Chapter 25

Chapter 25
Chapter 25 – Sera

I 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?

“A–Alexander.” My voice cracked. “I was just...”

He tilted his head slightly, studying me with unwavering calm. “Talking to your mother.”

My mouth went dry. “Yeah. So?”

“You said you were at St. Helia.” His voice was quiet. Not accusing or mocking. He was just… stating the fact.

My pulse thundered in my ears.

Think...Think... Think!

“I… misspoke.” The lie burned my throat. "It was slip of the tongue.”

For a long, endless moment, Alexander just looked at me and then, slowly, he nodded. “Hm.”

That 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 hadn’t called me out. He hadn’t said a word to the others.

He hadn’t...

But then the thought came in me. What if he was waiting? What if Alexander had heard everything… and was just biding his time?

The backyard was alive with whispers and pointed fingers. Kael’s father had left barely an hour ago, but his presence was still everywhere. Students stared, muttered, and scrambled to catch sight of the sleek black limousine as it pulled away.

“Damn,” River muttered, leaning against the stone fountain. “That car alone could fund a small country.”

“I mean, look at him,” Luca said, smirking as he nudged me with his shoulder. “Kael doesn’t even have to try, and everyone bends around him like he’s a god.”

I rolled my eyes but stayed quiet. Kael was walking a few paces ahead, his shoulders were stiff, jaw tight. He didn’t speak, didn’t glance at anyone but I could feel the tension radiating off him.

“Watch out, Seth,” River teased, nudging me gently. “Our broody hero looks like he might snap at anyone who breathes wrong.”

I felt my stomach twist. That heat wasn’t just from him being Kael. it was from Kael being Kael around me. My pulse quickened as I tried to step lightly, hoping not to draw any attention.

“Relax,” Luca whispered, leaning closer than necessary. “He can’t touch you...not yet.”

I glared at him. “Not funny.”

He just grinned, with that infuriating, mischievous grin that made my heart betray me every time. “Oh, it’s very funny.”

Later the Sovereign Circle gathered under the tree. River was sprawled on a bench, Luca leaned casually on the fountain’s edge, Theo was picking crumbs off his shirt and Alexander predictably stood off to the side like he’d already seen through all of us.

Kael approached the group with the same controlled stride that made everyone else seem small. Even as he reached us, his eyes immediately found mine. The way he looked at me made my stomach twist in ways I couldn’t name.

“Morning,” River said cheerfully. “Kael, you look… tense. Rough night? ”

Kael didn’t answer immediately. His jaw flexed and his shoulders stiffened. Then, finally, he said flatly, “He’s not here. Focus on the day.”

Theo snorted. “Wow, someone’s cranky. I wonder why.”

“I didn’t hear anything,” Kael muttered, and the words were aimed at no one in particular but I could feel the heat of them directed towards Me.

Luca, of course, took it as a challenge.

“Oh, come on, Kael,” he said, sidling closer to me. “Don’t look like you swallowed a thunderstorm. Lighten up a bit. Pretty face here can’t handle all that scowling.”

I shoved his shoulder. “Stop calling me that in front of everyone!”

“Oh, we’re all friends,” Luca said innocently, hands raised like he was surrendering. But his smirk betrayed him. “And besides, someone’s got to balance out the dark knight over there.” He nodded at Kael.

Kael’s eyes flicked to me for a moment and then back to Luca. That glance, that silent warning, made my chest tighten.

I tried to ignore it.

Luca continued to tease me mercilessly. He leaned close during each time,whispered jokes that made me giggle against my will, and deliberately brushed against my shoulder like it was entirely accidental.

“You’re terrible,” I whispered at one point, glaring at him.

“You love it,” he countered, grinning. “Admit it, Seth. You love it.”

I flushed. “I don’t!”

“Uh-huh.” He leaned closer, so close I could feel the warmth of his breath. “Your face says otherwise.”

I swallowed, embarrassed, and tried to step back but the bench was behind me, the tree trunk pressed against my back, and Luca didn’t give me any room.

“Careful,” he murmured, his voice turned low and teasing. “We wouldn’t want Kael getting… territorial.”

I froze.

Territorial.

The word hit me like a punch to the chest. My pulse quickened, a strange heat spreading through me. I risked a glance and found Kael’s eyes were fixed on me. He didn’t say anything but the tension radiating off him was unmistakable.

Luca noticed my glance, and his smirk widened.

“See that?” he whispered. “He’s watching. Every move. Isn’t it cute?”

“Luca!” I hissed.

“Oh, come on,” he said, mock innocent, leaning even closer. “I’m just… helping you relax.”

I tried to stay behind Kael, trying to make myself small, but Luca had other plans.

He came up behind me, his hands brushing my arms lightly as he whispered, “Relax. Watch and learn.”

Before I could protest, before I could even think, he pressed his lips to mine.

The entire crowd went silent.

The SC except Alexander who didn’t move or blink. And Kael…

His hand were clenched into a fist so tight I could see the blood veins in his knuckles. His jaw flexed violently. His eyes which were once calm and controlled , now were blazed with something primal.

He was furious.

“Luca!” Kael’s voice was low, dangerous, full of simmering heat. “Get away from him!”

“Nope,” Luca said with a grin, completely unbothered. “He’s mine to annoy.”

“Seth.” Kael’s voice snapped my head around. Every muscle in me tightened. His eyes drilled into mine like a predator that had just discovered his prey trying to escape.

My chest hammered. My legs trembled. My heart… my heart was screaming. I wanted to disappear. I wanted to sink into the ground and never emerge.

I wanted to move. I wanted to pull away. But Kael’s gaze pinned me down. And Luca… was grinning like he didn't cause this entire disaster.

River finally broke the silence. “Well… that escalated quickly.”