Chapter 26

Chapter 26
Chapter 26 – Sera

The whole crowd had gone completely silent, the whispers and murmurs were fading as everyone’s attention was on us.

Luca’s lips had barely left mine, but the audacity of the moment hung heavy in the air. He grinned like a boy who knew he’d just caused chaos.

Kael didn’t move immediately. His jaw flexed, his eyes darkened, and then… he stormed forward.

“Luca,” he said, voice low, sharp, dangerous. “Step back.”

Luca raised an eyebrow, still smirking. “Or what? You gonna kill me? Bury me somewhere?”

“I said step back!” Kael’s voice rose it was angry and commanding, he looked like he was trying to suppress every inch of the raging storm he always tried to contain.

I froze between them, stomach twisting painfully. My hands gripped the hem of my shirt, knuckles white.

“You’re insane,” I whispered, barely audible.

“You like it?” Luca teased, leaning closer again despite Kael’s glare. “Come on, Seth, live a little!”

Kael’s eyes snapped to me, and anger in him was undeniable. His gaze burned through me. “Don’t encourage him.”

I stammered, my cheeks burning hotter I thought they would explode. “I-I didn’t!”

“You did,” Kael said, stepping closer, the distance between us shrinking until I could feel his presence right besides me. His hand twitched slightly,his fingers curling into a fist at his side.

Luca, instead of backing off, he freaking laughed. “Oh, I see how it is. The brooding prince Kael finally has a reaction I thought you’d never crack.”

Kael’s jaw flexed again. His voice dropped to a low, dangerous growl. “I’m not reacting. I’m warning you.”

I swallowed hard. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, but at the same time… part of me was trembling at the intensity of his protectiveness.

River, trying not to laugh, whispered from behind me, “Ohhh… someone’s mad. This is gold.”

Then he added, “Yeah, you’re about to see what happens when Kael gets territorial.”

I glanced toward Alexander. He was standing silently off to the side, hands folded, observing the entire scene. Sometimes I wonder what is wrong with him. He is not the type of guy to get shaken by anything and that was bad enough because his sharp observing eyes looked like he already knew too much just by watching and that made my stomach tightened.

“You...” Kael started, his voice was low and clipped, “stay away from him. Both of you.”

Luca laughed again, walking closer, deliberately bumping my shoulder with his. “Oh, come on, Kael. Or are you scared I’ll take what’s yours?”

Kael’s chest heaved. The air between them was charged and electric. I could feel it in my bones.

Before I could step back, Luca’s grin widened, and in one impulsive, reckless move…

He kissed me again!.

Only this time, it was not a soft, teasing brush but a full, bold kiss, right there in front of the Sovereign Circle, the gathered students, and Kael.

The world froze.

And Kael’s eyes snapped open wide, his pupils were dilated, jaw tightening so hard I swore I could hear it crack. I immediately pulled back and pushed Luca away from me.

“You…” His voice came out as low a growl trembling with barely restrained anger. “…You dare.”

I stumbled backward, my heart hammering against my ribs. Luca smirked like a cat who had cornered a mouse, he was completely unbothered.

“Kael, wait..I...” I tried to reason but my words were swallowed by the intensity of his anger towards Luca.

Kael’s hands clenched at his sides, shaking slightly, and his gaze...oh! that gaze was locked on me like he’d never let go.

Luca leaned back slightly and whispered, “What? You jealous?”

Kael’s lips twitched, not in amusement but more sinister, I have never seen kael like that ever since I came to virelade and it was darker. "Me? Jealous?.”

River, Theo, and even the surrounding students were frozen, watching this silent war unfold. Alexander’s eyes narrowed slightly, still calm, still observing but I could feel the calculation behind them like he was waiting for something to happen first then react.

I took a trembling step forward, trying to pull Luca back. “Stop! Just… stop!”

Luca laughed softly, almost fondly, and finally stepped back but the smirk never left his face.

Kael’s chest heaved. those piercing, dangerous eyes were locked on me still, as if he might just explode if I moved another inch.

“…Do you understand me?” His voice was low, dangerous, impossible to ignore.

I nodded, though I wasn’t entirely sure if I did understand, my mind was frozen at that time.

Luca’s grin widened, glancing between the two of us. “Ooooh! Someone’s territorial. Someone’s mad.”

Kael’s hands flexed, trembling slightly, and he finally took a step toward me. His presence was suffocating, so overwhelming that it made me breathless.

I swallowed hard. My pulse raced. My heart… my heart was betraying me in ways I couldn’t control. I swallowed again, trying to steady my shaking hands. “Kael… please. Don’t do anything stupid”

“You think I’m asking?” Kael’s voice cut me off . “…I’m not asking Seth, you're coming with me.”

He came closer to me and his voice dropped lower, closer as he leaned into my ear and whispered

“ You're reckless Seth, Luca doesn't like you, he's just messing with you and as long as I'm alive, I'll not let that happen again ever! .”

I froze, words dying in my throat then I said "Thank you,but I'm a grown man and I'm capable of handling myself well, I don't want you to involve yourself in my matters anymore.

Kael smirked though his eyes were blazed with anger " I Know you're a grown man but your matters are my matters!"

He straightened his body and started walking away before he stopped abruptly and turned to me " I'm serious about this Seth, don't try me". Then he disappeared in the corner walking towards the library.

Luca’s grin faltered slightly, realizing he might have crossed a line. "I didn't think kael will be so mad!. What am I going to do? He'll try to suffocated me in my sleep".

River laughed "You pushed his limit, what were you expecting? But it was funny".

I swallowed hard, whispering under my breath to myself: “This… this is going to end badly.”