Chapter One
GRACE
Grace Delacroix drummed her fingers against the wooden desk while her Geography teacher droned on about the importance of the gates that linked Earth to the Alorya Continent. Old news she had already been over that when she attended the Theology classes of her grandfather’s Hunter Academy. Hell, werewolves were taught that when they were five. Why it was something that should be repeated in a university course, she had no idea. She was hoping to study more about the vampire culture or the origins of Celestial beings.
Despite being the daughter of a celestial princess, there was a lot she didn’t know about her mother’s side of the family. Celestials were mysterious and rarely left the Cloud Citadel. She had never been there, either. Apparently, the king and queen weren’t that excited to meet their granddaughter born from their youngest daughter’s indiscretion with a werewolf. It didn’t matter to them that their union had been sanctified and that Grace’s parents were dead. The Celestial beings didn’t want to have anything to do with Grace Delacroix, and she was fine with that. Or so she kept telling herself.
“And that’s why only elite hunters are sent by the portals to gather more information about new technologies that will help us evolve as a modern society. That’s also why you have electricity and cars that use clean energies to take you to places in the Alorya continent. Sanabria is one of the most technologically developed kingdoms. Our alpha president and his family are innovators. We should all be grateful for being born in this amazing society.”
Oh yes! How could we survive without the human technology brought from Earth?
Grace couldn’t help but muffle a giggle as her best friend Andrea sent her a telepathic message.
“Is there something you want to share with the rest of the class, Miss Heffner?”
Andrea looked at the teacher. “No, Mr. Torres. I was memorizing what you’ve just said.”
“The use of telepathy is highly against the rules in the university. Please remember that Miss Delacroix and Miss Heffner.”
“It won’t happen again, madame,” Grace assured.
Mr. Torres smiled and closed the textbook. “You are free to use it now since our lesson is over. Have a great weekend, everybody!”
“Thank you! You too, Mr. Torres,” the students replied as if it was rehearsed between them.
Grace packed her stuff and slid her backpack onto her back.
Andrea left behind her as they walked out of the room and into the corridor.
“What are you going to do now?” her friend asked.
“I have to go back home. And you? Do you need a ride?”
“Hey, Grace,” one of the football players greeted her as he walked the opposite way.
“Hey, Thomas.” She waved and ignored the rest of the people looking at her.
Andrea twirled around and checked out Thomas’s butt as she usually did when a hot guy was nearby. “Damn, Thomas gets hotter every day.”
“Stop embarrassing yourself and watch where you are going,” Grace requested as she grabbed Andrea’s arm and prevented her from bumping into a fellow student talking with a friend.
Andrea giggled. “I think you should go out with him. He’s cute and always greets you when he sees you. Being a werewolf is a plus, too.”
“Not my type.”
“What’s your type?”
Grace opened the door that gave way to the parking lot. “I’m not having this conversation with you again.”
“Going out with a guy wouldn’t hurt,” Andrea insisted. “All work and no fun makes us age faster.”
Grace frowned. “Who said that?”
“I did.” She pouted and looked at the blue sky as the breeze ruffled her caramel hair. “Just think of it as one of those charity projects you like so much.”
“I’m not into that kind of charity,” she replied. “Why don’t you flirt with him if you are that preoccupied?”
“I would if he looked my way,” Andrea said with a wicked smirk. “But it’s not me he wants.”