Is this okay?" A flustered Ember said, as she gave me a once over, "Ah, you look great!"

She was wearing a dress that hugged her body tightly, hitting just her upper thigh. Her face was sprinkled with glitter. She looked striking, her dainty features standing out.

"Yeah! Sure!" I said, unsure of what to say.

"Rae, you want makeup? It would suit you,"

"Uh-no thanks, Ember." I told her, imagining myself caked with cosmetics. Revolting much.

"Okay then, time to have fun! Let's go kick some arses!"

I smiled despite the anxiety crawling up from my stomach. I've never ever in my entire life, went to a party before. My mom barring the only upsides of life? You could say that.

Her phone beeped, and Ember said, eyes practically dancing:

"Alar's here to pick us up,"

Alaric was waiting by the door, opening it for us.

"And they say chivalry is dead," I joked.

"Just manners Azriel lacks," Alaric  said, flushing.

Does he even know the word 'manners'?

I climbed into the car, and it veered off. My palms were already sweating profusely, my heart almost jumping out. I think I might get a fatal heart attack.

"Ladies we're there," Alaric said.

I got out of the car, and the scent of sweat mingling with alcohol was thick and sharp in the air, with a stench of a smell I couldn't pinpoint.

"So..Let's have a blast!" Ember shrieked through the blare of music.

Multiple people waved at Ember, as she said, " Follow me!"

I nodded, and pushed through the crowds, occasionally stepping on feet as I shuffled past the crowd.