Chapter 20
Twenty
KAI
The sound of rain pounding against the windows, accompanied by distant rolls of thunder, brings me an odd sense of peace. There’s something soothing about the chaos of a storm; it feels like it can drown out the turmoil swirling inside my mind.
Lately, I’ve been needing that calm more than ever as I carefully weigh my every decision—not for myself, but for Lilith.
Despite the tempest raging outside, Headmistress Bennett has summoned the three of us for another meeting. None of us are particularly thrilled about it, but we all agree that following her lead is the safest path forward.
Keeping a low profile is essential if we want to avoid drawing any unwanted attention to Lilith.
As we walk down the long corridor leading to Bennett’s office, my steps are steady. Vaughn and Simon trail behind me, bickering as usual, their voices mixing with the storm’s symphony.
“Come on,” Vaughn breaks the silence, his tone teasing. “What’s with that sly grin? You’ve got that look that usually means you’ve gotten laid.”
I don’t need to turn around to picture Simon rolling his eyes in annoyance.
“Seriously? Why do you always have to make things awkward?” Simon retorts. “Can’t you just shut up for once?”
I glance back at them, conjuring a spark of magic between my fingertips. “Oh, that can be arranged… and I’d be happy to help.”
“Seriously? I thought we were friends,” Vaughn pouts, placing a hand over his heart in exaggerated pain.
“We are friends,” I assure him. “Which is why I’m doing this for your own safety, before one of us decides to strangle you.” If Lilith doesn’t beat us to it.
I knock on the door and slowly push it open when she says to come in, cutting off any potential comeback. Inside, Bennett awaits us, her expression as unreadable as ever. Even with our history, she remains an enigma to me. Still, it’s not hard to guess why we’ve been summoned today.
As soon as Simon and Vaughn step inside, I quietly close the door behind us and position myself near it. This conversation is delicate, and while it may seem unlikely that anyone would eavesdrop on a meeting with the headmistress, Lilith is involved, so it’s better to be cautious. I don’t want to risk anyone overhearing something they shouldn’t—lest I have to kill them.
“I assume each of you have been handling your responsibilities regarding Lilith,” Bennett begins in her usual flat tone. Her gaze first lands on Vaughn. “You’ve been causing trouble around the academy, which is unacceptable, and I don’t appreciate it.”
Vaughn opens his mouth to respond, but Bennett’s eyes shift to Simon before he can get a word out. “You’ve been training her outside the academy grounds without supervision.”
Finally, her gaze lands on me. “And you’ve been keeping a watchful eye on her from the shadows.”
I nod in acknowledgment, but I don’t mention that I go beyond mere observation. I regularly patrol the academy and the surrounding areas to ensure whatever attacked her isn’t getting closer. The next time she enters the forest, I’ll be there, no matter what anyone else says. I don’t give a damn.
Bennett clasps her hands together, studying us with her piercing gaze. “Yet, despite all this, I rarely receive any updates on her unique situation.”
“Well, I can assure you that no students are spreading false information or threatening her,” Vaughn starts, but Bennett interrupts him.
“I’m not interested in trivial updates, Vaughn,” she says, her voice sharp. It’s clear she’s looking for something more substantial, but none of us are willing to give up anything.
The most significant development I’ve noticed is the bond deepening between Lilith and me, but that’s not a secret I’m ready to share—not now, and definitely not here. It’s too dangerous, and I know Bennett would exploit it without hesitation. She stops at nothing to get what she wants.
“She has remarkable power,” Simon interjects, redirecting the conversation to safer territory. “She’s struggling to summon her Predator and Prey on command, but with focused training, I truly believe we can help her. I’m fully committed to providing her with the training she needs to master her abilities. Given time and patience, she’ll become an extraordinary asset to both the academy and Operation Nightfall.”
“And what about her blackouts?” Bennett’s voice cuts through the room like a knife, her gaze locking onto Simon with an intensity that’s borderline pissed and not at all like her usual self.
The slight shift in his posture tells me everything I need to know—Bennett isn’t just speculating. Damn it. Lilith is experiencing these blackouts, and Simon has been keeping this from us, perhaps trying to shield her from Bennett’s scrutiny.
