Morning light spilled through the windows as Zara and Mira finished dressing. Mira adjusted her hair for the third time before glancing at Zara.
"I wonder how Liana is doing…" Mira murmured.
Zara didn't answer at first. Her expression was strange, almost unreadable, but she eventually nodded, and the two girls walked out quietly.
They got to the cafeteria, picked their food, and sat down. The place was lively with chatter until Morris stepped in. His eyes scanned the room quickly before settling on their table. He approached immediately.
"Hi," he said, his voice soft—directed mostly at Mira.
"Hey," they replied together.
"Where's Liana?" Morris asked.
"Oh… I haven't seen her since yesterday," Mira said.
Morris' shoulders dropped slightly. "Oh. Okay… I'll go look for her."
Zara tried to stop him. "You can join us—"
"No. I need to see her," he said and walked off.
---
In another part of campus, Liana stood in front of a mirror, brushing her hair slowly. Kael's arm was wrapped securely around her waist as if he had no intention of letting her leave the room.
"Where are you going?" he asked, his voice low and warm.
"To class… but first I want to check on Zara and Mira," she said, turning to face him.
Kael studied her closely. "Why do you look worried?"
"I don't know… Zara's been acting weird lately," she admitted.
He reached for his jacket and slipped it on. "Really?" he asked, and she nodded.
Kael leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"Please be careful outside," he said quietly.
Liana smiled and stepped out. Immediately, the hallway filled with whispers.
"She's so lucky… Kael's mate!"
"But she doesn't even smell like us…"
"I heard Kael is too handsome, nobody can look at him directly."
"I swear I will die if I see his face."
Liana almost laughed. What are these people saying?
"Hiiiii!"
She turned and saw Morris approaching her. Kael's warning flashed in her mind—stay away from him—but she still managed a polite smile.
"Hi," she replied.
"Did you see Zara and Mira?" he asked.
"They're in the cafeteria."
"I'll walk you," he offered, lightly taking her hand.
Liana felt a sudden discomfort at the touch, remembering Kael's voice, and quietly pulled her hand back. They walked together anyway and got their food.
When they reached the table, Mira jumped up immediately.
"Lia!" she hugged her tightly.
"How are you?" Zara asked, though her eyes held something Liana couldn't name.
"I'm fine," she answered.
The whispers around the cafeteria grew louder now that she was sitting with Morris. Liana tried to ignore them and focused on her meal.
Then… a soft whisper brushed past her ear.
Liana…
She froze and looked up sharply.
Her friends were eating.
Morris was focused on his food.
No one had called her.
Liana…
There it was again—soft, cold, and so close it made her chest tighten.
She stood up quietly. "I'll be right back," she said and walked toward the bathroom.
The moment she pushed the door open, silence swallowed the room. Liana washed her hands, glanced at herself in the mirror, and turned toward the exit—
And froze completely.
Cain Valerius stood there, leaning casually against the wall.
The same man from yesterday.
The man claiming to be her father.
He smiled slowly, his eyes glowing with something dark and ancient.
"I knew it," he murmured. "A child with power like yours… you could only be mine."
Liana's stomach twisted. She took a step back, her heart hammering.
He was here again.
And this time… he didn't look like he planned to leave anytime soon.