Chapter 29

Chapter 29
Chapter 29 – Sera

The silence between us stretched, Kael’s face was only inches from mine. His hand was still pressed to the wall beside my head, his eyes were dark, stormy, searching me like he could force an answer out of my soul.

And then he leaned in.

My heart slammed against my ribs so hard it hurt. I froze, every nerve in my body screaming, every secret I’d buried threatening to break free. If he kissed me if he touched me like that then I wouldn’t be able to keep pretending. He will know it.

“No.”

The word came out sharper than I intended, but it was all I had. My hands pressed against his chest, not shoving, but enough to stop him from closing that last impossible distance.

Kael stilled.

For a single, unbearable second, his expression was unreadable. Blank. Then his jaw clenched, his body going rigid under my palms.

“You’re refusing me?” His voice was low, dangerous.

I swallowed hard. “Kael, this isn’t...”

He cut me off, stepping back with a sharp, almost disbelieving laugh that held no humor. “Unbelievable. You’ll let him kiss you twice!. In front of everyone. But me?” His eyes snapped to mine, blazing. “You push me away?”

My stomach dropped. “It’s not like that. Luca...he just...”

“Don’t lie!” Kael’s shout echoed through the air, making me flinch. His chest was heaving, his fists clenched tight at his sides. “You didn’t stop him when he kissed you. You didn’t even fight back. And now, when I...” He broke off, his nostrils flaring. “Do you like him that much?”

“What?” My voice came out small, trembling.

“That smug bastard.” Kael’s lip curled, his whole frame vibrating with fury. “Is that what this is? You let him near you because you want it? Because you’d rather it be him than me?”

“No!” The denial burst out of me too quickly, too desperate. But the damage was done. He didn’t believe me.

Kael’s eyes narrowed, his fury twisting into something sharp, wounded. “Then why, Seth? Why is it so easy for him to touch you, and not me?”

Because I’m not who you think I am. Because if I let you, everything I’ve been hiding will shatter. Because I’m terrified of how much I want you.

But I couldn’t say any of that.

“I just don’t…” I faltered, gripping the edge of my desk to steady myself. “…I don’t want this. From anyone.”

The lie tasted bitter but safe.

Kael’s gaze flicked over me, cold, disbelieving. “Right. From anyone except Luca.”

“That’s not...”

“Save it.” His voice cut like a blade, final and merciless. He turned around his movements sharp, jerking the door open.

“Kael, wait!” I tried, my chest aching, panic rising.

But he didn’t wait. He didn’t even look back. The door slammed behind him with a finality that shook the windows.

The silence that followed was deafening.

I sank onto my bed, my hands shaking. My heart felt bruised like he’d ripped something out of me with that look in his eyes. I told myself it was better this way, that letting him any closer was suicide. But the thought of him walking away, of him believing I wanted Luca instead… it hollowed me out.

Hours passed but still, Kael didn’t return.

Each tick of the clock on the wall made the room feel colder, emptier. My chest tightened with every passing hour, until the silence became unbearable.

I paced, sat, stood, paced again, my nerves were frayed with each thought that circled back to him.

Where was he? What was he doing? Was he still furious?

It was nearly midnight when the door finally creaked open.

Kael stepped inside. His shirt was rumpled, his hair was a mess, his expression unreadable. He didn’t look at me. He didn’t say a word.

Just crossed the room, dropped onto his bed, and turned on his back.

The distance between us had never felt so vast

The morning came heavy, like the air itself had absorbed Kael’s fury and refused to let it go.

I barely slept because every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face twisted in anger, heard his voice breaking against me

Do you like him that much? and then the echo of the door slamming shut.

Now Kael was already awake, dressed, his back to me as he tightened the cuffs of his shirt. His movements were precise, clipped, like he was holding himself together.

He hadn’t spoken a word to me since last night.

I sat up slowly, the silence pressing down, the words I wanted to say were locked in my throat. I didn’t mean it. I don’t like Luca. I don’t like anyone.

Lies I wanted to use as shields. But none of them felt strong enough to face Kael’s gaze.

Without a word, he grabbed his bag and walked out, the door shutting softly behind him. The softness felt worse than his anger.

I exhaled shakily, rubbing at my face. My chest felt heavy, like something had been lodged there all night, refusing to move.

By the time I made it to the hall, the rest of them were already there. River was lounging dramatically on the steps, Theo leaning against the railing with a pastry in hand, and Luca, who looked far too smug for someone with a bruise still blooming faintly on his jaw from Kael’s punch.

“Good morning, sunshine,” River greeted, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Why do you look like you haven’t slept in a century?”

I forced a laugh. “Could ask you the same. You’re always awake at ungodly hours.”

“Difference is, I look fabulous doing it,” River shot back with a grin. Then his eyes darted around. “Speaking of, where’s your shadow? Kael is usually glued to your side like a guard dog.”

My stomach twisted.

“He went ahead,” I muttered.

“Uh...huh,” River said, dragging out the sound, clearly unconvinced.

Theo tore off a piece of his pastry, chewing thoughtfully. “Did you two fight?”

I stiffened. “What? No.”

Luca’s smirk widened, the bruise on his jaw giving his grin a dangerous edge. “Sounds like a fight to me.” He leaned closer, voice dropping. “Don’t tell me Kael finally realized you’re not as harmless as you look.”

I forced myself not to react, though my pulse thudded painfully. Luca was playing his usual game, teasing, provoking but the way his gaze lingered, made me uneasy.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I shot back.

“Flatter myself?” He chuckled darkly, tapping his jaw. “He hit me for kissing you. Twice! I’d say that’s more than flattery. That’s jealousy.”

River’s mouth dropped open. “Wait, wait, wait...you’re telling me that punch yesterday wasn’t just Kael being Kael? It was because of you?”

Theo raised his brows amused. “Now that’s interesting.”

Heat crept up my neck. “You’re all reading too much into it.”

“Am I?” Luca tilted his head, grin widening. “Because from where I’m standing, the quiet, untouchable Kael just turned into a rabid dog the second I touched you. That doesn’t happen for no reason, Seth.”

My throat went dry. I wanted to argue, to brush it off, but before I could...

“Enough.”

Alexander.

He was leaning against the stone column with his arms crossed, his face was as unreadable as ever. His eyes, though flicked toward me, protective in a way that no one else seemed to catch.

River blinked. “Uh… we were just talking.”

Alexander didn’t respond. His gaze lingered on me for a second longer, then shifted away, but the weight of it settled deep in my chest. A silent reminder. He knew. He was the only one who knew who I was.

And that silence was the only thing keeping me safe right now.

Theo cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable under Alexander’s stare. “Well. Either way, Kael’s mood explains a lot. He looked ready to break something this morning.”

River grinned. “Or someone.”

I forced a weak smile, though my insides were churning. If Kael was still that furious… how long before he snapped again? How long before my fragile disguise got caught in the crossfire?

Alexander’s eyes met mine once more and in that quiet look, I found the one thing Kael’s fury had ripped away from me last night that was
a sense of control.