It’s becoming painfully clear that we all harbor secrets regarding Lilith—secrets that threaten our ability to protect her effectively. We’re going to need to have a talk, the three of us.
“I believe her body becomes overwhelmed from summoning two Shadows. Let’s be realistic; managing one is already tough enough. None of us truly understands what it’s like to juggle two.”
“That may be true,” Bennett snaps back, her tone icy. “But that only underscores the need for the three of you to work together on this. I’ve always placed my trust in each of you,” she says, gesturing between us with a finger that feels like a dagger, “but lately, I’ve begun to question the very foundation of that trust. If I can’t rely on you, then I certainly can’t trust you with Operation Nightfall.”
Fuck. Her words hit hard, reverberating in the air like an ominous bell tolling. I know what has to happen now. I definitely need to talk to Simon and Vaughn. We have to align ourselves, and that means I’m going to have to reveal the bond I’ve been keeping secret—whether I want to or not. We can’t afford any fractures if we’re going to protect Lilith.
“You trust us, which is why we don’t feel the need to disclose every tiny detail,” I reply, locking eyes with Bennett. “And since you trust us, that means you trust our judgment. We all agree that Lilith poses no threat to the academy or the safety of the realm.”
Bennett’s crow stares at me, as if trying to see through my walls. Good luck with that. All it will find is darkness, blood, and sin before my snake suffocates its energy.
“I do trust your judgment,” Bennett states evenly, “but you must trust mine as well. This situation extends beyond the four of us; the stakes could impact the entire realm, and we can’t afford to repeat past mistakes. From now on, I expect regular updates, even on matters you may consider irrelevant . I want to hear everything, and I will decide what’s important.” She pauses, her fingers sliding through her long gray hair. “Dismissed.”
One simple word, yet it carries the weight of a mountain. All three of us pivot on our heels, ready to leave, when her voice cuts through the silence one more time. “Kai. Stay a moment longer, please.”
I pause mid-step, waiting for Simon and Vaughn to exit before turning back to face her. “Yes?”
Bennett’s gaze is sharp and penetrating, as if she’s searching for any hint of nerves. “Despite what I said earlier, I trust our agreement remains intact?” This exchange leaves no room for emotion, and I offer none in return. “If Lilith Knight becomes a threat, you will eliminate her.”
“Yes,” I reply, the word slipping out effortlessly. “If Lilith poses a danger, I’ll ensure she’s dealt with.”
As I reach the end of the hallway, I expect to see Simon and Vaughn, but they’re nowhere in sight. The fuckers must be off arguing somewhere again.
Shadows rise around me as I step into them, heading toward the Predator’s quarters. But before I even get to the end of the hall, a hidden door swings open, and I’m yanked inside with such force I can’t gain my footing before a fist connects with my face.
It’s rare for anyone to catch me off guard, but this time they did.
The impact snaps me back into focus, and my Shadow instinctively unfurls in the passage. My shimmering snake glows, casting a dim light that reveals the faces of my best friends.
Vaughn grabs my shirt and slams me against the wall before a punch to the gut. It’s the last time I’ll let him get away with it. The next time, there will be consequences.
“You son of a bitch!” Vaughn yells, his wolf materializing behind him, snarling to match his fury.
My snake hisses, ready to strike, but I hold it back. I’m giving them one chance to explain what the fuck they think they're doing, before things go south. Violence isn’t new to me—I wield it like a sword—but these are my friends.
I’ll let them have their say before I decide if it’s time for my Shadow to strike. Because when I hit, I don’t miss. When I hit, I kill.
“We fucking trusted you!” Vaughn roars in my face.
I don’t flinch. I don’t react. If this is about Lilith, they better start fucking talking now before they push me too far.
“Get your hands off me,” I warn, my voice low and deadly.
I barely finish before Vaughn’s fist comes flying at me again, his face twisted with rage and betrayal. It’s clear he’s way past the point of talking and I'm done letting him use me as a punching bag. In a split second, I wrench free from Vaughn’s grip. He’s strong, but my magic is stronger.
I vanish into the shadows, a blur of darkness, and reappear right behind Vaughn. My snake strikes, lashing at his wolf with lethal precision.
