Kairos’s POVWith my heart racing as if it were going to rip through flesh, I staggered into my room and slammed the door behind me. Anger and self-loathing roiled inside me, causing my hands to shake and my skin to burn as if I were going to explode.I tried to force the raging thoughts out of my head by pressing my palms against my temples, but it didn't work.What the hell had I done?I swore to myself that I would never lose control again, that I wouldn't let him do this to me. But everything I had been trying to bury came roaring back to the surface the moment I saw him, those bright eyes... disarming... hurt. And when I saw him with her, the same girl I used to push him away, something inside me snapped. What was he trying to do?It wasn't until it was too late that I registered what I was doing. He was on his way to the echoing dens they called restrooms, and I was right behind him. I felt as though I was no longer in my own body; as if I had been pulled into the echoing dens
Kairos’s POV Mira's voice temporarily calmed the storm of anger within me, but it couldn't be completely extinguished, and her melody faded as something began to pull me back. Ripples danced through the surrounding water as if the ocean were nudging me out of my trance, and I whispered thank you to Mira, whom I knew had so many questions but couldn’t ask as the connection didn’t allow two-way communication. The colorful marketplace, her smile, the crowd, and the glowing amphitheater of performers blurred and spun, slipping away like sand through my fingers. When my eyes finally opened again, I was back in the trench, and exhaustion descended on me with paralyzing force. My limbs were heavy, sluggish, and depleted of all strength, but I had expected this. It was the price I had to pay for the connection. Using the coral sapped the body, and sometimes even the spirit, but mine had already been sapped, so it was gentle on me. The guardians of the coral had slipped out of thei
Kairos’s POVI arrived at the dorm in silence, with only the slight hum of the building to be heard as I pushed open the door. I expected Darian to be waiting, but as our eyes locked, his anxious expression crushed me. His face was blue as he jumped up and rushed to me. He didn't have contacts on, and the gold glow in his eyes made me feel even worse. I hated myself for making him worry."Where were you?” The words spilled out before I could close the door behind me. "I was worried sick, Kairos. What’s going on with you?” he added, and I raised my hand, trying to calm him, though the effort felt feeble. "Sit down, Darian," I asked softly. "I need to speak to you." He paused for a moment, his mouth opening to say something, but he held back the words and did what I asked, his gaze never leaving mine. Inhaling deeply, I sat across from him, struggling to maintain eye contact.I had practiced this moment from the beach. I’d told myself over and over how I would start to explain, how to
Lux’s POVThe air was thick with excitement as Lake turned to face me, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Are you ready to go?" he asked, and I nodded, grabbing my crossbody bag and looking in the mirror one last time. "Ready." The hum of the city was subtle as we ventured out into the cool evening. Alec had offered to pick us up, but we opted for an Uber instead. When we arrived at the curb, the car was already waiting, its black exterior gleaming beneath the dorm lights. We slid inside, and as we drove away, I noticed the driver taking a different route than we had taken to get in. The dormitory buildings on this side were even more impressive, and the sheer size of the campus hit me again.“When we thought this place was big,” I murmured to Lake. “We had no idea.” And he agreed, fixing his gaze out the window. “It’s massive.” The car pulled out of the institution's gates, and we were treated to another glimpse of Silverglade. My eyes widened in wonder, just as they had on
Lux’s POVOlivia's face lit up with a not-so-shy smile as she hurried over to Becca, pulling her into an enthusiastic hug, and I stared at them, trying to reconcile the timid girl I had met earlier with the one now standing in front of me in a dress so short it was practically a top.She chuckled as they pulled away from the hug, her confidence shining through as she and Becca chatted excitedly. And I couldn’t look away. This Olivia was nothing like the one who had quietly chatted with Lake back on campus. Her once shy demeanor had transformed into something completely different, and it made me feel even more uneasy.“What are you looking at?” Lake's voice jolted me out of my trance, and I turned to see him looking at me curiously before following my gaze to Olivia. His brows rose in recognition.“I thought she was supposed to be shy or something?” I said, still in disbelief, and Lake looked back at her and then at me, a knowing look spreading across his face. He reached out and put a
Lake’s POVReed's voice boomed over the music, cutting through the chatter to get our attention. “Alright, people! It’s game time!” Cheers erupted throughout the room as he stood on one of the sofas, waving his hands dramatically in the air.He started going through all the activities they had lined up, and we were all totally on board since morning felt like ages away. “Alright, we’re kicking things off with a drinking game,” he said, gesturing toward the long table in the center of the room. “We need everyone around the table. Pick your squad and let the shenanigans begin!”We all waddled over to the table, the atmosphere crackling with giggles and the occasional splash of drinks flying about like confetti. Lux and I took our places at one end, and I did my best to pretend the tightness in my chest was just my lunch making a comeback when I spotted Kairos hanging out at the back of the room, the girl next to him playing tug-of-war with his arm. She was all grins and chuckles as she
