The morning sun spilled gently across the university courtyard, golden rays brushing against stone walls, shimmering across tall glass windows. Students moved in clusters, their laughter echoing faintly against the walls. Another day had begun.
But for Aira, the weight in her chest never lifted.
She entered the common hall quietly, her steps measured, her aura wrapped tightly around her like armor. Her black coat swayed faintly with each step, her long hair curtaining her pale face. To most eyes, she looked untouchable—an ice sculpture walking among the living.
But today… something was different.
As she stepped inside, a small scene greeted her eyes.
Kai gasped, dramatically diving behind a chair as though hiding from a monster. He peeked over the backrest with wide, terrified eyes. "Don't hurt me, Ice Queen! I value my life!"
Valentina immediately followed his act, raising her arms to shield her face. "If she smiles, it's the apocalypse! Save yourselves!"
Laughter erupted. Rei chuckled, poking at Kai's dramatics. "Careful, Kai. One glare and she'll freeze your soul solid."
Ivy, however, didn't laugh at first. She strode forward instead, something small cradled in her hand. A cupcake—messily decorated with uneven swirls of frosting and sprinkles falling off the edges. She thrust it toward Aira with mock solemnity. "Here. A peace offering. For being a complete badass under pressure yesterday."
For a moment, Aira simply stared.
The group leaned in, breath held.
And then… the tiniest twitch ghosted across her lips. Not a full smile. Not even close. But a movement—fragile, fleeting. Enough.
Kai let out a horrified gasp, slapping his chest like he'd been shot. "SHE MOVED. SHE'S ALIVE!"
That broke the room apart. Laughter exploded like fireworks, filling the hall with warmth.
And this time… Aira didn't feel the sharp ache in her chest.
They weren't laughing at her.
They were laughing with her.
It was new.
Terrifying.
And… warm.
She shook her head faintly, quickly pulling her mask back over her face. But for one rare heartbeat, she let the corner of her mouth rise before burying it again.
And from the shadows near the wall—Zane watched.
Arms crossed, posture lazy but eyes sharp, he took in every flicker of her guarded expressions. The way her fingers curled around the cupcake like she wasn't sure if she was allowed to hold something given freely. The way her lips betrayed her before she smothered it.
A curve tugged at his own mouth. Almost invisible. Almost.
So the Ice Queen can melt… if you have the right fire.
Far away, in a dim apartment swallowed by shadows, another storm brewed.
Liam sat hunched over a table, a single photograph trembling in his hands.
It was worn, the edges frayed, creases folding across faces from being held too many times.
In the photo:
Aira. Younger. Bright. Alive. She was laughing, cheeks flushed, eyes alight with mischief as she dragged a boy—him—by the hand across a field of wildflowers.
Liam traced her face with his thumb, his throat tight.
He remembered it all.
Her wild laughter as they built treehouses with broken wood and too many nails.Her small hands wrapping clumsily around his arm as she bandaged his skinned knees.The fury in her eyes when she punched a boy twice her size for making him cry.Her whisper one night under the stars—promising, swearing—that she would always stay by his side.
His chest ached so badly it felt as though something inside him was cracking open.
When did I lose you, Aira? When did you stop looking at me with those bright eyes?
The memory soured, replaced by the darker truth.
The day the lies spread. The day the whispers began. The day the world turned against her.
And him?
He hadn't fought. He hadn't defended. He had stayed silent.
Coward.Traitor.
The words echoed through his skull, unforgiving, relentless.
He slammed the photo onto the table.
Now she was gone. Changed. Hardened into someone he barely recognized.
And the worst part?
She wasn't alone anymore.
He had seen it once, from a distance. Aira—cold, yes, but standing near strangers. Strangers who made her laugh faintly, like ghosts stirring under ice.
His jaw tightened.
He didn't know who they were. Didn't know their names. Didn't know their intentions.
But he knew one thing—
They had pieces of her heart.
Pieces that belonged to him.
"I'll take it back," Liam muttered, rising to his feet, determination sparking in his eyes. "Whatever it takes."
He shoved the photo into his jacket pocket, grabbed his coat, and stormed out the door.
His steps echoed down the hallway, his vow burning inside him like fire.
I'm not giving up on you, Aira. Not again. Not ever.
He didn't have a plan.
He didn't care.
All he knew was this: wherever she was, whoever she was with, he would find her.
And when he did—he would break down every wall she had built.
Brick by brick.
Even if it killed him.
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If you like this than read my book "When the Sky Burned Crimson"
And "Bound By Fire: The Possessive"
They are unique and full of joy stories.
Waiting too see your respond.