Chapter 13

Eli knew something was off the moment he arrived.

Not danger.

Not like the attacks.

This was… different.

The air felt heavier—but not threatening.

More like—

Occupied.

“…You’ve got visitors?” Eli muttered as he stepped deeper into the forest.

Kieran was already there.

But he wasn’t alone.

A woman stood beside him.

Tall.

Elegant.

Sharp eyes that immediately landed on Eli the second he appeared.

And the way she was standing—

Close to Kieran.

Too close.

Eli slowed slightly.

“…Oh.”

Kieran noticed him first.

“You’re late.”

Eli raised a brow.

“…I didn’t know I was on a schedule.”

But his attention shifted back to the woman.

“…And who is this?”

The woman smiled.

But it wasn’t warm.

It was… assessing.

“So this is him.”

Eli frowned.

“…That doesn’t answer my question.”

Kieran didn’t respond immediately.

The woman stepped forward instead.

“I’m Seraphina.”

Eli blinked.

“…Okay.”

Her smile widened just a little.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Eli crossed his arms.

“…That’s funny, because I’ve heard nothing about you.”

Kieran finally spoke.

“She’s not relevant to you.”

Seraphina let out a soft laugh.

“Still as cold as ever, Kieran.”

She turned back to Eli.

“I’m someone who’s known him far longer than you have.”

Eli shrugged slightly.

“…Good for you.”

He wasn’t impressed.

At all.

Seraphina’s eyes flickered slightly.

Like she didn’t expect that response.

Then she moved—

And wrapped her arm around Kieran’s.

Casually.

Possessively.

Eli noticed.

But instead of reacting the way she expected—

He just sighed.

“…Okay. So are we training or am I interrupting something?”

Seraphina blinked.

Kieran’s gaze shifted to Eli.

Sharp.

Watching.

“You don’t care?” Seraphina asked.

Eli frowned.

“…About what?”

Her grip on Kieran tightened slightly.

“This.”

Eli looked at her.

Then at Kieran.

Then back at her.

“…Should I?”

That—

Was not the reaction she wanted.

At all.

Seraphina’s smile faded slightly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

She turned to Kieran.

“You weren’t exaggerating.”

Kieran didn’t answer.

But his eyes remained on Eli.

Unmoving.

Seraphina leaned slightly closer to Kieran.

“Maybe he’s just slow.”

Eli scoffed.

“…I can hear you.”

“Good,” she replied smoothly.

Eli shook his head.

“…You’re both weird.”

Kieran stepped forward then.

Separating slightly from Seraphina.

“Training.”

Eli nodded immediately.

“…Finally.”

Training started.

But it didn’t feel the same.

Because Seraphina didn’t leave.

She watched.

Every move.

Every step.

Every mistake.

Eli could feel her eyes on him the entire time.

“…This is distracting,” he muttered after missing a block.

“Focus,” Kieran said.

Eli frowned.

“…Tell her to stop staring then.”

Seraphina smiled.

“I’m just observing.”

Eli rolled his eyes.

“…Observe something else.”

She didn’t respond.

But her gaze didn’t leave him.

Not once.

And then—

Kieran stepped in again.

Grabbing Eli’s wrist.

Pulling him forward.

Closer.

“…Again?” Eli muttered.

But before he could react—

Seraphina spoke.

“You touch him a lot.”

Silence.

Eli blinked.

“…What?”

Kieran didn’t answer.

Seraphina tilted her head slightly.

“That’s new.”

Eli looked between them.

“…Okay, what exactly is going on here?”

Seraphina’s eyes met Kieran’s briefly.

Something unspoken passed between them.

Then she smiled again.

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

Eli scoffed.

“…That’s not suspicious at all.”

Kieran released Eli’s wrist.

But not before his fingers lingered slightly.

Seraphina noticed.

Of course she did.

Her smile thinned.

“Interesting,” she murmured.

After a while, Eli stepped back, breathing slightly heavier.

“…Okay. Break.”

Kieran didn’t argue.

Seraphina stepped closer again.

This time—

Toward Eli.

Eli tensed slightly.

Not out of fear.

Just… caution.

She stopped right in front of him.

Studying him.

“…I don’t see it,” she said.

Eli frowned.

“…See what?”

She leaned slightly closer.

Lowering her voice.

“What makes you so special.”

Eli raised a brow.

“…Nothing.”

That answer caught her off guard.

“…Nothing?”

Eli shrugged.

“I’m just trying not to get killed every day. That’s all.”

Seraphina stared at him for a second.

Then laughed softly.

“…You really don’t know, do you?”

Eli’s patience thinned.

“…Know what?”

Before she could answer—

Kieran stepped between them.

Enough.

“That’s enough.”

Seraphina looked at him.

“You’re protecting him already?”

Kieran’s voice dropped slightly.

“Don’t push it.”

Seraphina smiled again.

But this time—

There was something sharper behind it.

“…You’ve changed.”

Kieran didn’t respond.

She stepped back slightly.

“Fine. I’ll stop.”

But her eyes returned to Eli.

Lingering.

Calculating.

“…For now.”

Eli exhaled.

“…She’s intense.”

Kieran didn’t disagree.

“Stay away from her.”

Eli frowned.

“…You say that about everyone.”

“She’s different.”

Eli crossed his arms.

“…How?”

Kieran’s gaze darkened slightly.

“She won’t stop.”

Eli blinked.

“…From what?”

Kieran didn’t answer.

But Seraphina did.

From behind them.

“From getting what I want.”

Eli turned.

She was smiling again.

Beautiful.

Dangerous.

“And I always get what I want,” she added softly.

Her eyes met Eli’s.

Unblinking.

Possessive.

Not toward him—

But toward Kieran.

Eli sighed.

“…Yeah, I’m definitely staying out of whatever this is.”

Kieran didn’t say anything.

But his gaze—

Stayed on Eli.

Not her.

Never her.