74. Game of Shadows-I

|| Kael’s POV || The heavy oak doors of the study creaked open as I stepped inside, the scent of aged wood and leather filling my nostrils. My father sat behind his desk, his expression dark and unreadable, while my mother stood by the window, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The tension in the room was palpable, a thick fog of disappointment and frustration that made it hard to breathe. “Where have you been?” My father’s voice was low, edged with barely restrained anger, but it was his eyes that made my blood run cold. They bore into me, sharp and accusing, as if he already knew the answer but wanted the satisfaction of hearing me admit it. I didn’t flinch under his scrutiny, but my pulse pounded in my ears. My mind raced for an excuse, something that wouldn’t set him off even more. “I was busy,” I said finally, keeping my voice even, though the lie sat heavy on my tongue. His lips curled in displeasure. “Busy doing what?” Before I could respond, my mother stepped forward, her