Lux’s POVThe surrounding crowd was wild, a swirling storm of cheers and hollers, with enough energy to make you feel drunk without even touching a drink. They were losing it, shouting encouragement and hyping up the group, completely unaware of the storm brewing within me.I couldn't take my eyes off the scene in front of me. Olivia sat on Lake's lap, grinding her hips as if she were trying to set the room on fire. Her face was inches from his, their lips almost touching as his hands moved up and down her waist, guiding her movements as if they were perfectly in sync. They seemed to have forgotten there was an entire room full of people watching, and my lips parted, hanging open as I stared.I had never seen him so invested in a girl—so intense. And it wasn’t just the physicality—the way his hands moved or the way her body curled into his—but the focus—the way he seemed lost in her. I despised it, and a dark wave of possessiveness surged through me before I could control it. I want
Third Person's POV Three Minutes Earlier Kairos’s gaze burned into the scene unfolding before him, each second a fresh twist to his chest as the heat of jealousy surged through him, maddening and stifling. Every movement of Lake's hands on Olivia, her hips grinding against him, her face so close to his set Kairos' blood on fire, and merfolk blood rarely ran hot. He wanted to storm over there, yank Lake from her grip, and remind him who he belonged to. He wanted to shout it, tell everyone, and claim what was rightfully his with every ounce of power the ocean had given him. "Mine!" The word rang so loudly in his head that he could not figure out why no one else seemed to hear it, why Lake did not notice and see what he was doing to him. He had no right to let anyone else touch him like that, and no land maiden had the right to try. Merfolk didn’t sweat like humans did. Their cooler body temperature regulated such things, and only when dehydrated did they begin to show signs—a f
Lake's POVMy eyes snapped open at Kairos’s words. “A mer prince… fated mate?” But the meaning barely registered before I noticed the veins. Dark and twisting, they crawled across his skin, blooming beneath the surface like black cracks in porcelain. “Veins,” I whispered, my heart slamming against my ribs while the terrifying images of earlier when he attacked me flashed through my mind. Just then, he swayed as if his strength was dwindling right in front of me. His body grew heavier and he rolled off me, sitting next to me with his fingers running through his disheveled hair, attempting to push it back as it fell all over his face.I shot up, my breath quickening while my pulse thundered in my ears.“What’s happening to you?” I asked, watching him as he appeared to be struggling to breathe, sweat streaking across his brow. But his response froze me in place. “Blood,” he rasped, barely above a whisper. “I need your blood.” My mind refused to process it, to accept that I had understo
Kairos's POVI left the window without looking back at Lux, making my way to the door just as the lock clicked open. She stood there, her posture relaxed, her eyes distant, still completely under my influence, and I entered without wasting a minute, softly closing the door behind me."Go back to bed," I told her, and she quickly turned and walked back to her bedroom. I barely saw her pass through the doorway before turning around and heading for Lake's room.I did not have to ask which way it was. I could feel him. The pull was subtle but constant, like an invisible tide pulling me toward him. My steps were slow, but my pulse betrayed me, beating faster with each one. And when I got to his door, I paused, taking a slow breath as I reached for the handle, Reed's words echoing in my mind, followed by Darian's, who warned me that having Lake as a mate would be a curse. It didn’t feel that way to me.It was terrifying and confusing—so many emotions tangled inside me that I couldn’t begi
Lake's POVLux froze at my words, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "What?"Exhaling sharply, I ran a hand through my hair. “You heard me.” She blinked as if she was trying to comprehend what I had just said. "Lake, what are you saying?" I could see it right away, the way she looked at me as if I was insane. It was the same expression Alec gave me before laughing, but it was worse because I needed her to believe me more than anyone else. “I’m not crazy,” I told her firmly.“Lake—”“I’m not.” I yanked my phone from my pocket and held it up so she could see the cracked screen. “Look at this. You see this?” Lux's expression changed slightly as if she didn't understand where I was going with this, but she nodded. "This happened when Kairos attacked me," I explained, still holding out the phone to her. She knew my screen was not cracked when we left the house. “After the dance with Olivia, I went outside to get some fresh air and saw him. He looked like something was wrong wi
