Chapter 5 – The Childhood Friend and the Welcome Gala
The entire campus was drunk on money and anticipation.
The annual Welcome Gala was held in the Crystal Atrium: a glass dome five stories high, suspended above the frozen lake, lit by chandeliers made of actual diamonds. Every student was required to attend. Every student was required to pretend they weren't measuring throats.
I arrived fashionably late (9:42 p.m.), wrapped in white silk and lies.
The dress was backless, floor-length, held together by three thin straps of rose gold that matched my choker. My hair was pinned up with a single diamond pin shaped like a tiny crown (worth more than some countries). Bare feet in glass heels. I looked like something you weren't allowed to touch even with your eyes.
The moment I stepped through the archway, the noise level dropped by half.
Phones rose. Whispers followed me like perfume.
I kept my gaze lowered, hands clasped in front of me, the perfect image of overwhelmed Omega royalty. Inside, I was counting exits, cameras, and the exact distance to Kael.
He stood at the center of the Apex circle, surrounded by the usual ring of crimson and red chokers. Black tuxedo, no tie, top button undone, red choker glowing like fresh blood against his throat. He hadn't seen me yet.
Someone else did.
"Rui-ssi!"
A bright, warm voice cut through the crowd.
I turned.
Leander Valdemar-Ashford (Kael's cousin by blood, childhood friend by choice, Prime Alpha, and the only person in the world Kael had ever allowed to call him "Kae" without dying) was striding toward me.
Leander was sunshine in human form: golden hair, sea-green eyes, smile that made professors forget their own names. He was wearing midnight blue velvet, crimson choker flashing, and the kind of effortless charm that had half the school in love with him and the other half terrified.
He reached me in six long strides and did the unthinkable.
He hugged me.
In front of everyone.
His arms went around my bare back, careful but firm, and he lifted me half an inch off the ground like I weighed nothing.
"Finally," he laughed into my hair. "The ghost prince appears! Kael said you were real, but I was starting to think he dreamed you."
I let myself go stiff for one perfect second (shocked, fragile Omega), then melted into the hug like I'd been waiting for kindness my whole life.
Cameras went insane.
Leander set me down but kept one arm loosely around my waist, turning us both to face the room like we were already a couple.
"Kael!" he called, grinning over my head. "Look who I found!"
Kael's eyes locked on us.
More specifically, on Leander's hand resting against my bare skin.
Something dark and violent flickered across his face (gone in a heartbeat, but I saw it). Everyone saw it.
Leander either didn't notice or didn't care.
"Come on," he said to me, steering me forward. "You're sitting with us. No arguments."
I let him lead me through the parted crowd, feeling Kael's stare like a brand between my shoulder blades.
The Apex table was a raised dais of black glass. Only six seats. Leander pulled out the one directly beside Kael and deposited me into it like I belonged there.
I folded my hands in my lap and looked up at Kael through my lashes.
"Hi," I said softly.
Kael didn't answer. His jaw was tight enough to crack marble.
Leander dropped into the seat on my other side, threw an arm over the back of my chair, and started talking.
"I've known this idiot since we were six," he said, jerking his thumb at Kael. "He used to cry when I stole his toys."
"I never cried," Kael said flatly.
"You cried when I hid your stuffed whale."
"That was sabotage."
Leander laughed, bright and loud, and turned back to me. "Anyway, I've been dying to meet the person who made Kael break protocol twice in one week. That's a new record."
I tilted my head. "Protocol?"
Leander leaned in conspiratorially. "Kael doesn't escort anyone. Ever. Not even family. Yet here he is, personally walking late-presenting Omegas to their towers like a knight in shining armor."
Kael's fingers tightened around his glass. The crystal groaned.
I let my cheeks flush (perfect pink). "He was just being kind."
"Kind," Kael repeated, voice low. "Right."
Leander grinned wider. "See? He's already possessive. Cute."
Something in the air shifted (dangerous, electric).
Then the music changed. The orchestra began the traditional first waltz.
Leander stood instantly, hand outstretched. "Dance with me, Rui-ssi. Let me show you off before these vultures try to steal you."
I glanced at Kael.
His eyes were fixed on Leander's hand.
I placed my fingers in Leander's palm.
"Of course," I said sweetly.
Leander led me down the steps to the dance floor. The crowd parted again. Phones followed.
He spun me into position (one hand on my bare back, the other holding mine high). The silk of my dress whispered against his velvet suit.
"You're shaking," he murmured as we began to move.
"Too many people," I lied.
He smiled down at me, gentle. "Don't worry. I've got you."
We danced.
He was perfect (graceful, warm, leading me like I was made of spun sugar). Every turn showed me off to the room. Every dip made my dress flare like moonlight.
Across the floor, Kael stood at the edge of the dais, unmoving, watching us with the stillness of a predator deciding which limb to rip off first.
Leander noticed too.
"He hates this," he whispered, amused. "He hates when I touch what's his."
I missed a step.
Leander caught me effortlessly. "Relax. I'm not trying to steal you. I just like making him squirm."
I looked up at him, wide-eyed. "You… like him?"
Leander's smile turned softer, almost sad. "I've loved him since we were kids. Everyone knows. He doesn't care." His thumb brushed my spine, comforting. "But you… you're different. He looks at you like you're the only thing in the room that scares him."
The music swelled.
Leander spun me out, then back in (closer this time).
"Be careful with him, Rui-ssi," he said quietly. "Kael doesn't break. He shatters everything else first."
The song ended.
Applause rippled.
Before I could answer, a hand closed around my wrist (hard enough to bruise).
Kael.
He didn't speak. Just pulled me out of Leander's arms and into his own.
The orchestra started the next waltz without pause.
Kael's grip was iron on my waist, his other hand engulfing mine. He moved like war (precise, overwhelming, no room for refusal).
I let him lead.
We danced in silence for thirty seconds.
Then he spoke, voice barely audible over the music.
"You let him touch you."
I looked up at him, innocent. "He's your friend."
"He wants what's mine."
My breath caught (real this time).
Kael's eyes were black.
"I don't share," he said.
I leaned in, just enough that my lips brushed the shell of his ear.
"Good," I whispered. "Because I don't belong to him."
His step faltered (only for a heartbeat).
When he recovered, his hand had slid lower, fingers splayed across the bare skin of my lower back, pressing me closer.
The rose-gold straps of my dress glinted between us.
The entire room watched the untouchable king dance with the ghost prince like the rest of the world had ceased to exist.
Leander stood at the edge of the floor, smiling that sad sunshine smile, and raised his glass in a silent toast.
Later, when the gala ended and Kael escorted me back to the Eclipse Tower himself (Leander watching from the steps with unreadable eyes), I would let Kael kiss me against the elevator wall.
Just once.
Just enough to ruin him for anyone else forever.
But tonight, under the diamond chandeliers, I let Kael Valdemar hold me like I was already his.
And somewhere inside my chest, the monster purred:
Soon.