en's

dge of the doorway as my eyes fixed upon th

ush before a storm. He carried assurance like a crown, but there was something disturbin

gently fro

ice low, soft, and annoyingly comfortin

d. "Who a

your adversary, if that's what you

like he expected the name to signify any

ou here?" I

you that your worth isn't define

lap. I didn't sure whether I should be furious at the intrusion or pl

ing for me to do the

now? When everyone else turned th

of unlocking doors you never saw before. And

It wasn't exactly attraction, not yet. But

ed in the hallway, her voice shril

urned to Houston. "

eaceful grin still flickering on

is gaze fixated on the map table before him. Mother was s

," Father remarked w

kn

o is

ston. I don't kno

u brought a stranger into our h

te him! He arri

send hi

he's not Kaelen? Because he

shing. "Do not raise yo

ing me like I don

lowed crackled like lig

ded quietly. "We gave you everything

. "He left me. I di

. "Enough. Keep that guy away from y

out, the heat in m

red the sitting room. "T

d. "I shouldn't

But if you hadn't, I w

"What do you want

ly stroking a strand o

u are. The girl who deserves

it sent chills down my spine. Was it t

cared of them?

ng in you they don't. And I

eep within me. And for the first time

trange," I

t takes someone weird to

, but it disappeared as L

Now. It's Kaelen.

stared at Housto

does he

he made a mistake. And

nched. "You don't

of me needed closure. The other part... th

hispered. "What ar

toward t

g to hear

he corridor, Houston'

emember this: You are

te with faltering fe

ele

me smirk that once

sturbed. As if the decision he ma

muttered, co

," I wh

e a mis

ng her over me wasn't a mi

. She wasn't who I

m I now? A b

r my hand, but

Just let m

t movement. Houst

es darkened.

showed up wh

ard. "He doesn't k

tly. "He sees me bett

he said nothing. The stil

sound-a sharp

that didn't bel

sion altered. "So

rils blazing. "Tha

d betwe

s happe

k, a bone-rattling boom rippl

inva

rog

as coming