Bloodbound to the Witch Heir: Claimed By Four

Celeste’s POV

*****

"I believe we all know why we’re gathered tonight." Professor Amelia began with an emotional speech, using a finger to wipe something off her eyes. Definitely not tears. "Miss Benedicta wasn’t just another person. She was a mother. An official who held this academy and everything it upholds... To heart."

Everyone—students, professors, bored ones who’d rather be asleep right now—stood silently. More silent than a group of this magnitude should be.

My arms were crossed in front of my chest, eyes trailing from the stage ahead to the night sky above. Willow genuinely seemed interested in whatever the professor was saying for once.

Caelum had left my side—probably to go hang out with some girl who thinks she has a chance with him or the guys always doting around him.

And as for my mates—

I still had that ominous feeling that they were all watching me somewhere in the crowd.

Silas stood to my far right, his side profile sharp and focused. But his eyes... Those hazel orbs drifted occasionally. Deliberately. To me.

Sometimes he didn’t even try hiding it, turning his head and locking his gaze on me. A silent notice to make me aware he knew of my staring. No smiles, no attempts to walk up to me.

Just an acknowledgement that made me uneasy by the minute.

"Please, come to an end already," I whispered under my breath, finally looking away from him. Lowering my head, I kicked my right foot forward.

It was meant as a distraction, but the sound of my stiletto scraping against the tarred floor earned me a few glances.

Soon, my necksnappedg up again. My gaze narrowed on Professor Amelia for a second, but my hearing... It shifted completely from what she was saying.

Every whisper, every fake cough or hidden click on a phone screen—they all blurred into distant background noise.

What stood out instead were distinct heartbeats that made mine pause. I swallowed, trying to keep my breathing in check and spinning around nervously.

No, it seemed I wasn’t hearing things.

Thum. Thum. Thum. Thum.

Four distinct hearts beat in scattered rhythms, each one seeming like it had a different story to tell. A different emotion driving them.

’It’s... It’s them.’ I thought to myself, fingers squeezing my left elbow nervously. ’Why does it feel like they’re all thinking about me right now?’

I took a step back, then another, but froze when I bumped into someone behind me.

"Gods, I’m so..." Glancing back, I was about to apologise to whoever it was.

Until I saw him.

"Leaving already?" Azrael’s brow arched above his sunglasses, body unmoved despite how mine pressed against it.

His hands rested in his pockets. Those fingers—unintentionally or not—poked the small of my back. Alongside something soft.

Heat flooded my face when I realised what that "soft" thing was.

Fuck!

When it pulsed like it was about to grow, I panicked.

"I..." I took two steps forward again, whipping my head back to the stage. "I didn’t know you were behind me all this time."

How did I not notice for the god’s sake?!

For starters, his cologne was hard to miss. And his presence. Even without seeing him you’d FEEL something different in any room he walks into.

Not to mention the mate bond—

—The mate bond! Was something happening to it?

"As a final goodbye," Professor Amelia’s voice suddenly sounded piercing now, making me blink back into focus. "We’ll each be given candles. And we’ll light up the night—make her spirit know she’s missed and loved here in the mortal plane."

Willow tapped my shoulder out of nowhere, making me turn to her. "Girl, these things get me emotional. I remember when I attended one for my aunt." She sniffled, green eyes vibrant.

But then she stopped, squinting. As if on instinct, she glanced behind us—definitely spotting her favourite man to ship me with.

A knowing glint flickered in her eyes, lips curling when she spun her head back to the stage. "Reach out and show a little loving..." She whispered in a sing-song tone, not even trying to hide it.

Goddess, open up the earth right now...

And as if that weren’t enough, I spotted Silas staring and felt the rest of them still watching me. This, added to feeling their emotions all at once, made me want to run.

Soon, the candles began getting distributed around us. Willow happily collected two, handing me one—which I clutched in front of my chest.

"On the count of five... We’ll light up the candles and give a full minute of complete silence for Miss Benedicta." The Professor raised her voice slightly. "Five..."

I was about to cast a spell to light my candle when an index finger stretched forward from behind me. Then came a warm breath on my neck and a soft, baritone voice:

"Need help?"

Gods, Azrael.

The finger sparked with a yellow flame, gentle and warm.

At this point, my pulse was already thumping in my ears like war drums, my legs shaking when I felt how close his body was to me. Another centimetre and people might tell us to get a room.

Wait... No! Why am I thinking about a room?!

Without saying anything, I brought my candle close to his fire. I watched the yellow flame swallow the wick, lighting it up in an instant.

Azrael withdrew his hand and mouth after that.

Yet as simple as that interaction was, I could already feel a slick warmth between my legs that made me bite my bottom lip.

When the final count was made, everyone went silent. Dead silent. No whispers, no coughs or heavy breaths.

The only sound present amongst us was the soft chime of the wind blowing through the academy. Some strands of my hair blew across my face while I kept my eyes closed.

It wasn’t necessary, but after everything I’ve experienced at this memorial, it was the closest I’d get to disappearing.

The seconds passed and I grew uneasy. It was meant to be only one minute but those ticking seconds seemed drawn out in my psyche.

Not to mention something felt... Wrong.

I opened my eyes, brows furrowing as I looked around. This wasn’t my imagination. The air was suddenly weird.

And then—

Everything stilled. The cool evening breeze ceased. Night crickets in the distant forest stopped chirping. It was as if the world itself held its breath for our moment of silence.

Except the world never stops for anyone. Especially the dead.

This eerie feeling reminded me of a night. One that stuck to my mind and my body.

Two weeks ago. When I almost got killed.

My lips parted. But before a word could slip out—

"SRHKKKK!" A bone-curdling screech tore through the crowd’s serenity. Terrified screams followed, forcing everyone to make a pivot.

Dread shot through me. Because I already knew what was happening.

"Vein beasts," I muttered, the candle dropping off my shaky fingers. "They’re... they’re here."