Chapter 52
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Her voice, a sickly–sweet mockery of encouragement, hung in the air, wrapping around me like a tightening noose. She leaned in slightly, the sharp scent of her perfume wafting over me, cloying and suffocating. It clawed at my senses, making my stomach churn, as though her very presence was designed to overwhelm and control. Her grin widened, but it wasn’t kind or motherly–it was the grin of a wolf sizing up its prey, a predator cloaking its menace behind a mask of faux politeness. Her sharp gaze bore into mine, daring me to falter, däring me to push the boundaries she had so clearly staked.
This wasn’t just a confrontation–it was a declaration of war. One she was confident I wouldn’t win.
I clenched my fists at my sides, every fiber of my being itching to accept her challenge. But even under the influence of whatever drug coursed through me, my senses remained conscious enough to warn me against falling into her bigger trap. No matter what I did, she would win–that much was certain. The choice was mine, though, whether to let her win big or win small.
I could hand her a small victory of winning a fight by leaving the party quietly or give her the satisfaction of winning the war by kissing the boy behind me. My desperation to declare war burned in my chest, yet I forced myself to let out a deep, frustrated sigh and took the stairs instead.
The anger in me was burning deep, and I desperately needed cool air to blow it calm. So, instead of going inside my room, I took the stairs to the rooftop.
The cool air hit me as I stepped onto the rooftop terrace, but the relief I’d been chasing didn’t come. My shoulders tensed as I caught sight of a couple tucked into a shadowed corner, their heads close, sharing whispered words and soft kisses.
I froze for a second, my gaze lingering on them before I turned away. It wasn’t jealousy that twisted my stomach, but the bitterness of realizing that even here, there was no space to just be. The air that I was expecting to be soothing felt thick instead. I needed a free space, somewhere else–somewhere I could breathe, but though the rooftop was oozing with fresh oxygen, it wasn’t the one.
Without thinking, my feet carried me down, past the muffled noise of the party and my room, until I stopped outside Kaiden’s room. I knew he wouldn’t be there; he must be at the party, making out with some other girl like a hypocrite. But his room had something I needed right now–a balcony that opened up to the night.
The door creaked softly as I let myself in. The scent of cedarwood lingered faintly, grounding but unfamiliar. I crossed the room quickly, sliding the glass door open and stepping onto the balcony.
The cold air nipped at my skin, but it was welcome. It was everything that I wanted right now. I gripped the railing and stared out into the darkness, the tension in my chest loosening just a little. My anger was still there, simmering under the surface, but after a couple of minutes of fresh air in serenity, it felt muted now, like I’d managed to push it to the edges of my mind.
“What are you doing here?” A voice–Kaiden’s voice–startled me as it came suddenly, cutting through the serenity. “This is my room. You are aware of this fact, right?” His voice was softer than before, lacking the sharp edge of anger it had carried earlier. Yet it wasn’t as welcoming–or annoying–as it used to be when he teased me.
I turned. He was standing a few steps behind me, the faint glow of the balcony light casting shadows across his face. His hazel eyes flickered with something that wasn’t quite concern but wasn’t indifference either, a blend of curiosity and hesitation.
“I just needed some air,” I said, my voice quieter than I intended. “Your balcony seemed like a good spot.”
He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he leaned against the doorway, his shoulders slouched in a way that made him look almost casual. But his hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his jaw tensing slightly like he was weighing his next words. The silence stretched between us, not uncomfortable but heavy with unspoken thoughts.
“Why did you do that to Thor?” he asked eventually, his brow furrowing as he tilted his head slightly, like he was trying to unravel a puzzle.
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Chapter 52
I huffed out a laugh, short and bitter, my lips curling into a faint, humorless smirk. “Why? Feeling jealous?”
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Kaiden tilted his head slightly, like he wanted to argue but thought better of it. Instead, he moved closer, standing just a few feet away now.
“What happened?” he asked, his tone quiet but firm, his gaze steady. “You were fine. Enjoying the party with a big, bright smile on your face, and then suddenly…”
“It wasn’t suddenly,” I cut him off, my voice sharper than I intended, the weight of my frustration slipping through.
“Did your mom say anything to you?” he pressed, his voice softening as his hazel eyes searched mine.
“I hope you slap some self–control on yourself and start treating Kaiden as your real brother.” Mom’s words from before began to ring in my mind, the memory tightening my chest like a vice.
“No,” I said, the lie falling from my lips as I lowered my gaze to avoid his. I was about to turn my head away from him because I was feeling so weak that I might just start crying if I looked into his eyes. However, before I could turn my head completely, he came closer and held me by my chin, cupping it firmly yet softly at the same time and redirecting it towards himself, making me look into his eyes.
“Hey, are you okay?” he asked, his voice so soft that it was one point away from a whisper. I had two options: either I let myself melt down in that hazel depth and cry in front of him, or I do this–I raised my heels, stretched my neck, lifted my chin, closed my eyes, and pressed my lips on his. Enchanting and distracting myself with this magically guilty pleasure that I feel whenever I feel his lips against mine.
To be continued…
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Chapter 53