I quickly shove Vaughn against the wall, my magic rippling out to freeze him in place. “Listen to me,” I demand. “Let’s talk.”
Simon’s bear materializes next to him, teeth bared, ready to pounce. The threat is clear, but before I can react, Simon surprises me. He lunges at me, and we both crash down onto the cold, damp ground. The impact knocks the wind out of me, and he lands on top, his furious face inches from mine.
“You were a fucking brother to us, and you put Bennett first!” Simon snarls. The accusation stings, but I don’t have time to dwell on it as his fist connects with my jaw. Blood fills my mouth and a sharp pain radiates through my skull.
They must’ve overheard my chat with Bennett, and now they think I’ve turned my back on them and Lilith. As if I’d ever fucking do that.
“For fuck’s sake—I’m not working with Bennett, I’m working against her!” I spit, shoving against Simon’s weight. He doesn't budge, snarling he draws his arm back... “Stop! Lilith is my fated mate!”
Those words hit like a bucket of cold water, shocking even me. They finally know for certain I’ll never hurt her—it’s physically impossible. Our souls are intertwined, and I’d fight the entire fucking world for her if I had to.
Slowly, Simon’s grip on me loosens, his eyes still drilling into me, searching for any hint of deceit.
“I’m not lying,” I assure him right off the bat. Sure, I might lie to Bennett, but that’s only to protect the few people I care about. I can count them on one hand.
My snake, who at some point must’ve coiled around and restrained Vaughn so he wouldn’t jump in, releases him and he falls to the ground gasping for air. But because he’s Vaughn, even that won’t shut him up—no force in this realm could keep him quiet. “What the hell?” he gasps, his voice strained as he stands. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
I wince as I struggle to sit up, spitting out the blood that’s pooled in my mouth. “Because I like to keep certain things private. I never thought I’d end up with a mate, especially not someone like her. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it—and I wouldn’t have if you two hadn’t attacked me like a couple of lunatics.” I shoot them a look as I stand up. They’re the only ones who’ve ever managed to get the upper hand on me and live to tell the tale. Anyone else would be dead by now. “I’m staying close to Bennett to figure out what she knows. You would’ve known that if you’d given me a chance to explain instead of jumping me.”
Vaughn’s guilty expression says it all. He shifts from foot to foot, unable to meet my gaze. His mouth opens like he wants to say something, but then it shuts again, the words left unspoken. But I don’t need him to say anything. It makes things less awkward. The tension fades, replaced by an unspoken understanding.
“Does Lilith know? Have you even ever talked to her? When did this happen? Was it while I had you watching her?” Simon questions almost in a frenzy. As he speaks, our Shadows melt away, leaving us standing in the dark secret hallway.
“I knew before you asked me to keep an eye on her,” I clarify. Vaughn tends to spill too much information, while Simon is more reserved and fills in the gaps when prompted. As for me, I don’t like disclosing my deepest secrets, even to my closest friends. “And yeah, I spoke to her at the masquerade.”
Vaughn comes over and gives me a supportive pat on the back, which only sends a fresh wave of pain through me. “My man,” he says, but I shoot him a stern frown letting him know I need some space, and he quickly steps back.
“But does she know?” Simon cuts in.
I shake my head. “Not yet. For now, I’d rather keep it between us. Lilith has enough on her plate without me piling more on.” I take a moment to catch my breath, letting the silence settle between us like a fragile truce. “We all need to be on the same page if we’re going to protect her. I can’t fight this battle alone.”
"Vaughn nods slowly in understanding, the fire in his eyes returning, but this time with a sense of pure determination.
“All right,” Simon finally says, blowing out a breath, a sign of his own agitation dissipating. “You’re right, she’s going to need all three of us. Especially with how much of a threat Bennett believes she is.” His expression softens, the fierce loyalty in his eyes returning as he glances between us. “We’ll handle this together.”
“Exactly,” I reply, the tension between us easing. “Lilith’s safety is our priority, no matter the cost.”
As we exchange determined nods, the resolve among us solidifies. We’ve always been a team built on respect and understanding, each of us balancing each other out, but this is something stronger.
“Now, if we’re done here, let’s clean up and maybe grab a drink. After today’s events, the Gods know we could use one.”