The late afternoon sun poured through the tall windows of the library, scattering golden rays across the wooden tables. The space was quiet except for the scratching of pens and the occasional rustle of paper. Sara sat with Lina and Ryan, absorbed in an assignment, while Daniel had stepped away to fetch a book.
That was when Adrian leaned back in his chair, folding his arms, and gave Leo a pointed look.
"It's time we had the talk with lover boy," Adrian muttered.
Leo raised an eyebrow. "You mean Daniel?"
"Of course Daniel," Adrian said, smirking but his tone unusually serious. "The guy practically wears his heart on his sleeve whenever Sara's around. Anyone with eyes can see it. Including Emily."
Leo sighed, glancing toward Sara, who laughed quietly at something Ryan had said. "And you think that's a problem?"
"Problem?" Adrian lowered his voice. "It's a flashing neon sign that says Target Here. Emily's already sharpening her claws, and Grace isn't backing off either. If Daniel keeps showing his hand like this, they'll come after him too. And by extension—"
"Sara," Leo finished grimly.
The two fell silent as Daniel returned, balancing a stack of books. He set them down, his easy smile warming the group. Sara glanced up, her eyes lighting when she met his gaze, and a quiet understanding passed between them.
Adrian groaned softly. "See what I mean? Subtle as a brick."
Leo cleared his throat. "Daniel, a word?"
Daniel blinked, puzzled, but followed them toward a quieter corner of the library.
"What's this about?" Daniel asked, his brows knitting.
Adrian leaned against a bookshelf, his tone half-joking but sharp underneath. "It's about your little fairy-tale act. You and Sara."
Daniel frowned. "What about us?"
Leo shot Adrian a look before stepping in calmly. "What Adrian's trying to say is… we know you care about her. And that's fine. More than fine. But you need to think about the bigger picture."
Daniel's expression hardened. "The bigger picture?"
"Yes," Leo said steadily. "Emily already hates Sara. Grace wants to control her. If you're too obvious, you'll paint a bullseye on your back. They'll use you to hurt her."
Daniel's jaw tightened, his hands curling slightly. "So what are you saying? That I should just leave her alone? Pretend I don't care?"
Adrian raised his hands. "Relax, Romeo. We're not saying dump her. We're saying be smart about it. Play it cool. Keep your feelings under wraps until we know exactly how far Emily and Grace are willing to go."
Daniel's eyes flashed with defiance. "Sara doesn't need me to hide. She needs me to stand by her. To show her she's not alone."
Leo's voice softened. "We get that. But think about her safety, Daniel. If you're reckless, you might make her life harder, not easier."
For a long moment, Daniel said nothing. He stared past them, the weight of their warning pressing on him. His chest tightened at the thought of Sara caught in Emily's traps — or worse, Grace's schemes — all because of him.
Finally, he exhaled sharply. "You're right about one thing: Emily will come after me if I stay close to Sara. But I'd rather be a shield she can count on than a ghost she can't."
Adrian whistled low. "Man's got conviction. I'll give him that."
Leo shook his head, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Just promise us you'll be careful. Don't underestimate them. Emily doesn't play fair, and Grace…" His eyes darkened. "Grace plays a much bigger game."
Daniel nodded, his gaze firm. "I hear you. But I'm not backing down."
When they returned to the table, Sara looked up, her brow creasing slightly at their serious expressions.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
Daniel forced a smile. "Yeah. Just a… guy talk."
Adrian grinned. "Don't worry, princess. Your knight here passed the test."
Sara rolled her eyes, though her cheeks flushed pink. Lina glanced between them, her suspicions only growing deeper, while Ryan muttered something about "idiots in love."
But as they bent back over their books, Adrian and Leo exchanged a look. They knew storms were coming. And whether Daniel liked it or not, his closeness to Sara would make him a lightning rod.