Kael's steps were quiet as he moved through the campus courtyard, yet every stride was deliberate. The warm morning sun brushed against his back, but he barely noticed it. His mind was elsewhere, focused on her—Amara.
He had seen her earlier, drifting in and out of focus in class, cheeks flushed, eyes flicking toward the door each time he moved. The shimmer beneath her sleeve pulsed faintly, betraying her awareness, her reaction, her curiosity.
She doesn't understand yet. But she will.
Kael's eyes scanned the campus—students bustling between buildings, voices carrying faintly in the morning air—but none of it drew his attention. He barely registered their whispers about him, the way some stared and murmured. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered but the bond.
The flash of copper in his hair caught the sunlight as he adjusted his backpack. The bond between them wasn't just a tether; it was alive. Every flicker, every thrum beneath her skin, resonated with him, like two halves seeking balance, demanding acknowledgment.
He remembered the neem tree yesterday—the way she had instinctively tried to hide the shimmer, the subtle warmth of it responding to him. Most people would have panicked. She had remained curious, cautious, alive. That was why he had approached her. That was why he had come here.
The pulse of the bond quickened slightly, a reminder of her awareness even when she wasn't looking. Kael's lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't fear the danger this bond implied; he welcomed it. It was protection, a warning, a connection that demanded patience, subtlety, and trust.
He scanned the lecture hall from a distance, noting her distracted glance, the slight tremor in her hand as she hid the shimmer. She was reacting perfectly, just as he had anticipated. Soon, she would ask questions. Soon, she would demand answers.
Kael inhaled slowly. But the truth is bigger than she can imagine. And it's dangerous. His gaze softened for the briefest moment, thinking of her curiosity, her nervous energy, the way she had looked at him yesterday.
Adjusting his backpack, he started toward the hall, the faint shimmer beneath his sleeve steady. Every pulse, every heartbeat of hers felt in rhythm with his own.
The bond doesn't lie. And neither do I.
Kael's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. Soon, she'll understand why I'm here.