Chapter 41

Chapter 41


Sera Pov

I couldn’t breathe. Not since Kael had me pinned against the wall, his hand beside my head like a cage I didn’t want to escape from.

His voice was low, broken, and desperate that still echoed in my ears and haunted my mind.

Why him? Why Luca?

I pressed my back harder against the cool plaster of the hallway wall long after he stormed off, as if the wall could help me.

My pulse was beating frantically like a drum in my throat, my wrists. My skin still burned where his fingers had brushed mine.

River stood a few feet away, with his arms crossed, watching me like I was a bomb about to go off.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice softer now.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I wasn’t okay; I was wrecked.

Kael looked at me like I was the only thing in the world, like I was his—like I had betrayed him by existing near anyone else, and the worst part that made me want to scream was that I liked it. His possessiveness,the heat in his eyes. The way his voice cracked when he said my name.

I hate I liked it. I hate that I remained frozen instead of pushing him away.... that I almost—almost leaned in.

“Seth,” River said again, stepping closer. “Talk to me.”

I shook my head, finally finding my voice. “I don’t know what just happened.”

River exhaled through his nose. “Yeah, you do. You just don’t want to say it.”

I glared at him, but there was no heat behind it. “Don’t.”

He raised his hands. “Fine. But you can’t keep pretending this is one-sided. He’s losing it, Seth. And you’re not pushing him away.”

I swallowed hard. “I told him it wouldn’t work.”

“Did you?” River tilted his head. “Because from where I was standing, it looked like you were about two seconds from letting him kiss you in front of half the dorm.”

My face burned. “I wasn’t—”

“You were,” he cut off, not unkindly. “And he saw it. That’s why he looked like he was about to set the building on fire.”

I dragged a hand through my hair, pacing a tight circle. “This is insane, and you know it, River. He is not attracted to men. He’s Kael Ashbourne. He doesn’t—he can’t—”

“Doesn’t he?” River cut in. “Because the guy who just cornered you like a jealous boyfriend isn’t straight, Seth. He is already gone for you. And you’re not screaming for help.”

I stopped pacing and stared at him. He wasn’t wrong, though. Screaming was something I didn’t bother to do. I didn't even fight. I just stood there, my heart racing, lips tingling from the memory of that kiss at the party—the one I still craved till today. The one I spent every night since replaying in my head like a broken record.

I pressed my palms to my eyes. “I don’t know what I’m doing, my mind is all messed up, River!"

River’s voice softened. “Then figure it out,before he does something stupid or before you do.”

I let out a bitter and shaky laugh. “Too late.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I ignored it at first, thinking it was probably Luca checking in, or my mom sending another passive aggressive emoji. But it buzzed again and again.

I pulled it out, frowning, wondering who was so impatient when I was having a mental breakdown, then I saw three messages from unknown number.

I opened it, and the first one was a photo. It was us. Me and Kael. His hand on the wall, my face turned toward him, flushed and wide-eyed. My lips parted like I was about to say something or like I was waiting for him to close the distance.

It looked… intimate. Undeniable.

And below it was a message

"He’s not as straight as he thinks. I wonder what his dad would say, or the board. Or the entire school."

"Back off, Seth. Or this goes everywhere."

I stared at the screen until the words started to blur.

Juliette.

Of course it had to be Juliette.

I deleted the messages with shaking fingers, but I knew it didn’t matter. She must have sent them to Kael too. I could feel it.

River peered over my shoulder. “What the hell—?”

“Please don’t,” I snapped, shoving the phone back in my pocket. “Just—don’t.”

He grabbed my arm before I could walk away. “Seth. This is blackmail.”

“I know,” I hissed. “I know what it is.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

I yanked my hand free. “I don’t know!”

I stormed down the hall, past the common room, past the stares I pretended not to notice. My chest felt too tight, my thoughts felt too loud, like I was talking to someone from miles away.

Kael was mine to protect? No—that wasn’t right. I was the one who needed protecting. From him..from whatever this is and from the way my body lit up every time he looked at me like I was the answer to a question he hadn’t asked yet.

But he wasn’t mine and now someone was going to make sure everyone knew it.

I stopped outside our dorm room, my hand hovering over the knob.

He was in there. I could hear him pacing around like a maniac. I could practically feel the tension through the door.

I should go in and muster the courage to tell him about the photo. I should warn him.

But what if he looked at me again like he had in the hallway?

And worse what if I let him?

I pressed my forehead to the door, breathing hard. I wasn’t ready for this—I wasn’t ready for him.

But I was running out of time.