Chapter 192: Playing Detective

Words : 1004 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Evaline: I kept my voice low as I stood in the far corner of Kieran’s living room, my phone pressed against my ear. "I’m fine," I whispered softly, my free hand curled into the sleeve of Kieran’s big black cloak I had been wrapped in. "It was just a nightmare. I’m okay now." Oscar wasn’t convinced. I could feel it through the bond, the simmering concern that stirred his emotions and had woken him from sleep. Guilt gnawed at my insides. I hated lying to him. But the truth... the truth would only lead to more chaos. And tonight, I had already tiptoed too close to disaster. "Are you sure?" he asked. His voice was still husky with sleep, sounding both warm and rough in my ear. "I felt... your emotions, or at least a part of it. I thought something happened to you." "I promise," I murmured, forcing lightness into my voice. "I’m alright. It was just a bad dream, that’s all." "Alright," he finally exhaled. "But next time, even if it’s just a nightmare, call me no matter what time it is. Please." My chest tightened. "I will. I promise." I ended the call and dropped my arm to my side, tucking the phone back into the pocket of my trousers. The living room was dimly lit, but not cold, there was a gentle warmth to it. The soft lamp light was casting shadows on the hardwood floor. The place smelled faintly of vanilla and mint, and something else... something earthy. I realized the faint aroma was coming from the potted plants that were lining the window sills and corners of the room. Even though the space was furnished modestly, there was something deeply comforting about it. Kieran’s quarters felt just like him... quiet, reliable, safe. I hadn’t even heard him come back in, but when I turned, he was already there, walking toward me with two glasses of warm water. One of them had a golden tint. He handed the latter to me without a word and motioned toward the couch. I settled into the plush cushion, holding the glass in both hands. The warmth seeped into my skin, calming the jittery nerves that had yet to settle from the night’s madness. And as the aroma reached my nose, I realized he had added honey in mine. "Who was that?" he asked, lowering himself onto the other end of the couch. I sipped the water and looked away. "Rowan. He woke up and saw I wasn’t in bed, so he called to check." I hated lying again, but telling him it was Oscar would only spark more questions. And the last thing I needed was Kieran knowing about my mate bonds with his younger brothers. He didn’t press. For a while, we sat in silence. The only sounds were the soft tick of the wall clock and the quiet hum of the heater kicking in. The air between us was still, not heavy... just waiting. He was the first to break it. "It’s almost one," he said, glancing at the clock. "You have work in the morning. I’ll walk you back to your dorm." I nodded, but made no effort to move. As if he read through my thoughts, he added merely a moment later. "Or, if talking would help... you can tell me what happened." That was all the invitation I needed. I told him everything. How I overheard the conversation between those two second-years in the corridor. How something about it had unsettled me enough to sneak out. How I wandered the entire South and North wings looking for clues. And then how I saw students slipping into that old tower and followed them all the way to that dark basement, how I listened from the window, and what I heard - the mentions, the threats, the fear. He didn’t interrupt once. He just sat there, elbows resting on his knees, his fingers laced loosely in front of him, and his head tilted slightly as he listened. When I finished, he exhaled a long, slow breath. "That was insanely dangerous, Evaline." I winced. "I know." "No, you don’t," he said, firmer this time. "You have no idea how lucky you are that they didn’t catch you." His voice wasn’t angry this uime. It was tight with worry. "Whoever’s running this group... they are not just some troublemakers breaking rules in the dark. This group... it’s organized. And it’s scared of someone who can apparently soul kill. That means they are either involved in something they can’t escape from, or they are protecting something far worse." I swallowed hard. "You think they knew about Carson?" "They didn’t just know." He looked at me then, a storm swirling in his eyes. "They understand what it meant. And they are terrified of it." He was right. They weren’t speaking about Carson like he was a tragic accident. Instead, they were speaking about him like a warning. Like a consequence. His gaze dropped briefly, and then moved to something in my hair. A flicker of amusement touched his lips, but there was confusion in his eyes. "What did you do to your hair?" I blinked, then instinctively touched the strands that were framing my face. "Oh... that." I bit my lip. "I thought it might help me stay hidden. The color. It’s just spray. Temporary. It’ll wash off in the shower." His eyebrow quirked. "You dyed your hair black just to play detective?" I nodded, then looked away. "I... also had a mask. But I lost it while running. It must have fallen somewhere in the corridor..." I trailed off when I saw him reach into his coat pocket. He pulled out a small black mask and placed it on the coffee table between us. My mouth dropped open. "Wha-how?" "I found it on the floor near the stairs," he said casually. "I figured it might be yours." I stared at it in disbelief. Then, I whispered the words quietly. "Thank you."

Chapter 192: Playing Detective

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