Chapter 30 Kael Pov đI didnât 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 couldnât 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 wasnât 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 didnât ease the tension at
Sera povThe silence between us stretched, Kaelâs 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 Iâd buried threatening to break free. If he kissed me if he touched me like that then I wouldnât be able to keep pretending. He will know it.âNo.âThe 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.âYouâre refusing me?â His voice was low, dangerous.I swallowed hard. âKael, this isnât...âHe cut me off, stepping back with a sharp, almost disbelieving laugh that held n
Sera povKaelâs grip was tight dragging me through the corridors like I was a notorious criminal being marched to execution. My heart hammered against my ribs, not just from his fury but from the eyes I felt on us as we passed. There were too many eyes. If anyone looked too closely if anyone saw me stumble or saw the flush on my face I was finished.He didnât stop until we were inside our dorm. The door slammed behind us, the sound echoing around the room . He released me so suddenly that I staggered back a step. My wrist throbbed where his hand had been.I rubbed at it, trying to steady my breathing. âKael...ââDonât.â His voice was harsh, it looks like he was barely containing himself. I froze. He stood there his fists clenched, his whole frame shook with fury. The silence between us stretched and became suffocating.Finally, he turned, his intense blue eyes burning into me. âYou let him do it again.âMy chest squeezed. âI didnât mean it...ââYou didnât stop him,â Kael cut in,
Sera povIt was a new day but my mind kept replaying yesterdayâs events especially the kiss, Kaelâs possessive glare, Lucaâs smug grin and somehow, amidst it all, Alexanderâs silent observation.I hadnât seen him much today, but I knew he was around. Always watching. And then I felt eyes on me. Alexander.He was leaning against the edge of the fountain with his arms crossed, that unreadable expression I had come to fear. He didnât smile. He just⌠looked. And it was impossible not to feel pinned under that gaze.I swallowed and tried to focus on something .... anything else, but my stomach twisted.Finally, he spoke with a quiet but commanding voice. âFollow me.âI blinked. âExcuse me?âHe didnât answer just turned, walking toward the back gardens of Virelade, the path shaded by tall oaks. I had no choice but to follow.We stopped under a quiet building, away from the chattering students and away from the chaos. Alexander leaned against the stone wall, still arms crossed, his e
Sera povThe whole crowd had gone completely silent, the whispers and murmurs were fading as everyoneâs attention was on us.Lucaâs lips had barely left mine, but the audacity of the moment hung heavy in the air. He grinned like a boy who knew heâd just caused chaos.Kael didnât move immediately. His jaw flexed, his eyes darkened, and then⌠he stormed forward.âLuca,â he said, voice low, sharp, dangerous. âStep back.âLuca raised an eyebrow, still smirking. âOr what? You gonna kill me? Bury me somewhere?ââI said step back!â Kaelâs voice rose it was angry and commanding, he looked like he was trying to suppress every inch of the raging storm he always tried to contain.I froze between them, stomach twisting painfully. My hands gripped the hem of my shirt, knuckles white.âYouâre insane,â I whispered, barely audible.âYou like it?â Luca teased, leaning closer again despite Kaelâs glare. âCome on, Seth, live a little!âKaelâs eyes snapped to me, and anger in him was undeniable. His
Sera povI whipped around so fast that my heart nearly stopped.Alexander.He stood just a few feet away, his posture was casual, but his eyes were sharp, unblinking.My stomach dropped thinking of possibilities of how much had he heard?âAâAlexander.â My voice cracked. âI was just...âHe tilted his head slightly, studying me with unwavering calm. âTalking to your mother.âMy mouth went dry. âYeah. So?ââYou said you were at St. Helia.â His voice was quiet. Not accusing or mocking. He was just⌠stating the fact.My pulse thundered in my ears.Think...Think... Think!âI⌠misspoke.â The lie burned my throat. "It was slip of the tongue.âFor a long, endless moment, Alexander just looked at me and then, slowly, he nodded. âHm.âThat was it. Just one sound. Then he turned, walking back toward the courtyard, leaving me frozen on the bench, my heart was pounding so hard it hurt.I exhaled shakily, relief flooding me. He hadnât called me out. He hadnât said a word to the others.He hadnât