the stairs. My body tensed instinctively,

myself in it pretending to be engro

" he

the facade,"

n. He was coming to the kitchen with his

again, this time

you" Without a word, I fidge

lo M

your phone?" She asked c

me up so that I won't be able to contact anyone, but Kael's surveying eyes were on

Mom's voice brought m

d my phone

are you okay?" s

I'm not okay Mom, I need help", b

killed me befo

k to you later" I quickly said before I committ

l me when you g

said and handed

el decisively said to Mom as he walked away from the kitchen, n

t mom is just an irony of what he

ause he was correcting her? I won't let you become li

inue what I was doing before

nife slipping slightl

ed, grabbing a napk

r there?" He said, peepin

utting through the sti

e to sound calm. I could feel his eyes on me,

ays," he said, leanin

g will i

llowing the retort that burned on

liberate and loud, as though every clink and

e a meeting in an hour, and

y. It was easier to agree, to play the role of the obedie

able, scrolling through his ph

ove with, broad shoulders, neatly trimmed

y heart race was now a weapon

izzling oil, the aroma of frying yams mask

ill asleep upstairs. At least they were sp

oice snapped me

es

over me. "I've been calling you for

I'll get it for you." I mov

e the pepper sauce without me asking?" he muttered

in front of him, the urge to scream bubb

Not with the risks that ca

plate on the table like a king dismissing a servan

he said without looking back. Then he was gone

on in my body releasing lik

was a relief. For a few hours, a

a haze of chores and

to retrieve the k

he door, the cool metal pressing into m

the engine, the familiar purr filling th

th the faint buzz of the radio. When I arrived, I parked in my usual spot and stepped out

ks bouncing as they grinned,

e settled in

t the car when I he

yr

earview and found Clar

is time standing outside th

faintly

u okay" she a

e I'm okay?" I thought bef

I cou

gry" Azra's vo

urry," I told her be

k some other tim

" Clara asked again this time with

ou later," I said fidge

cared that Kael might have planted a spy on m

ome. There is a lot to be done if I

said again as soon as we s

my expression. "Okay, my lov

Lorien sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the televi

" I call

n't re

aid again, lo

ine. They were dark, guarded, and fa

me

not h

lt around himself. I walked over to him, crouchi

is gaze shifti

lk to me. W

kill you?" His voice was barely a plea bu