Chapter 36

The days didn’t slow down.

They only shifted.

And Eli was starting to feel it.

Not in obvious ways.

Not in things he could easily point at.

But in small moments—

Glances. Pauses. Reactions that didn’t feel like his.

MORNING__

Charlotte sat across from him, picking lightly at her food.

She had been quieter since yesterday.

Not distant—

Just… thinking more.

Watching more.

“…Eli?”

He looked up.

“…Yeah?”

She hesitated.

Then asked softly:

“…When are your parents coming back?”

The question was simple.

But it hit something deeper.

Eli paused.

His fork stilled.

“…I don’t know.”

Charlotte frowned slightly.

“…They didn’t tell you?”

Eli leaned back a little.

“…Not really.”

Her brows pulled together.

“…That’s… strange.”

Yeah.

It was.

And for a moment—

Eli’s mind drifted.

FLASHBACK__

Dinner had been normal.

Too normal.

His mother smiling more than usual.

His father quieter than usual.

Eli remembered noticing it.

But not questioning it immediately.

“…We’ll be leaving tomorrow,” his father had said suddenly.

Eli looked up.

“…Leaving? Where?”

His parents exchanged a glance.

Quick.

Subtle.

“…Business trip,” his mother answered gently.

Eli frowned.

“…For how long?”

A pause.

Too long.

“…A while.”

That answer didn’t sit right.

“…Where exactly?”

This time—

They didn’t answer immediately.

His father stood up instead.

“…Take care of yourself.”

That was it.

No details.

No explanation.

Just—

Gone.

And the strange part?

Eli remembered feeling something unexpected.

Relief.

Because even then—

Even before everything fully spiraled—

Something in him already knew.

Things were about to change.

And if they stayed—

He wouldn’t be able to explain any of it.

Wouldn’t be able to leave.

Wouldn’t be able to… follow where this was going.

BACK TO PRESENT__

Eli blinked slightly.

Coming back.

“…They just said it would take a while.”

Charlotte studied him.

“…You’re not worried?”

Eli hesitated.

Then shrugged lightly.

“…They’ve done trips before.”

Not like that.

But close enough to pass.

Charlotte nodded slowly.

“…I guess…”

But something about it still felt off.

She just didn’t push further.

KIERAN__

The moment Kieran stepped into the room—

Everything shifted.

It always did.

But this time—

Eli noticed it faster.

Felt it stronger.

That pull again.

Subtle.

But there.

His body tensed slightly.

Charlotte noticed.

Of course she did.

Kieran’s gaze moved over them briefly.

Then settled—

On Eli.

“…You didn’t report for training.”

Eli frowned.

“…I didn’t agree to daily training.”

Kieran stepped closer.

Slow.

Measured.

“…You don’t need to agree.”

Eli exhaled sharply.

“…You really like forcing things, don’t you?”

Kieran stopped just in front of him.

Close.

Closer than necessary.

“…Only when they matter.”

That tone—

Low.

Controlled.

But something else underneath.

Something Eli couldn’t quite name.

Charlotte shifted slightly.

Uncomfortable.

Kieran didn’t look at her.

Didn’t acknowledge her.

His focus stayed on Eli.

“…Come.”

Eli frowned.

“…Now?”

Kieran didn’t answer.

Just turned.

Expecting him to follow.

Eli glanced at Charlotte.

“…I’ll be back.”

She nodded.

“…Okay.”

But her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the table.

TRAINING GROUND__

This time—

It wasn’t a group.

No fighters.

No chaos.

Just—

Kieran.

And Eli.

Eli looked around.

“…Where is everyone?”

Kieran stepped into the center.

“…Not needed.”

Eli raised an eyebrow.

“…So what, you’re training me yourself now?”

Kieran looked at him.

“…Yes.”

That should have felt normal.

But it didn’t.

Not with the way he was looking at him.

Not with the way the air felt.

Eli crossed his arms slightly.

“…Fine. What are we doing?”

Kieran didn’t answer immediately.

Instead—

He stepped closer.

Again.

Closing the space between them.

Eli stiffened slightly.

“…What?”

Kieran’s voice dropped.

“…You hesitate when you feel it.”

Eli frowned.

“…Feel what?”

Kieran reached out—

His hand stopping just short of Eli’s chest.

“…This.”

The pull hit immediately.

Stronger than before.

Eli sucked in a breath.

Stepping back quickly.

“…Stop that.”

Kieran watched him.

Closely.

“…You react every time.”

Eli shook his head.

“…That doesn’t mean anything.”

Kieran stepped forward again.

Slow.

Intentional.

“…It means everything.”

Eli’s back hit the training post behind him.

He didn’t even realize he had stepped that far back.

“…You’re imagining things.”

Kieran’s hand came up—

Resting beside Eli’s head against the post.

Not touching him.

But trapping him there.

“…Am I?”

Eli’s breath hitched slightly.

And that annoyed him.

“…Yes.”

Kieran leaned in slightly.

Not touching.

But close enough—

That Eli could feel his breath.

“…Then why does your body respond before your mind does?”

Silence.

Eli’s chest rose.

Fell.

Faster now.

“…That’s not—”

Kieran cut him off.

“…You said it yourself.”

A pause.

Then quieter:

“…You feel drawn to me.”

Eli’s jaw tightened.

“…Because of the bond.”

Kieran didn’t deny it.

But didn’t agree either.

Instead—

He said:

“…And if it wasn’t?”

That question—

Hit differently.

Eli’s eyes flickered slightly.

Just for a second.

And Kieran saw it.

Of course he did.

Kieran stepped back.

Just enough.

Breaking the intensity.

But not the tension.

“…You’re changing.”

Eli scoffed.

“…I’m not.”

Kieran’s gaze didn’t waver.

“…You are.”

A pause.

Then:

“…You just haven’t accepted it yet.”

Eli turned away.

Frustrated now.

“…This is pointless.”

He started walking off.

But Kieran’s voice followed him.

Calm.

Certain.

“…You can lie to yourself.”

Eli stopped.

“…But not to me.”

That—

That stayed with him.

Even as he walked away.

Eli returned to Charlotte.

Sat beside her.

Talked like everything was normal.

Like nothing had shifted.

But inside—

Something had.

And across the estate—

Kieran stood alone.

Watching.

Waiting.

No longer patient.

Because now—

He knew.

It wasn’t a matter of if.

It was a matter of when.