Third Person's PovReed exhaled sharply, running his hand through his hair before turning to face Darian. "Help me put him to bed." Darian bent down and grabbed Kairos's legs, but before they could lift him, he spoke. "What did Lake tell the cops?" Reed's jaw clenched. “I don’t know,” he admitted. But don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” He continued, but Darian’s grip on Kairos’s legs tightened. Regardless of Reed's words, worry churned in his gut. Lake had begun telling people what he saw. How else would the police be on their way? His heart pounded from frustration. This was exactly what he had feared. Reed must have noticed the tension in his face, because he spoke again, this time in a more reassuring tone. “The guys the sheriff sent over are friends. I’ll find out what Lake told them, and I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry.”Darian swallowed hard, but the unease persisted."Now, help me."Darian exhaled slowly and adjusted his grip, while Reed took Kairos's shoulders. They lifted him
Lake's PovI stood frozen amid the chaos, my chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. My eyes continued to dart around the room, my pulse hammering in my ears. And just then, I felt eyes on me, so I turned around and locked eyes with Reed. His gaze fixed on mine, and for a split second, he appeared genuinely surprised to see me. But then, something changed. His expression softened, his lips pressed into a thin line, and I could tell he was not just surprised; he was calculating. A shiver ran down my spine as I followed his gaze, my stomach twisting into knots. He wasn’t looking at me anymore. He was looking at Darian, who gave me the same expression as Reed.It was like Reed had just told him something without speaking, and Darian’s entire demeanor shifted. He stiffened, turned his head sharply toward the door, and that was it. I was through with this place. Something inside me screamed to get out, and I yanked my gaze away from Darian, catching my breath as I returned my gaze
Lux’s POVI didn't have to say it twice before Alec closed the gap between us, and fire erupted as our lips collided in a fierce kiss. He lifted me off the floor, and I let out a moan as we fell onto the sofa.Our bodies molded in raw longing, and his hands reached for my back and undid my shirt before tossing it aside. My back arched on its own as his hands moved to my breasts, his thumbs drawing circles around my already erect nipples, and my hands gripped his arms as his lips continued their sweet torture, moving from my neck to my jawline and then back to my lips.The kiss was tender, intense, sweet, and fiery all at once, and our breaths became heavy as I pressed my hips against him. Before I knew it, my hands were fumbling with his belt, the heat between my legs intensifying. His hands slid to mine and assisted me in undoing it before sliding down and gripping my hips as he began kissing my stomach and going down my chest.My moans grew louder, my pussy clenching at the contrast
Lake’s POVI blinked, disoriented, with my head throbbing and my eyes struggling to focus. Everything felt like a blur until it wasn't, and then I noticed Kairos standing there, looking at me as if he knew what was happening. My lips twitched to ask him what had happened and why I was in the room, but before I could, the memories flooded back: the dance, the kiss, the heat of the moment, and my panic as I stumbled away from the crowd after locking eyes with Kairos. My heart raced as I remembered, and then the rest of what had happened came rushing back, sending my heart lurching into my throat as the terrifying image of Kairos flashed through my mind. His eyes, his face, the way he had changed.My body moved on its own as I jumped to my feet as he stopped in front of me. “You… what… your eyes… your face…” With my heart thumping so loudly that I could hardly hear myself, I stammered, the words rushing out incoherently. Before he could respond, a voice in my head screamed at me to ge
Lux’s POVThe Dance Continued Inside Alec’s knees nudged against mine as he crouched down, getting so close that I could feel the warmth coming off him. My breath caught as he lifted his legs to straddle mine, his hands sliding down to grip my thighs firmly. With each roll of his hips, he held me captive as he pushed toward me with fluid movements. My skin burned everywhere he held me, and my arms prickled with goosebumps as my whole body trembled from his fiery touch. I clenched my fists, attempting to compose myself, but it was ineffective. I was completely at his mercy.Just when I thought I couldn’t handle it anymore, that the tension between us was about to overwhelm me, Alec pulled back. My heart stopped for a moment, then started racing as he ran his hands up and down his chest, pausing at his waistband before boldly grabbing himself. The man was blessed, and I couldn’t look anymore. My face felt on fire, and I squeezed my eyes shut."Look at me," he said, his voice cutting t
Third Person’s POVReed and Darian dashed onto the balcony, coming to a halt abruptly as their gazes fell on Lake's twisted body lying against the wall. Their gaze shifted to Kairos, who stood motionless for a heartbeat before collapsing to the ground. The sight of Kairos' face, marred by dark, pulsating veins and feral golden eyes, shocked both men, and neither spoke, too stunned and horrified to process what had just happened.Reed recovered first, his instincts honed over years of training kicking in. "Darian, help me," he exclaimed, rushing to close the balcony door that separated them from the chaos of the party below. He flipped the lock with quick movements and turned back to Kairos, who was now in Darian's arms. Crouching down, they both examined his shallow breathing, and Darian's mind raced with anxiety as he looked up at Reed. "Which way to the car?" he asked urgently, but Reed had a different idea.“We can’t take him back to the dorms. It’s too far, and if someone sees h