Marked by vengeance

Chapter five

The Boy Who Shouldn’t Be Here

Lydia didn’t go back to the window after that.

She stayed inside, pretending the sight of that black car meant nothing. Pretending those golden eyes didn’t flash in her mind every time she blinked.

But it didn’t help.

By the time she got to school, her mood was already off. Nina was talking beside her, but Lydia barely heard a word.

Then everything stopped.

The noise, the movement, even her thoughts.

Kael was standing by the school gate.

Like he belonged there.

Like he owned the place.

Heads turned immediately. Students whispered his name like it carried something dangerous. And maybe it did.

He didn’t look at anyone except her.

Of course.

Lydia slowed down without meaning to.

Nina tugged her arm slightly. “Don’t tell me you know him.”

“I don’t,” Lydia said quickly.

Kael started walking toward them.

Calm. Controlled. Like he had no reason to rush.

But somehow, that made it worse.

Nina stepped slightly in front of Lydia. “Okay, I don’t care who you are, but she’s not interested in—”

Kael’s gaze flicked to her briefly.

“Move.”

Just one word.

Not loud. Not aggressive.

But heavy enough that Nina actually stepped aside without realizing it.

Lydia hated that her body reacted the same way.

He stopped right in front of her.

Too close.

“You’re being followed,” he said simply.

Lydia frowned. “By who?”

Kael’s eyes darkened slightly.

“Something that doesn’t belong in your world.”

Her chest tightened. “My world? What does that even mean?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he glanced past her shoulder like he could already see something she couldn’t.

Then he looked back at her.

“You shouldn’t be outside alone.”

Lydia scoffed softly. “Are you my bodyguard now?”

Something almost like irritation crossed his face.

“No,” he said. “You’re the problem I didn’t ask for.”

That should’ve offended her.

But it didn’t.

Because for some reason, she believed him.

And behind them, in the distance, someone was watching.