Luca povIโve always thought of myself as funny, charming, a little reckless that people donโt take me seriously, and thatโs was my advantage. But Sethโฆ Seth isnโt like anyone else. And somehow, despite my best efforts, Iโve been hit square in the chest by a realization I didnโt expect I care.Really care.The cafeteria was filled with noises but all I could focus on were the dynamics at our table. Kael was there, brooding, sharp-eyed, like he could cut the entire world in half just by glaring. And he was staring at Seth. Always staring at Seth.I leaned back in my chair, a fork halfway to my mouth, pretending to examine the ceiling because the truth was, every time Kael looked at him ,I felt something twist uncomfortably in my gut. Jealousy! And I hate feeling jealous. Seth had been so oblivious, so careful, and yetโฆ somehow magnetic. I watch him laugh quietly with River, tease me back when I poked fun, and Iโd feel this almost unbearable pull. But now, Kael was in the mix an
Sera pov ๐Kaelโs voice still echoed in my ears even after he stormed out and never returned to our room again. "Youโre sitting too close to him" Even now, as we walked toward the cafeteria to get dinner I could feel his presence at my back. Alexander was walking ahead with hands in his pockets like nothing in the world could shake him. His was common . He hadnโt looked at me since that time before exams and yetโฆ somehow, I still felt understood.Luca shoved his shoulder against mine as we entered the cafeteria, jolting me back into reality . โSeth, Iโve got to admit, youโre making history today. Alexander buying snacks? What did you give him? You must be magic.โRiver snorted. โMore like cursed.โTheo muttered, โYou say cursed, I say doomed.โI groaned. โCan you all not?โBut they were already laughing as if everything was normal, it was for them but not me. Alexander slid a bottle of water onto my tray before I could protest. His eyes flicked to mine briefly and then away ag
Chapter 32Sera povThe exam was finally over, my head felt lightheaded because of all notes and formulas I studied earlier but relief surged through me. Exams were finally over!.Kael walked besides me quietly, he was unusually silent the entire way back to our room. Normally he would have already threw a nasty comment about my pacing, or my distracted expression, but today was different. He was quiet.When we reached our room, I exhaled dropping my bag onto the bed. "Finally... Freedom" I muttered.Kael didn't comment immediately, he just stood near the door, his gaze was sharp and unreadable. My chest tightened at his intensity."Sit" he said suddenly.I froze. "Excuse me?""I said sit" he repeated more firmly this time.I obeyed carefully lowering myself onto the edge of the bed. My heart thudded painfully against my ribs. Kael stepped closer until he was standing right in front of me, shadowing the space around me like he owned."I'll ask you a question. Answer me honestly," he s
Sera pov ๐The morning sun was already warm as we sat outside the exam hall, textbooks and notes scattered around, the Sovereign Circle gathered together like they always did before a big test.I tried to focus on my notes, but my stomach kept twisting in a way that had nothing to do with nerves.I scrunched my face subtly, hoping no one would notice. Just a little discomfortโฆ nothing serious.But Alexander noticed.He didnโt say anything immediately, didnโt make a big scene, but I could feel his sharp eyes on me. The subtle way my hands pressed against my stomach, the slight wince when I shifted he saw it all.Without a word, he stood, straightening his shoulders.โWhere are you going?โ River asked, barely able to hide his amusement.Alexander didnโt answer, just walked off with that calm, purposeful stride that always seemed to make everything around him stop moving.Luca whistled softly. โUhโฆ heโs going shopping? During pre exam?โRiver laughed quietly. โYeah, right. This is goin
Chapter 30 Kael Pov ๐I didnโt mean to storm off last night. I never meant to leave the silence that was suffocating between us, but every time I tried to speak, every time I even thought about touching Seth, my anger mixed with something else...something I couldnโt even name, something I hated and feared all at once.He had pushed me away. And not the kind of gentle push, but with a wall so hard that I had slammed into it like a fool. And what stung me the most wasnโt the refusal it was the easiness he had with Luca had stepped in, brushed the same line I had been drawn to, and somehow, been welcomed.I woke up before dawn because I wanted to avoid everything. The quietness of our room felt suffocating to me . My hands itched to find him, wake him up and to pull him close and demand the truth, but the moment I imagined that, my rage kept getting hotter. He was mine or at least, he should be. And yet, he had let someone else get close.Fuck!Breakfast didnโt ease the tension at
Sera povThe silence between us stretched, Kaelโs face was only inches from mine. His hand was still pressed to the wall beside my head, his eyes were dark, stormy, searching me like he could force an answer out of my soul.And then he leaned in.My heart slammed against my ribs so hard it hurt. I froze, every nerve in my body screaming, every secret Iโd buried threatening to break free. If he kissed me if he touched me like that then I wouldnโt be able to keep pretending. He will know it.โNo.โThe word came out sharper than I intended, but it was all I had. My hands pressed against his chest, not shoving, but enough to stop him from closing that last impossible distance.Kael stilled.For a single, unbearable second, his expression was unreadable. Blank. Then his jaw clenched, his body going rigid under my palms.โYouโre refusing me?โ His voice was low, dangerous.I swallowed hard. โKael, this isnโt...โHe cut me off, stepping back with a sharp, almost disbelieving laugh that held n