Kai's POV
Seb's daughter has a type.
Apparently, it's tall, silent, and probably carved from marble by Lucifer himself.
Day.
That's his actual name.
Who names a kid Day?
Sounds like a code word for destruction.
I'm parked outside Ellesmere High, sunglasses on, black SUV humming, arms crossed like the ex-special ops soldier I am. No one notices me. Just another driver waiting.
Inside, Sky is sunshine and glitter wrapped in chaos. You can spot her by the blur of pink or the trail of compliments left behind.
And then there's him.
Day stands at his locker like he owns silence. Expression flat, movements calculated. He doesn't talk, doesn't smile, doesn't flinch. His uniform looks like it tailored itself to him.
But when she walks past?
He looks.
His head turns, barely. Eyes flicker.
It lasts two seconds.
Then she trips.
Of course.
Because Sky Ashford has the coordination of a baby giraffe wearing roller skates.
Her foot catches on absolutely nothing, and she goes flying forward—books, tote bag, wild midnight-black hair swinging down her knees like a cape.
And that's when it happens.
Day moves.
So fast I almost miss it.
He catches her mid-fall, arms out like it's muscle memory. His hands wrap around her waist to steady her, her palms splayed against his chest. Her face is inches from his, cheeks flushed, eyes wide.
They just stare at each other.
Time doesn't stop—but my heart does.
I lower my sunglasses.
She grins up at him, flustered and giggling. "Oops."
Day doesn't say a word. Just lets go gently, as if touching her too long might burn him.
And then he walks away.
Sky watches him go like she's just seen a unicorn. Or her future husband. Same thing.
I mutter into the comm in my wrist.
> "Status update. Target made physical contact. Intercepted fall. Chest-to-chest proximity. Recommending DEFCON 2."
Seb's voice crackles back:
> "That's it. Get me everything on him. Family. Blood type. Dentist. I want a file on my desk by noon."
I close my eyes.
God help the boy if he ever kisses her.
Because even Lucifer himself wouldn't survive Seb Ashford.