Chapter 33\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
The courtyard was quiet, and everyone was busy working.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment we step outside, I feel the tension vibrating off Theo like heat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He opens his mouth; like he\u2019s finally ready to talk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia\u2026 I need to explain something,\u201d he says, his voice low, rough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest tightens. Because he looks\u2026 shaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not angry, not annoyed \u2013 shaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I fold my arms, trying not to show how much that worries me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen go ahead. Explain,\u201d I say softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo steps closer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Too close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The kind of close that makes my breath hitch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething happened in the meeting,\u201d he murmurs. \u201cSomething I didn\u2019t agree to. Something that\u2014\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Footsteps interrupt him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sharp. Fast. Purposeful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo stiffens, jaw locking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I already know who it is before she appears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She came out of the corner with a practiced smile, hair glossy, dress fitted like she walked out of a magazine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And when her eyes land on Theo. On us, the sweetness in her expression curdles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019ve been looking over for you,\u201d she says, tilting her head. \u201cI didn\u2019t realize you were\u2026 occupied.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo\u2019s entire body goes rigid. His shoulders tense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice drops, almost into a whisper. \u201cElara. Not now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She ignores him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:26 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 33\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her gaze sweeps over me slowly dismissive, eyes glinting with something sharp.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then she says to Theo, too brightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64)\u00a0<\/p>\n
E55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t return to finish our conversation. I thought we should finalise things before Cara makes the public\u00a0<\/p>\n
announcement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air leaves my lungs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Announcement?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I look at Theo but he won\u2019t meet my eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara stepped closer to him, deliberately invading his space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really should come back,\u201d she murmurs. \u201cThere are\u2026 important decisions being made about us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart stutters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Important decisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo\u2019s jaw ticks as he steps back away from her, and toward me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara. Leave.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She laughs lightly, like she\u2019s humoring a child.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs this because of her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes flick to me again, unapologetically bold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo\u2019s voice is a warning growl. \u201cElara.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She smiles. \u201cI\u2019ll wait in your office.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then she walks away, hips swaying, head held high.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment she disappears, silence drops heavy between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I force myself to breathe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u201d I say quietly, not trusting my voice not to shake. \u201cImportant decisions?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo drags a hand through his hair, looking like he wants to rip the world apart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia, it\u2019s not what she made it sound like.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what is it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:26 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 33\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
He hesitates one second too long.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something inside me fractures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nod stiffly. \u201cRight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I step back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo reaches for me instantly. \u201cKaia-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGo,\u201d I whisper. \u201cFinish your conversation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His expression twists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hurt. Anger. Desperation. I can\u2019t tell what he\u2019s feeling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not\u2026. You don\u2019t understand-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
65 vouchers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen explain it,\u201d I snap, voice breaking before I can stop it. \u201cExplain why a woman from your past thinks she can claim you every chance she gets\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I find myself on the verge of tears for no reason.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo\u2019s breath catches.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I shake my head, backing away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not doing this right now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then I turn and walk off, not trusting myself to stay if he says my name again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFuck. Damn it!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind me, I hear him curse under his breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And then silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Theo\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I walked in Elara is sitting on my seat, twirling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her my patience wears thin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stand near my desk, arms crossed, heartbeat still uneven from Kaia walking away from me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara steps forward, all soft perfume and flirty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t have to be so cold out there,\u201d she says sweetly. \u201cPeople will talk.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d I snapped. \u201cMaybe they\u2019ll understand that whatever you think is happening here\u2026 isn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:26 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 33\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her smile dims but doesn\u2019t disappear. \u201cTheo, I\u2019m just trying to help. Cara thinks-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I cut in sharply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you call her here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She blinks. \u201cWait. What?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCara,\u201d I growled. \u201cDid you summon her? Did you tell her anything? Hint anything? Suggest anything?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara presses a hand to her chest, acting wounded. \u201cOf course not.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stare at her face \u2013 the slight twitch near her eye, the too-fast blinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara,\u201d I say slowly, dangerously, \u201cmy stepmother hasn\u2019t set foot in this territory in months. She hasn\u2019t called. She hasn\u2019t written. She barely acknowledges me unless it benefits her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I take one step forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she suddenly shows up days after you arrive, talking about Luna positions and marriage arrangements?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her lips press into a chair close to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just coincidence,\u201d she whispers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I say. \u201cIt\u2019s not.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara looks away, but I don\u2019t let her dodge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me the truth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She lifts her chin defiantly. \u201cMaybe she reached out to me. But that doesn\u2019t mean I asked her to come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My jaw tightens so hard it hurts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo she just happened\u2019 to travel across two territories to tell my entire council I need a Luna\u2026 right after you reappear and pretend we\u2019re unfinished business?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s eyes flash. \u201cPretend? We were more than that, Theo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA long time ago,\u201d I bit out. \u201cYears before you betrayed my trust.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her mouth parts in offence, \u201cI didn\u2019t betray you-\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d I growl. \u201cDon\u2019t rewrite the truth. You picked power over me then, and now you\u2019re standing here trying to force a crown on your head like I owe you something.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She steps closer, voice softening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:26 Tue, Jan\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 33\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dangerously calculated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted what\u2019s best for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I say, stepping back. \u201cYou\u2019ve always wanted what\u2019s best for yourself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her expression cracks just a little \u2013 but it\u2019s enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lean forward,my voice my rumbling with a low warning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is your only chance, Elara. Stay out of my personal decisions. Stop interfering with my family. And do not-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My wolf rises, sharp and violent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026.Do not try to manipulate me through Cara again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stiffens. \u201cYou think I\u2019m manipulating you? I\u2019m trying to protect you. That stray girl you\u2019re so taken with\u00a0<\/p>\n
99\u00a0<\/p>\n
My growl cuts her off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t say her name. Don\u2019t ever refer to her like that again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, shock flickers across her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then something colder settles behind her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope you dont end up regret making enemies in your own house, Theo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I step closer, towering over her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019ll regret staying in mine if you pull another stunt like this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara swallows, breathing uneven. \u201cAre you threatening me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m warning you,\u201d I say. \u201cBe very careful.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She flinches, then forces a smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d she whispers. \u201cBut dont come crying to me when things dont go the way you planned it\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turns and walks out, slamming the door behind her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment she\u2019s gone, I exhale shakily my fists still clenched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And all I can think about \u2026is Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The way she looked at me, almost seething.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The way she walked away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:26 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 33\u00a0<\/p>\n
The way it hurt. More than I can explain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u7530\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comment\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send gift\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 33 Chapter 33\u00a0 \u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0 The courtyard was quiet, and everyone was busy working.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27278\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}