Kael
When Seraphina suggested we take some time apart to cool down, I chose to respect her wishes. Though I didn’t want to be separated from her, I was worried she might dwell on unnecessary thoughts. I knew how afraid she was of interacting with werewolves. I feared she’d overthink things, scare herself, and eventually drift away from me.
But I couldn’t force her either-that would only make her resent me more. So, in the end, I gave her time to think, though I limited it to three days. By the weekend, I planned to seek her out and hear her thoughts.
I even decided that no matter if Seraphina rejected me, I would bind her to my side. As for my father, I couldn’t change his mind, so I asked Frederick to intercede on my behalf.
Fortunately, my father was too busy with work recently to pay much attention to me. He only told me not to take things too seriously, that I could play around with relationships as I pleased. I didn’t tell him that for me, there would never be anyone else but Seraphina.
I don’t think my father has ever truly loved anyone. A cold, heartless man like him-how could he? His marriage to my mother was likely just a strategic alliance, a way to combine powerful families. Nothing more. I didn’t want to waste time arguing with someone who had no understanding of love. I would make my own decisions and protect Seraphina. That was enough.
But tonight, I saw photos of Seraphina with that Magnus. They were studying together, facing each other, laughing and chatting over meals in the cafeteria. And there was also a picture where they were running in the rain, their bodies pressed close, looking so intimate. In that moment, my heart felt like it had been frozen in ice, and I struggled to breathe. I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself, but my eyes burned holes into those photos.
Damn it, why?
Seraphina lied to me!
She said she needed time to cool off, but then she turned around and spent time with Magnus? I hadn’t noticed how close they’d become. Magnus was the doctor at the Eagle Club and went to the same school as we did. Seraphina had plenty of opportunities to meet him. The more I thought about it, the more my heart ached.
Damn it, Seraphina betrayed me!
But then again, Seraphina had never promised to be with me. She only enjoyed being intimate with me but refused to make our relationship public. Was it because she didn’t actually like me? The thought filled me with agony. I felt like a stray dog abandoned by its owner.
I opened a bottle of whiskey and drank. The burn in my throat was unpleasant, but it also brought a strange sense of relief. I realized I couldn’t wait three days to see Seraphina. I needed answers now. I tossed the bottle aside and teleported to her room.
I appeared in her dark bedroom, but the lack of light didn’t hinder my vision-werewolves could see in the dark. Seraphina was lying in bed, seemingly asleep. It was past midnight, and after a long day of studying in the library, it made sense she’d be tired. I approached and looked down at her.
I had planned to wake her, but when I saw her flushed face, her furrowed brow, and the signs of discomfort, I understood. Seraphina was sick-and it looked serious. Her lips were dry and cracked from dehydration. Thinking about how she and Magnus had run through the rain from the library, my chest tightened. They’d shared all those romantic moments, and now she was ill.
I was both angry and heartbroken. I rushed to the kitchen, poured her a glass of water, and found ibuprofen in the medicine cabinet. Returning to the room, I lifted her onto my lap and fed her the water and medicine. She felt feverish, her skin burning to the touch.
Werewolves had healing abilities, but they only worked on physical wounds. For something like a cold or fever, I could only ease her pain. Ultimately, she’d have to rely on her own immune system to recover. After drinking the water, Seraphina seemed less distressed, though she still couldn’t open her eyes. She nuzzled deeper into my embrace.
Normally, I’d have been delighted by her dependence on me. But now, I couldn’t feel joy. My emotions were too complicated. As I stared at her face, all I could see were the images of her with Magnus.
Damn it, how had I not realized Seraphina could be so cruel? Was she toying with my feelings? Frustrated, I pressed my fingers into her cheek, harder than I intended. She winced but didn’t wake. The spot I’d pressed turned red.
I laid her back on the bed and gently stroked her cheek, my heart heavy. Why? I’d come here for answers, for an explanation. But instead, I found her sick. It was like punching cotton-soft, yielding, leaving me powerless. The anger in my chest vanished, replaced by endless frustration.
Does Seraphina really not love me?
Was she just pretending all along?
I looked at her lying there, so fragile. In the end, I couldn’t resist. I leaned down and kissed her lips. They were dry, not like usual, and her body was warmer. My tongue slipped into her mouth, tasting the bitterness of the medicine. I pulled back and bit her lip lightly.
“Seraphina, get better soon.”
Seeing her like this, it felt like I was the one who was sick. I ached with her.