36.

The sound of a faint hum outside the door made my blood turn to ice. Every muscle in my body locked in place as I instinctively pushed Liam further behind me, my trembling hands seeking to shield him from whatever danger lurked just beyond the door. My breath hitched as I whispered, “Stay quiet,” so softly that even I could barely hear it.

Liam, with his wide, innocent eyes, nodded, clinging to the fabric of my dress as though it was the only thing tethering him to safety.

The hum grew louder before the door slid open with a soft hiss, and there he stood—Ace. His presence sucked the air out of the room, leaving an oppressive silence in its wake. His golden eyes flicked toward Xander first, his sharp features marred with suspicion.

“Still here?” Ace’s voice was cold, almost bored, yet it carried an edge sharp enough to draw blood.

Xander leaned casually against the wall, his arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips as if Ace’s scrutiny amused him.

“Figured I’d stick around. You know, in case you decided to bless us with more of your charming accusations.”

Ace’s lips twitched, but the humor didn’t reach his eyes. Instead, his piercing gaze shifted to me, and my heart hammered so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

“You’re awfully quiet, Zephyr,” he drawled, his voice like the scrape of a blade against stone.

“Something on your mind?”

I forced a smile, one I hoped didn’t betray the storm brewing within me.

“Just tired,” I said, my voice as smooth as I could manage.

“It’s been a long week.”

His stare lingered, unblinking and calculating, before it began to sweep the room. My pulse quickened as his gaze edged closer to the corner where Liam hid.

“What’s that?” he asked sharply, his tone slicing through the fragile calm like a knife.

My blood ran cold, but I didn’t falter. “What’s what?” I asked, my voice light, forced, teetering on the edge of panic.

Ace’s steps were slow, deliberate, as he moved toward the corner. I shifted, placing myself firmly in his path, my heart hammering against my ribs like a war drum.

“It’s nothing,” I said quickly. “Just some storage supplies. You know how Xander is—always dragging in random junk from his travels.”

Ace tilted his head, his expression darkening as he studied me.

"You have been for how many days, a week or two and you think you know what we do, hm?"

“You’re lying,” he said simply, the accusation like a slap to my face.

"Stop fooling me." His lips thinned.

I opened my mouth to respond, to think of something, anything, to divert his attention, but before I could, Liam moved. It was the faintest sound, just a rustle of fabric, but it was enough.

Ace’s eyes hardened, his aura flaring like wildfire.

“What’s going on here?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

“Nothing!” I said, my voice cracking as panic laced every syllable.

But he wasn’t buying it. His presence swelled, his power crackling in the air like a brewing storm. He took another step closer, and I felt Liam clutch at the back of my dress, his tiny fingers trembling.

“Move, Zephyr,” Ace ordered, his tone a death sentence.

“No,” I said, my voice trembling but defiant. “You don’t need to see anything.”

His aura flared brighter, and I braced myself, my body a shield between him and the truth I couldn’t afford for him to know. But just as I thought Ace would push past me, Xander intervened.

“Back off, Ace,” Xander said, his voice casual but with an undercurrent of steel.

“You’re overreacting.”

Ace’s gaze snapped to him, his eyes blazing with unbridled fury. “You don’t tell me what to do.”

Xander shrugged, his smirk returning. “I’m just saying you’re making a scene over nothing. Maybe take a breath and chill out for once.”

Ace’s fists clenched, his power swelling until it pressed down on the room like a suffocating weight. “You think this is a joke?”

“I think you’re wasting your time,” Xander shot back, unfazed. “There’s nothing here. You’re just looking for something to be angry about.”

The tension between them was a living thing, choking the air, making every second stretch into an eternity.

Finally, Ace exhaled sharply, his aura receding like a tide. “Fine,” he said coldly, though his tone promised this wasn’t the end. “But this isn’t over.”

He cast one last, piercing glance at me before turning and striding out, the door hissing shut behind him.

The moment he was gone, my legs gave out, and I sank to the floor, pulling Liam into my arms. He buried his face in my shoulder, his small body trembling against me.

“It’s okay,” I whispered, stroking his hair in soothing motions. “It’s okay. He’s gone.”

Xander crouched beside me, his usual cockiness replaced by a rare seriousness. “That was too close,” he said quietly.

“You think I don’t know that?” I snapped, my voice breaking under the weight of my fear and frustration.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We can’t keep doing this, Zephyr. Sooner or later, Ace is going to figure it out. We need a plan.”

My grip on Liam tightened as I looked into his frightened eyes. My resolve hardened like steel. “I don’t care what it takes,” I said fiercely. “I’ll keep him safe. No matter what.”

Xander nodded, his gaze steady. “Then we’ll figure it out. Together.”

But as I held Liam close, my mind racing with possibilities, I couldn’t shake the gnawing dread that Ace was closer to the truth than ever before—and that when the moment came, I’d have to choose between my life and my son’s.

And I already knew my answer.

Xander shifted from his crouched position to sit cross-legged on the floor, his usual smirk creeping back onto his face. He tilted his head to catch Liam’s gaze, his tone deliberately light as he asked, “Hey, little guy, you hungry? I can whip up something decent—or at least edible. Your choice.”

Liam peeked out from where he clung to me, his wide eyes still glistening with unshed tears. He studied Xander for a moment, hesitant, then looked up at me for reassurance. I smoothed his hair back, offering a small smile. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Xander’s just trying to help.”

Xander placed a hand dramatically over his chest, pretending to be wounded. “Trying? Come on, Zephyr, give me some credit. I make the best toasted sandwiches in the galaxy.”

Liam’s lips twitched, the tiniest hint of a smile breaking through his fear. “Do you really?” he whispered, his voice small but curious.

“Absolutely,” Xander said with mock seriousness, leaning in as if sharing a grand secret. “They’re legendary. People travel light-years just to taste them. Isn’t that right, Zephyr?”

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t suppress the faint laugh that escaped. “Legendary might be a stretch. Barely edible is closer to the truth.”

“Harsh,” Xander said, clutching at his imaginary wound again. He turned back to Liam, grinning. “Don’t listen to her. She’s just jealous of my culinary genius. So, what’ll it be, champ? A sandwich? Or maybe some intergalactic pancakes?”

Liam hesitated, his grip on my dress loosening slightly. “Pancakes?” he asked, the word tinged with hope.

“Pancakes it is!” Xander declared, springing to his feet with a flourish. “One stack of the universe’s finest pancakes coming right up.”