Chapter 41

Seraphina's POV Seeing Kaelos kick Darius to the ground with one swift blow made my heart race—but not out of fear. No, this time there was something deeper, something wild and warm that blossomed in my chest and spread like a burning fire. The way he moved—calm, sharp, deadly—as he stood between me and danger... Oh, Goddess. This wasn't just protection. This was something personal. And it shook me to my core. I couldn't pretend anymore. Whatever I'd been hiding, reaching for, was starting to take root. My feelings for Kaelos weren't just gratitude or admiration. They were deep, overflowing... terrifying. When had this started? Maybe the first night he took me to his place—when I felt safer there than anywhere else. Or the way he always knew when I needed silence more than words. Maybe it was his smile—that rare, honest smile that made my heart race. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft, filled with concern—so different from the deadly tone he'd just used with Darius. I nodded, tho