Chapter 33 Truth, Almost Told
I couldn’t breathe properly after she left.
It felt like the air had thickened, like something invisible had wrapped around my chest and tightened.
“What does she mean?”
My voice sounded distant. Like it didn’t belong to me.
Kylen didn’t answer right away.
That scared me more than anything.
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing once, then stopping like he didn’t even know what to do with himself. I had never seen him like this. Not confident. Not in control.
Just… shaken.
“Kylen,” I said again, firmer this time. “Stop avoiding it.”
His eyes snapped to mine.
“There are things you don’t know,” he said quietly.
My stomach dropped.
“You keep saying that. What things?”
He hesitated again.
And that hesitation?
It felt like betrayal.
“Say it,” I pushed.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
“It’s about your family.”
My heart stuttered.
“What about them?”
Another pause.
Too long.
Too heavy.
“I can’t tell you everything,” he said finally.
Something inside me snapped.
“You can’t?” I laughed, but it came out sharp. “Or you won’t?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It never is with you,” I shot back.
Silence stretched between us again, but this time it wasn’t full.
It was broken.
“You think I don’t deserve to know?” I asked, quieter now.
His expression softened for a split second.
“That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
He exhaled slowly, like the words physically hurt.
“If I tell you… everything changes.”
My chest tightened.
“Things already changed, Kylen.”
That hit him. I saw it.
But before he could respond—
“Lenora?”
I turned.
Adrian.
Of course.
He stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, watching us like he had walked in on something he wasn’t supposed to see—but wasn’t sorry about it.
Kylen’s entire posture shifted instantly.
Tense. Defensive.
“What do you want?” Kylen asked coldly.
Adrian smirked slightly.
“Relax. I’m not here for you.”
His eyes moved to me.
“I was looking for her.”
That… did something.
Something small.
But noticeable.
Kylen’s jaw tightened.
I frowned slightly. “Why?”
Adrian shrugged.
“You left your bag at the rink yesterday.”
Oh.
“I was going to return it,” he added, stepping closer, “but figured I’d bring it myself.”
He held it out.
Our fingers brushed for the briefest second when I took it.
And Kylen noticed.
Of course he did.
“Thanks,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
Adrian’s lips curved faintly.
“You’re welcome.”
The silence that followed was… loaded.
Then Adrian glanced between us.
“Am I interrupting something intense?”
“Yes,” Kylen said immediately.
I ignored him.
“No,” I said at the same time.
Adrian chuckled softly.
“Interesting.”
Kylen stepped forward slightly.
“We’re talking.”
“And?” Adrian tilted his head. “That means no one else can?”
The tension between them snapped tight.
“Stay out of it,” Kylen said, voice low.
Adrian’s smile didn’t fade.
“Or what?”
Oh.
This was bad.
“Stop,” I said quickly, stepping between them.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them backed down.
I exhaled sharply.
“This isn’t about either of you.”
Kylen looked at me.
“It is.”
Adrian didn’t argue.
Which somehow made it worse.
I turned back to Kylen, ignoring Adrian completely.
“You were saying something,” I pressed.
Kylen hesitated again.
His eyes flicked briefly to Adrian.
Then back to me.
And just like that…
He shut down.
“Not here,” he said.
My heart dropped.
“What?”
“Not like this.”
I stared at him.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m serious.”
“You don’t get to drop something like that and then walk away from it!”
His jaw tightened.
“I’m not walking away.”
“Then say it!”
Silence.
Again.
And then—
“I’ll tell you after the tournament.”
That was it.
That was his answer.
Something inside me cracked.
Not loudly.
But deeply.
“After?” I repeated.
“It’s important.”
I laughed again, but this time it hurt.
“So am I.”
That landed.
Hard.
But he still didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
Didn’t fix it.
And that told me everything I needed to know.
I stepped back.
Slowly.
“Fine,” I said.
Kylen’s eyes widened slightly.
“Lenora—”
“No,” I cut him off. “You’ve said enough.”
I turned.
Walked past Adrian.
Didn’t stop.
Didn’t look back.
But I felt it.
Kylen watching me leave.
And Adrian…
Following.
“Hey,” he called after me once we were out in the hallway.
I stopped, turning slightly.
“What?”
He studied me for a moment.
Really studied me.
“You okay?”
I almost laughed.
“Do I look okay?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
“No,” he said finally.
Something about the way he said it…
Honest.
Simple.
Not pretending.
It caught me off guard.
“Good,” I muttered. “At least someone’s paying attention.”
His lips twitched.
“I always pay attention.”
That should have sounded cocky.
But it didn’t.
It sounded… intentional.
I looked away first.
Because suddenly…
Things weren’t just complicated.
They were dangerous.
And whatever truth Kylen was hiding?
Whatever Lilibeth was planning?
It was coming.
Fast.
And I had a feeling…
When it finally hit—
Nothing would ever be the same again.