LOGINChapter Thirty-Two— Elena⚔Daemon's POV⚔I shouldn't have been here.The coffee shop across from ASU's main campus was crowded with students cramming for exams and professors grading papers. I sat in the corner with a laptop open, pretending to work, while my attention stayed fixed on the window.On her.Maliya walked past with another girl—the friend, Stephanie. They were laughing about something, Maliya's face lit up in a way I hadn't seen before. Genuine. Unguarded.Beautiful.I checked my phone. Her schedule was pulled up—color-coded, cross-referenced with building locations and class times. I knew she had Statistics in fifteen minutes. Knew she'd grab coffee first from the cart near the library because she always did on Tuesdays and Thursdays.Knew her favorite order was an iced vanilla latte with oat milk.This was insane.I'd become the thing I'd always despised—a man obsessed. A stalker watching from the shadows, cataloging details about a woman who had no idea I existed outsi
Chapter Thirty-One— who did this to you? ☆Micaiah's POV☆"Miss Santos, wait behind please."The words came out harsher than I intended. I'd been watching her all class—the way she wouldn't quite meet my eyes, the tension in her shoulders, the way she'd gripped her pen like she wanted to break something.Something was wrong.Students filed out, a few shooting curious glances between us. Stephanie Chen lingered near the door until Mali waved her off.Then it was just us.She stayed in her seat in the back, arms crossed, jaw set. Defensive posture. Like she was bracing for a fight.I moved down the aisle toward her, taking my time. "What's going on?""Nothing.""Don't lie to me, Mali. You've been off all morning.""I'm fine.""You're not fine. You're angry." I stopped in front of her desk, leaning against it. "Who did this to you?"Her eyes snapped to mine. "What?""Someone upset you. Who?""Nobody upset me. I'm just—" She broke off, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter.""It matters to
Chapter Thirty— pregnancy scare.★Maliya's POV★"You're quiet this morning."Micaiah's voice pulled me from my thoughts as we sat at the usual drop-off spot. I'd been staring out the window, watching other students walk toward campus with their backpacks and coffee cups, looking like they didn't have a care in the world."Just tired.""You keep saying that.""Because it keeps being true."He studied me for a moment, his hand resting on the gear shift close enough to touch. "Mali—""I should go. Don't want to be late."I grabbed my bag and got out before he could say anything else. Before the concern in his eyes could make me feel things I didn't want to feel.The walk to campus was cool and quiet. Early morning in Arizona, before the heat settled in. I found Stephanie at our usual spot, but instead of her typical bright energy, she was hunched over with her arms wrapped around her middle."You okay?" I asked."Cramps. These ones are killing me." She straightened slowly. "I swear, ever
Chapter Twenty-Nine— Nevada⚔Daemon's POV⚔The warehouse on the east side was perfect for what I needed—isolated, secure, and large enough to house the forty men I'd just brought in from Nevada. They stood in formation, waiting for orders, their faces hard and experienced.These weren't amateurs. These were soldiers who'd proven themselves in uglier wars than this one."You know your assignments," I said, pacing in front of them. "Twenty of you will maintain operations here. The other twenty will be integrated into existing networks throughout the city. Some of you will be placed in establishments we're watching. Bars. Clubs. Businesses."I paused, letting that sink in."And some of you," I continued, "will infiltrate Micaiah Hayes's organization. You'll be given cover identities. Backgrounds that will hold up under scrutiny. Your job is simple—get close, gather intelligence, and report back. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary. Do not blow your cover. Understood?"A chorus of a
Chapter Twenty-Eight— missing him.★Maliya's POV★"I won't be on campus today."Micaiah's voice pulled me from my half-asleep state as we sat in his car at the usual drop-off spot. I blinked at him, trying to process the words."What?""Business. I have to handle some things off campus." He glanced at me, his hand resting on the gear shift. "You'll be okay?""I'm not a child, Micaiah. I can survive a day without you hovering."His jaw tightened slightly. "I don't hover.""You absolutely hover.""I'm protective. There's a difference.""If you say so." I grabbed my bag from the floor. "How long will you be gone?""Most of the day. I'll be back tonight.""Okay."He caught my wrist before I could open the door. "Mali.""What?""Don't skip Ethics. The substitute can be an ass about attendance.""I won't skip." I pulled my hand free. "I'm a responsible adult, remember?""Debatable."I shot him a look and got out of the car before he could say anything else. Before the urge to lean back in a
Chapter Twenty-Seven— thirst trap.☆Micaiah's POV☆The base was exactly what it looked like—an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Phoenix that we'd converted into something functional. Not pretty, but secure. Concrete walls, minimal windows, multiple exits. The kind of place that didn't attract attention.Kieran was already there when I arrived, leaning against a table covered in maps and surveillance photos."About time," he said."Traffic." I tossed my keys on the table. "What's the situation?""Daemon's been spotted at three different locations in the past forty-eight hours. Downtown. Scottsdale. Tempe." He pointed to marks on the map. "He's not hiding anymore. He's making himself visible.""Which means he's ready to move.""Or he wants us to think he is. Could be a distraction."I rubbed my temples, feeling the familiar pressure building behind my eyes. "We need to strike first. Before he consolidates more power.""Agreed. But we need to be smart about it. Daemon doesn't make







