Chapter 21

This time, when I looked at my phone, there was a new text: I was expected at the studio tomorrow morning—some demos were ready for me to hear. I got excited and sat up in bed. Zai took that as his cue to pin me down and resume our earlier activities.

I only got four hours of sleep before rushing off to the studio.

Richard had composed a song, and a girl named Lisa had written some lyrics. She sang the demo first, then I suggested a few changes. Zai was with us in the room, napping on the sofa. He doesn't even need sleep the way I do! I tried not to pout while organizing ideas with the other two. Time flew, and before I knew it, it was already evening.

"I'll let Mark know we're ready to record by tomorrow," Richard said.

I gave him a thumbs-up and smiled. "Sounds good."But honestly, deep down? I just wanted to sleep all day tomorrow.

Zai woke up as soon as we said our goodbyes—like he hadn't really been sleeping at all—and walked with me to the car.

"Why did you come if you were so tired? You could've stayed home," I asked.

He frowned and nuzzled my hair roughly.

"Hey, stop!" I pleaded, laughing, until he gently touched my cheek, making me look at him.

"I don't trust them... It doesn't feel safe to leave you alone."

"Richard doesn't seem like the type to try anything," I said, brushing off his concern. "I'll be fine. There's no need to worry."

"Yes, there is." His voice was firmer now. "They're humans. Dealing with them is... complicated. They can be more twisted than you think."

He withdrew his hand and walked ahead. The car ride was quiet and tense. I finally broke the silence with something casual.

"You know, before you came back, RJ bought me a bunch of clothes—even shoes. I still don't get how he knew my size. It was weird."Then I had an epiphany. "Maybe he's one of those people who can just eyeball measurements?"

"You watch too much TV," Zai muttered.

I pouted. "What would he need a useless skill like that for? He's not a dressmaker."

"Maybe he looked at the tags on your clothes while you were sleeping. Could've checked your shoes, too."

…That did sound more reasonable.

"But Rai's not the type to do that," Zai added, shooting down his own theory as we pulled into the garage.

He parked, then said, "He can read minds. Of course, it comes with limitations—he can't read mine. But your little head would be easy to get into."

I froze in my seat.

He's a mind reader?

I've thought all sorts of obscene things around him!

I'm mortified. I'm surprised he can even talk to me with a straight face.

"Why do you think he never confessed to you?" Zai asked as he turned off the car.

"I thought… he just lost interest," I admitted.

Zai laughed. "Why would he? And… why do you think I'm so crazy about you?"

My heart skipped. I couldn't find words.

"And when you're with Rai… what's the most prevalent thing on your mind?" he added, not waiting for an answer. He stepped out of the car, yelling back, "If you're so comfortable alone, I won't escort you tomorrow."

He gave in way too easily. I was the one who said he didn't need to come… So why do I want to beg him to?

I was slamming my forehead against the dashboard, calling myself an idiot, when Cera knocked on the passenger window. I rolled it down. He sighed in relief.

"Finally. We can talk."

I glared, but he held up his hands.

"You can stay in the car—I don't want to fight. I learned my lesson. I won't lay a hand on you."

"Then what do you want?"

"Honestly? I've never seen Zai so… different. But I think it'd make everyone more comfortable if you went away for a while."

I scoffed and turned away.

"No," I said flatly.

"You should be embarrassed. We can hear you, you know. Screaming and moaning like a whore."

My eyes widened. His were glowing—I couldn't even tell what he was feeling.

"Me and Zai have never been close… but with you here, it's even harder. So LEAVE."

He's not scared of me at all.

I opened my mouth to answer, but a bubble of water surrounded my head. My voice was lost.

"Such a shame," Cera muttered, finger pointed at me, keeping his distance. "I wanted you to go willingly."

I held my breath and stepped out of the car. The water froze into solid ice, the weight knocking me off balance.

I chipped at it—nearly helpless—but if I could just focus… I touched the ice around my head. It softened, crumbled, and turned to snow.

"Oh… Water is your element too."

"You—" My lips froze shut mid-word.

"Shhh," Cera whispered.

"You have to understand—my brothers run through women like they're nothing. Zai's the same. You serve some purpose now, sure. But once that's done? He'll leave you. The smart thing would be to leave first."

And that's when I finally saw it—what he was feeling.

Hate.

He hates me.

But why?

Cera scanned me over. His gaze locked on the marks under my wedding band.

"What's that?"

"Proof," I whispered, melting the ice sealing my lips. "Proof that you're the one who's disposable."

I raised my hand and fired lightning at him, but he shifted into water and dodged. I struck all around the room, blasting two of the cars—alarms screamed into the night.

I needed to be faster.

Suddenly, time slowed. My body felt weightless. In an instant, I was across the garage, hand plunged into the mass of water that was Cera. Lightning surged through him, tearing through his form. He kept shifting—liquid to solid and back—screaming for mercy.

I thought he couldn't feel pain.

Zai arrived first. He caught me standing over Cera's charred body.

"Zai… I'm sorry… please." Cera sobbed, tears streaming down his scorched face.

Zai stared down at him, eyes silver, hair matching. His whole body was glowing.

Intent to kill.

"Oh." Zai muttered indifferently.

"Wait!" I shouted.

I don't know why. Maybe pity. Maybe guilt. Maybe because, even now, Cera was just… pitiful.

"I handled it. He won't try again."

Zai placed his foot on Cera's head and electricity flooded his body. Cera's screams were louder than before. The entire garage flashed with blinding light.

"The prophecy!" I yelled. "All seven must be alive on either side to tip the war. I read it—because of you. You can't kill him. He's your brother."

Zai exhaled slowly and lifted his foot. The others had come in and were now watching in stunned silence.

"Tell him to leave when he wakes up," Zai said, grabbing my hand and pulling me away.

Rai knelt beside Cera, now bloodied and unconscious in a pool of water and sparks. He shook his head.

"Looks like you screwed up."

As Zai led me through the house, my thoughts churned.

Yeah, none of them are blood-related—but I never imagined his brothers looking at him like that.

What kind of childhood did they even have… locked in that castle?

Cera wasn't even banished. He followed RJ and Zai here. Zai assumed he was following Raijian… but maybe he was wrong.

Zai pulled me into his room and hugged me tight once the door shut.

For once, it didn't lead to sex.

He just held me.

All night.

He never let go.

I wasn't sure what he was feeling. Not exactly.But I knew…One of those feelings was dread.