Chapter 18

Eli stepped back into the café.

The warmth hit him first.

Then the noise.

Then—

Charlotte.

She was already looking at him.

Waiting.

Eli forced a small smile as he walked back to the table.

“…Sorry about that.”

Charlotte didn’t smile back immediately.

“What happened?”

Eli exhaled and dropped into his seat.

“…Nothing new.”

“That didn’t look like nothing.”

Eli ran a hand through his hair.

“He just… doesn’t know when to stop.”

Charlotte studied his face carefully.

“…Did he hurt you?”

Eli blinked.

“What? No.”

“Did he threaten you?”

“…No.”

“Then what is it?”

Eli hesitated.

Because how was he supposed to explain it?

The bond.

The pull.

The way Kieran spoke like everything was already decided.

“…He’s just…” Eli paused, searching for the right word. “…complicated.”

Charlotte leaned back slightly.

“That’s not a good answer.”

Eli huffed quietly.

“I know.”

A small silence followed.

Then Charlotte spoke again, softer this time.

“…Do you trust him?”

Eli froze.

That question—

Hit deeper than expected.

Trust?

He thought about it.

About Kieran showing up.

Training him.

Protecting him.

Controlling him.

Watching him.

“…I don’t know,” Eli admitted.

Charlotte nodded slowly.

“That’s honest.”

Eli let out a breath.

“…Yeah.”

She reached for his hand again.

Gentler this time.

“I don’t need you to have everything figured out,” she said. “Just… be careful.”

Eli looked at her.

And nodded.

“I will.”

Later that night—

Eli walked home alone.

The streets were quieter now.

Dim lights.

Soft wind.

Everything calm.

But his mind wasn’t.

“…You’re mine.”

Kieran’s voice echoed in his head.

Eli clicked his tongue.

“…Seriously.”

He kicked lightly at a stone on the ground.

“…What does that even mean?”

No answer.

Just that lingering feeling again.

Unsettling.

He reached his house and pushed the gate open.

The familiar creak made him relax slightly.

Lights were on inside.

“…I’m home!” he called out.

“Eli?” his mother’s voice came immediately.

She appeared from the living room, relief clear on her face.

“Where have you been?” she asked. “You’ve been coming home late these days.”

Eli slipped off his shoes.

“…Just out with a friend.”

His father looked up from the couch.

“A friend?”

Eli shrugged.

“…Charlotte.”

His mother smiled slightly.

“That girl again.”

Eli frowned.

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly, though her smile lingered. “She’s a good girl.”

His father nodded.

“She is.”

Eli glanced between them.

“…You both sound suspicious.”

His mother laughed lightly.

“We just like her.”

Eli rolled his eyes.

“…Relax.”

But something about their expressions—

Felt… knowing.

Eli ignored it.

“I’m tired. I’ll eat later.”

“You should eat now,” his mother insisted.

“I will,” Eli said. “Just… later.”

She sighed but nodded.

“Don’t stay up too late.”

“I won’t.”

That night—

Eli lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Sleep didn’t come easily.

It hadn’t for a while.

Too many thoughts.

Too many things that didn’t make sense.

The bond.

Kieran.

That strange familiarity he couldn’t explain.

Eli turned onto his side.

“…Why does it feel like I’ve known him before?”

The question slipped out unconsciously.

And then—

Sleep finally came.

Darkness.

Soft wind.

A faint memory.

Eli was younger.

Much younger.

Curled up in bed.

The room looked the same—

But smaller somehow.

Warmer.

Safer.

A shadow moved near the door.

Quiet.

Careful.

Someone stepped inside.

Tall.

Silent.

Watching.

Young Eli shifted slightly in his sleep.

“…Mmm…”

The figure moved closer.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Then sat at the edge of the bed.

A hand reached out—

Brushed gently through Eli’s hair.

Careful.

Almost… hesitant.

“…Still so small,” a low voice murmured.

Young Eli stirred slightly.

But didn’t wake.

The hand lingered.

Then adjusted the blanket around him.

Tucking him in properly.

Like it had been done many times before.

“…Grow well,” the voice said quietly.

“…I’ll be here.”

The figure leaned closer—

Just slightly.

Then stood.

And disappeared into the darkness.

Eli woke up suddenly.

His heart racing.

“…What was that?”

He sat up, breathing uneven.

The room was quiet.

Empty.

Just like always.

Eli ran a hand through his hair.

“…That dream again…”

He looked toward the door.

Half-expecting—

Something.

Anything.

But there was nothing.

Eli lay back down slowly.

“…It felt so real…”

Like it wasn’t just a dream.

Like it was a memory.

Elsewhere—

Kieran stood outside the house.

Silent.

Unseen.

His gaze fixed on Eli’s window.

The light had gone off.

But he didn’t leave.

Not yet.

“…You’re remembering,” he murmured softly.

Not surprised.

Not worried.

Just… aware.

He stepped closer to the edge of the property.

Close enough—

But not crossing.

Never crossing.

Not unless necessary.

“…Not yet,” he added quietly.

Then—

He turned.

And disappeared into the night.