Serene’s POV

"Zeph, stop someone will see us." My voice came out hoarse, the words were sticking in my throat.

"Then tell me why are you spending so much time with Mariela Sensei, what are you hiding Serene?" His teeth slightly bit into the soft skin of my neck and gnawed, sending jolts of pleasure throughout my body.

"Zeph, please." I pleaded not able to take his actions anymore for my legs felt wobbly, my lips parting. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"So you are not going to tell me the truth?" He questioned, leaving my neck and facing me with hurt creeping up in his eyes.

"I will tell you in a few hours I promise, trust me." Placing both my hands on his face I offered him a small smile, hoping he would let this topic go. He sighed and removed his hands, setting me free he said in slight anger:

"Fine, have your way. You don’t care about me." He tried to slip away from my hands but I held on tight to his face.

"There is no one else I care about more than you Zeph and the entirety of being is filled with love that belongs to you." With those words, I pressed my lips to his again in a passionate kiss, feeling and devouring his softness. Before finally letting him go I whispered:

"Happy Birthday, idiot." My words didn’t make him smile instead he scowled some more and furiously asked:

"Who told you that?"

"Who do you think? There is only one person who can spill all your beans." I chuckled seeing his reaction.

"I am going to kill him," he muttered shaking his head.

"Why are you acting like it’s some dark secret that he has revealed? Can’t I know when your birthday is?" I questioned him with a laugh.

"It’s not that, I know if you knew you will go to great lengths to arrange some extravagant party for me. I don’t like that, only want to spend some peaceful time with you without anything fancy. I want to take you somewhere quiet where we can relax, away from the world, away from everyone else." He whispered with his eyes focused on me.

"Then we will spend the day as you want, it’s your day and I want it to be special for you. We have our classes and training tomorrow but after that, you can take me wherever you feel like it. I won’t push anything on you that you don’t want to do." The scowl on his face disappeared and was replaced by a smile. Stepping closer I embraced him and he hugged me back.

"Go get some sleep, I will see you in the morning." He whispered kissing my hair and showing me his affection.

"See you," I waved to him and headed for my room. Entering it I found Ayrden was still awake, she was bent over books.

"Ayrden, you are still studying. I thought you would have gone to sleep." I approached her and sat down beside her bed.

"Yes, we got engaged in preparing for Zeph’s birthday and then hiding it from him and lying to him about where you were. He was pissed, Serene." She chuckled imitating his action and showing me what he looked like. That made me laugh so hard and both of us were chortling in the middle of the night.

"I just met him and he was so angry, also we have to drop that idea of a surprise party. I think he knows and he is not comfortable. He said he just wants to spend the day with me." I told her what had transpired a few minutes ago.

"Awww. No worries, I understand. I have ordered a cake to be baked for him. Take it with you when you go to meet him." She smiled at me, her beautiful curls were cascading all around her and she looked like a doll.

"Thank you," I hugged her and she hugged me back.

"Serene, can I ask you something?" She hesitated a bit as we separated.

"Sure, you can ask me anything you want."

"Did Arlo not say anything when he last met you? Surely he knew going back was suicide, how was he so prepared? How did he always have so much more strength than all of us?" She asked with her eyes lowered. I had no clue how to tell her what he had said.

"Oh! Ayrden. It’s because he is Arlo, he would always try to keep us safe. He was extremely sad but he had no choice. But I know we will see him again." I placed my hand on her shoulder, my words were not only for her but for me as well, and how I wished they were true because for him he had said his final goodbye to me.

"I see, yes I hope so too." She smiled a little.

"We should sleep now, we have classes in the morning." I got up to change into my nightdress, while Ayrden placed her books aside and slipped under her duvet.

The next morning was busy, we had classes and training till late in the afternoon, and although I sat with Zeph every moment I got, we didn’t get much time to speak with each other.

Heading to our Combat Class, Ralph caught Zeph in a tight grip and wished him in his style.

"Happy Birthday, Zzzzzzzz," Zeph grunted at him as both boys wrestled each other to the ground, leaving me laughing and shaking my head.

"He is taking you somewhere, Serene. I knew he will never attend our party." Ralph scoffed at him.

"It’s my day, let me spend it my way." Zeph just shrugged his shoulders at Ralph.

"Fine, fine. It’s Serene you want to spend time with so I am allowing it." Ralph held his head high and walked away making both of us laugh.

Sarim Sensei was super strict today and he made us run seven laps instead of the usual five. For training, he gave us real weapons and paired us up. I had been paired with Xin Li and our weapons were spears. We had a neat sparring session where we both gave each other a tough time.

After all the classes and training, I went to Mariela Sensei. She had been expecting me as she handed me a small purple box, closed with a velvety purple ribbon.

"I wrapped it up, I knew you would want that. It has been perfectly made, I tested it on one of my creatures." She beamed at me and without even thinking I hugged her, for a second she was surprised at my action but then hugged me as well with a little laugh.

"Thank you so much, Sensei." I couldn’t express the gratitude I felt.

"No problem, go have fun." She ushered me and I left her study with a smile, placing the small box in the pocket of my lilac dress. Ayrden was waiting outside the Dining Hall and she gave me the chocolate cake she had specifically ordered.

"Happy Birthday Zeph," was written on it with icing and it looked extremely delicious.

"Thank you, girl," I took the cake from her and planted a small kiss on her cheek.

"Enjoy your time," she winked at me as I made my way to my boy.

Zeph was waiting for me near the stairs that led to the roof of our Institute. Clad in a black tank top and matching slacks. His top was clinging to his perfectly toned torso, his hair was ruffled and there was a warm smile on his handsome face. He couldn’t have looked any more perfect. I gave him a warm smile.

"Where are we going?" I inquired holding the cake in my hands. I had never been on the roof, I didn’t think we were even allowed.

"On the roof, I took special permission from Artins Sensei." He gave me a knowing look and held out his hand toward the stairs so I would climb up.

"And he agrees, just like that?" I asked astonished that Artins Sensei will agree to it.

"Yes, I have my charms. They sometimes work on others as well, besides you." He teased me forward nudging me with his elbow.

"What a charming boy you are," I added dryly and this made him laugh.

Reaching the door that opened on the roof, Zeph took out a golden key from his pocket and unlocked the silver door, and pushed it open. The door creaked on its hinges and we stepped on the grand roof of our Institute.

Zeph took the cake from me and placed it on a wooden table that had two chairs along with it. A large white candle and matchsticks lay on the table. He had prepared everything beforehand.

Institute had different wings and some roofs were tiled and tilted while some were flat like the one we were on. It was above the boy’s dormitory and had a grey surface. A silver fence covered all its sides and showed the view of our training grounds and the vast forest that lay beyond it.

The sun was almost setting, spreading its orangish red hues all over the bluish sky.

Zeph took my hand and guided me to the fence. "Let’s watch the sunset together," he whispered in my ears as he made me stand behind the fence facing the sun and his hands clasped my waist from the back. He rested his chin on my shoulder as we both watched the beautiful sunset.