Chapter 134 133: Wound, Weight & Wolf

Chapter 134 133: Wound, Weight & Wolf
The air between them was still warm from Damien's words when a soft knock broke the silence.

Seraphine turned toward the door, startled. "Come in," she said automatically.

The door creaked open, and Caleb stepped inside, half-smiling until he saw Damien standing close to Seraphine, a faint red glow still shimmering from the mask in his hands.

"Oh," Caleb said awkwardly, glancing between them. "Am I interrupting something?"

Seraphine blinked, still dazed. "No... uh, not really. We were just..." She looked at Damien, words failing her again. "I just... I need a little time to think. Can I give you my answer later? I didn't expect this at all, and I still need to process everything."

Damien's expression softened immediately. He nodded, sliding the letter and mask gently onto her desk. "Of course," he said quietly. "I'm not here to rush you. Take all the time you need."

He gave her one last lingering look, a mix of hope and restraint before he walked past Caleb and left the room.

The moment the door shut, Caleb sarned to her, eyebrows raised so high they almost touched his hairline. "Okay," he said, folding his arms. "What was that all about? What answer? What are you processing?"

Seraphine let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "You're not going to believe what just happened," she said, almost laughing at the absurdity of it. 

"Damien just... confessed to me. He said he loves me and he asked me to the ball."

Caleb froze mid-step. His mouth dropped open. “Wait. Damien? Damien Drakaris? The dragon boy who practically intimidates half the Academy?"

Seraphine nodded helplessly. "That was exactly my reaction." She pressed a hand to her temple. "I can't believe it either. I didn't even realize he saw me that way."

Caleb stared at her as she had just announced the end of the world. "So... what do you think? Do you like him? Do you want to go for him?"

Seraphine hesitated. "I don't know. I'm... confused right now. Everything's just happening so fast. I need to process it." She sighed. "And I still need to see Lucien."

Caleb blinked. "Lucien? Why Lucien?"

Seraphine looked away.
"He, um... came to my dreams last night."

Caleb's eyes widened. "You literally came to your dream? Like... incubus magic?"

"Yes," she said quietly. "And he told me something that sounded like a confession too. He said... he liked me. Or something like that. I don't even understand what he meant."

Caleb threw his hands in the air. "Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. Let me get this straight." He started counting on his fingers. "First, Kade kissed you and confessed. Now Damien's declaring eternal love and handing you glowing dragon gifts. And Lucien's entering your dreams to say he likes you? Girl..." He gave her an exaggerated look of mock astonishment. "You are on fire. Literally. Flames. Sparks. The boys of Aetherborn are combusting over you."

Seraphine groaned, sinking into her chair. "It's not funny, Caleb."

"Oh, it's very funny," he said, grinning. "It's also insane."

"I just..." She pressed a hand to her chest. "They"re my friends. I don't want this to ruin what we have. If I say yes to one of them, it'll change everything. And if I say no, it'll hurt them. I don't want to cause a rift between them."

Caleb softened, crouching beside her. "You're not causing it, Sera. Feelings happen. It's not your fault."

"I know," she whispered. "But still... I need to talk to Lucien. I need to know if it was real or just a dream."

Caleb tilted his head. "You'ré really going to the Four Lodge to find him? Before class?"

Seraphine nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. "Yes. I'll just talk to him and come right back. I need answers, Caleb."

He sighed dramatically, then stood and offered her his hand. "Alright then, Miss Heartbreaker. Let's go find your dream boy."

Seraphine managed a weak laugh, taking his hand. "You're impossible."

"Maybe," he said, smirking. "But at least I'm the only boy here not in love with you."

She smiled faintly at that as they stepped out into the corridor unaware that somewhere down the hall, a pair of crimson eyes had just watched Damien leave her room, burning quietly with unspoken jealousy.

Caleb stopped in front of The Four Lodge, its dark stone walls veined with silver runes that shimmered faintly in the morning light.
He turned to Seraphine, adjusting the strap of his bag.

"Alright, we're here," he said eyeing the looming archway. "Do whatever dream-boy thing you came to do, but make it quick. If they find out you're missing from class again, you'll be in trouble."

Seraphine smiled softly. "Thanks, Caleb. I'll be fast, I promise."

"You better," he teased, stepping back. 

"Fifteen minutes, tops. If not I'm coming to drag you out myself."

She laughed as he waved and disappeared down the marble path toward the school building.

As soon as she turned toward the Lodge doors, a sudden rush of wind hit her. A hand shot out of nowhere, gripping her wrist, firm, strong, and before she could react, she was pulled off the steps in a blur of motion.

The world spun for a moment, and when it stilled, she found herself in the moonlit garden path behind the Lodge. The scent of pine and frost lingered in the air.

"What the?" she started, jerking her hand free. "Kade?"

He stood before her, chest heaving slightly, jaw clenched. His sword belt hung loosely around his hips, as if he'd come straight from training.

"Why did you drag me out here like that?" she demanded.

Kade's voice was low, rough, almost trembling." Why are you here? You're supposed to be in class."

Seraphine blinked. "I came to see Lucien."
At that, his eyes darkened, the gold in them flashing like a warning ember. "Don't," he said" flatly. "Don't see him."

She frowned. "What? Why? What's going on?"

He stepped closer, close enough that she could see the tension in his shoulders, the storm building behind his calm. "Why do you want to see him, Sera? To ask if he likes you? To understand what he meant?" His voice cracked slightly. "Do you like him?"
Seraphine stared at him, stunned. "How do you even know..."

"Just answer me," he bit out.

She took a step back. "Kade, I don't understand where this is coming from."

He let out a bitter laugh. "Really? You told me you didn't have time for love, that you needed to focus on being the Aetherborn, that you weren't ready. I respected that. I believed it." His hand curled into a fist. "And now you're here, running after Lucien to' understand what he meant'? What am I supposed to think?"

Her heartbeat stumbled. "You're twisting this. That's not..."

"Then why didn't you say no to Damien?" he snapped, eyes blazing. "He was in your room this morning, wasn't he? What did he give you?"

How did you know that? Were you watching me?"

He didn't answer, and that silence was enough.

"Kade!" she exclaimed. "What is wrong with you? Are you watching me now? Interrogating me? What is this, some kind of competition?"

His voice broke through hers like thunder. "I love you, Seraphine." 

The words hung in the air, raw and trembling.

"I love you," he said again, stepping closer until the space between them burned. "And I'm not going to sit back and watch anyone not even those I call brother take you away from me."

The garden was silent except for the sound of their breaths.

Seraphine's throat tightened, her thoughts spinning too fast to catch. His confession felt like both a wound and a weight, a truth too heavy for the air to hold.

"Kade..." she whispered, not knowing what else to say.

But Kade just looked at her, eyes fierce and vulnerable all at once, before turning away sharply.

"You should go," he muttered. "Before I say something I can't take back."

And before she could stop him, he was gone, disappearing between the trees, leaving Seraphine standing in the garden, shaken to her core, with three confessions now echoing in her chest like clashing heartbeats.