Page 8

I can see it in his eyes—he’s unraveling.

His hands are shaking, and he runs one through his hair, tugging at the strands like he’s trying to pull the thoughts out of his head.

“It’s not Levi,” he mutters, his voice rising, his breaths coming faster. “Someone’s framing him, Sable. I’ve been looking into this. The symbol. It’s all connected to something bigger, something older—there’s no way Levi’s involved in this. You have to believe me.”

“Kai,” I try to interrupt, but he keeps going, his eyes darting from me to the ground.

“And the photos—they have to be doctored, right? I mean, they’re too perfect. Why would Levi leave such obvious clues? It doesn’t make any sense. He’s not stupid. He wouldn’t?—”

“Kai!” I say louder, grabbing his arm to stop him.

His whole body jerks under my touch, his eyes wide and frantic as they snap to mine.

His chest is rising and falling too fast, his breaths shallow and ragged. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days, and judging by the gaunt look on his face, he probably hasn’t eaten either. His cheekbones are sharper, his skin pale, and those dark circles under his eyes tell me everything I need to know about how hard he’s been pushing himself.

I’ve never seen him like this. Not this broken.

“Kai,” I say softly now, squeezing his arm. “Breathe.”

He stares at me, his eyes darting over my face as if he’s trying to find some kind of anchor, something to hold on to. His lips part, and for a moment, I think he’s going to keep going, keep pushing, but then something in him cracks, and he exhales shakily.

“I don’t… I don’t know what to do, Sable,” he admits, his voice breaking. “I can’t lose him. And I can’t lose you either. I—” His words falter, and his shoulders slump like the weight of everything is finally crashing down on him.

My heart squeezes painfully in my chest.

He’s been carrying this all alone, hasn’t he? Fighting for Levi, fighting for us… and all the while, I’ve been pulling away. I thought I needed space, but maybe what I needed was to see how much he’s falling apart.

How much we’re falling apart without each other.

“Hey,” I say gently, stepping closer and placing my hands on his arms. “You won’t lose us, okay? We’re going to figure this out. But first, you need to stop. You need to breathe.”

He swallows hard, nodding slowly, but the tension in his body doesn’t ease. His hands are still trembling, his eyes still wild with the panic that’s clawing at him.

“When was the last time you ate an actual meal?”

He blinks, confusion flickering across his face. “I… I don’t know. Maybe this morning? I don’t remember.”

I let out a soft sigh, shaking my head. “Come on,” I say, tugging on his arm. “Let’s get some food in you. I’ll take you to that diner on campus, okay? You need something other than caffeine to survive.”

“Sable—”

“No,” I cut him off gently. “No more obsessing over the Syndicate, no more spiraling. Just… food. Please.”

He stares at me for a moment, his jaw tightening, and for a second, I think he’s going to refuse. But then he lets out a defeated sigh, nodding once. “Okay.”

I lead him toward the diner, our steps quiet as the cool night air wraps around us. The tension that had been suffocating us slowly starts to lift as we walk. I can feel him starting to relax. His hand brushes against mine, and instinctively, I thread my fingers through his, giving him something to hold on to.

When we reach the diner, we slide into a booth near the window in the back corner. The fluorescent lights are harsh, but there’s something comforting about the clatter of dishes and the low hum of conversation around us.

It feels normal—safe—and I can see Kai’s shoulders start to loosen, the exhaustion finally catching up to him.

I order us both something simple—burgers, fries, nothing too heavy—and we sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

“Thanks,” Kai murmurs after a while.

“For what?”

“For making me stop.”

I give him a small smile. “Someone has to take care of you when you forget to take care of yourself.”

He chuckles softly, but that haunted look in his eyes remains. I reach across the table and take his hand again, intertwining my fingers with his. His hand feels solid, warm, but I can sense the tremor there.

“We’re going to get through this,” I promise him. “We’ll get Levi back. Together.”

He nods, but he’s afraid. Not just of losing Levi, but of losing all of us, of losing me. I can feel it in the way his hand tightens around mine like he’s holding on for dear life, afraid that if he lets go, I’ll vanish.

The moment stretches out, and suddenly, I’m hyperaware of every small detail—his hand, the warmth of his skin, the way his eyes soften when they meet mine.

Dinner is quiet.

When we finish eating, the walk back to my dorm feels different. The campus is quiet, wrapped in the kind of stillness that makes every breath, every step, every heartbeat louder. The cool air brushes my skin, but there’s a warmth radiating from him beside me, a heat I can’t ignore.

I steal a glance at him from the corner of my eye, and my heart stumbles when I catch the way his gaze lingers on me. There’s something in his eyes, something raw and unguarded.

When we reach my door, I hesitate, hand hovering over the handle.

I should say goodnight, but I can’t make myself pull away.

“Kai,” I begin, but my voice catches, and I’m not sure if I’m about to ask a question or make a confession.

Before I can figure it out, he shakes his head, and then he’s on me. His lips crash against mine desperately, like he’s starving and I’m the only thing that can feed him. The kiss isn’t soft. It’s fire and possession, his teeth grazing my lower lip as if he wants to devour me whole. A growl escapes him as his hands tangle in my hair, pulling me closer.

My fingers clutch at his shirt, bunching the fabric as I lose myself in him—in the way he tastes, in the way he feels, in the way he consumes every last thought until all I know is him.

When we break apart, he pants against my lips.

“I can’t do this without you, Sable. I need you.”

I bury my face in his chest. His arms wrap around me instantly. My cheek presses against his chest and I can feel the rapid beat of his heart beneath my skin.

His scent, the feel of him pressed against me, the way his breath stirs the hair at the top of my head—it’s all overwhelming, and yet it feels right.

But there’s more. There’s always more.

I realize, with a sudden clarity that makes my chest ache, that I’m in love with Kai.

The thought should scare me—it should send me running.

But it doesn’t.

Instead, it feels like everything is finally falling into place, like I’ve been denying the truth for too long, and now that it’s out in the open, I can finally breathe.

He pulls back slightly, just enough to look down at me, his eyes searching mine, a question lingering in their depths. I could answer him, could lean in and close the distance between us, let our lips meet, let everything I’ve been holding back pour out.

But I don’t. Not yet.

Instead, I let my hand slide down his arm, my fingers brushing over his wrist before I squeeze his hand gently, holding on just a little longer. My heart hammers in my chest, my thoughts spinning, but one thing is clear.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

And for the first time, I know it’s true.