I'll Stay
1191 Words
“Watch me.”
God.
There it was.
That tone.
That same cold, arrogant, controlling tone that used to make my blood boil.
The words settled over the hallway like a threat.
For one second, I just stood there staring at him.
Kael stood in front of me like he'd already decided the conversation was over. Like what he said was law. Like I was supposed to just stand there and accept it.
Some things never really change.
A bitter laugh almost rose in my throat, but i swallowed it.
I let my expression harden.
Not because I was afraid of him.
Because I had planned for this moment too carefully for him to ruin it by noticing too much too soon.
I had known he would be at the cemetery.
He always was.
Every month.
Same day.
Same flowers.
Same black suit.
Same guilt written all over that stupid, unreadable face of his.
Marcus had been easier to predict. Loyal, observant, and soft enough to be manipulated if he believed he was helping his boss.
The guard at the gate had simply been convenient.
I had stood there on purpose.
Raised my voice on purpose.
Made sure I was visible.
Made sure Kael would see my face.
And he had.
Exactly like I knew he would.
And the moment he saw me, I knew he wouldn't let me go.
The part had gone exactly as planned.
What i hadn't planned for…
Was her.
Vivienne Draven.
Standing a few feet away in a silk blouse and expensive pearls staring at me with a face she was trying to hard to keep composed.
Her eyes widened in pure shock when she saw me.
I turned my head slightly, just enough to meet her eyes.
Her face had recovered now, perfectly composed.
But I had already seen the truth.
The first look.
And now I couldn't unseen it.
My head throbbed.
Enough to remind me my why I was here.
Enough to remind me that my death hadn't been an accident.
And enough to remind me that Vivienne Draven was not happy to see me.
“You're unbelievable.”
His expression didn't change.
“You're staying.”
God, I hated that tone.
That cold, controlled, superior tone.
The same tone he used whenever I begged him to listen.
The same tone he used when I had told him something was wrong.
Whenever I had said I didn't trust the people in this house.
Whenever I had tried again and again to make him see what was right in front of him.
And he looked at me exactly like this.
Like I was emotional.
Like I was overreacting.
I clenched my fists.
Fine.
If he wanted a performance, I would give him one.
I turned sharply toward the door again. “Excuse me!”
“No.”
I froze.
Not because of the threat.
Because of the fury beneath it.
Kael moved closer.
Not enough to touch me.
Just enough to annoy me.
“If you step outside the house now, I'll have every gate on this property locked before you reach the road.”
I almost smiled.
There he was.
The real Kael.
The man who thought control could fix everything.
“Still controlling,” I muttered Before I could stop myself.
His eyes sharpened.
Silence.
“What?”
Damn.
I should've kept that in my head.
I looked away like it meant nothing. “Nothing.”
But the look on his face changed.
Only slightly.
“Eliora…”
“Dont Eliora me,” I said
He sighed softly.
“You don't own me,” I said quietly.
“No,” he replied, just as quietly. “But I'm not losing you again.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
For a second, my chest tightened.
I hated that.
Hated that even now, after everything, some part of me still reacted to him.
I forced my face into cold irritation.
“Well, that's a you problem.”
A tiny flicker crossed his face.
Pain.
Good.
Let it hurt.
He had earned every bit of it.
Vivienne stepped forward then, smooth and elegant.
“Kael.”
Her voice was soft but I heard the fear beneath it.
“This has gone far enough.”
“No, Mother.”
“This is ridiculous. She needs to leave.”
“She stays.”
Her eyes widened. “For what reason?”
He didn't even blink. “I want answers.”
“And if she has none?”
“She does.”
I nearly rolled my eyes.
Of course he'd say something like that.
He looked at Marcus.
“Prepare the east wing guest suite.”
I turned to him sharply. “You're joking.”
“I'm not.”
“I said I'm leaving.”
“And I said you're not.”
He was impossible!
I stepped closer before I could stop myself, anger taking over.
“You don't get to do this.”
“Apparently I do.”
“Kael…”
The name slipped out before I could catch it.
Silence.
Marcus looked away so fast, it was impressive.
Vivienne went completely still.
And Kael…
Kael looked at me like the ground had shifted under his feet.
Because I had made another mistake.
A stupid one.
I had said his name too easily.
Too naturally.
Not like a stranger.
Fix it!
Now.
I scoffed and rolled my eyes like I hadn't noticed.
“What? Your mother said it first, I heard it.
It was a flimsy excuse.
But not a terrible one.
Kael kept staring at me.
Too long.
He didn't believe that fully.
I could tell.
His gaze dropped to my face like he was trying to drag every single thing in me with nothing but silence.
God, I wanted to slap him.
Instead I looked away and exhaled sharply.
“Forget it. You want me to stay so badly? Fine.”
Marcus blinked.
Vivienne's finger tightened around her handbag.
I kept my tone irritated, almost reckless.
“I'll stay.”
Kael frowned immediately, like he hadn't expected me to agree.
Good.
Let him wonder.
“But let me be very clear,” I added looking straight at him. I'm not staying because you threatened me. I'm staying because I chose to.”
That was the closest thing to truth I could safely give.
Kael held my gaze for a second.
“You'll have a room.”
“How generous.”
“Take her upstairs.”
I turned and followed Marcus upstairs without looking back again.
At the top of the stairs, I looked down.
Kael was still standing exactly where i had left him.
One hand in his pocket.
The other clenched at his side.
Watching me like he didn't know whether he wanted to follow me or chain me to the front door.
I turned just enough to glance at Vivienne.
She was watching me too closely.
Like she was afraid I would do something.
Good.
Let her be afraid.
They were about to have a very bad time.
I turned and followed Marcus down the corridor without looking back again.
- Writer
