Chapter 4
1169 Words
AUTHOR POV
Octavia instinctively tightened her grip on the camera strap.
For a heartbeat, the noise of the arena faded.
Kael was looking at her.
No...
He was looking at the camera.
His expression was no longer indifferent.
It was sharp.
Urgent.
Almost... worried.
"What?" Maya asked, following her gaze.
Octavia swallowed.
"I think..."
She hesitated.
"I think Captain Ice King is staring at me."
Maya looked over.
"Oh."
"What?"
"He definitely is."
Octavia forced an awkward laugh.
"Maybe he's angry I photographed the fight."
"No."
Maya frowned.
"That's not an angry face."
"What is it then?"
"...It looks like he's trying to stop something."
Before Octavia could respond, Kael started walking.
Not toward the locker room.
Toward her.
His long strides were quick, purposeful, effortlessly cutting through the crowd. Students moved aside without realizing they were doing it.
People recognized him instantly.
"That's Kael."
"Where's he going?"
"Is he coming out for interviews?"
Phones immediately appeared.
Several girls squealed.
A group of freshmen rushed forward.
"Kael! Can we get a picture?"
He didn't even slow down.
One of the team's assistant coaches stepped into his path.
"Draven, media interviews are in ten—"
"Later."
His deep voice carried enough authority that the coach simply stepped aside.
Octavia blinked.
"He's definitely coming here."
Maya grinned mischievously.
"I suddenly remember I need to stand... over there."
"You are not leaving me."
"I absolutely am."
"Maya!"
Her best friend took three exaggerated steps backward, coffee in hand.
"I'll be emotional support from a safe distance."
"Traitor."
"I've accepted that."
Within seconds, Kael stopped in front of Octavia.
Up close, he was even taller than she'd imagined.
She had to tilt her head slightly to meet his eyes.
A faint cut marked the corner of his mouth from the fight.
A bruise was beginning to darken along his cheekbone.
Yet none of it diminished the commanding presence he carried.
Neither of them spoke.
The silence stretched.
Finally, Kael's gaze dropped to the camera hanging from her neck.
"What did you photograph?"
His voice was low and controlled.
Octavia frowned.
"Excuse me?"
"What."
He repeated evenly.
"Did you photograph?"
Her irritation immediately surfaced.
"I don't think that's any of your business."
"It is."
"No."
She folded her arms.
"It belongs to the university newspaper."
"I wasn't asking about the newspaper."
His eyes met hers again.
"I'm asking about the people standing with Damien."
Octavia's heartbeat skipped.
So he knew.
She narrowed her eyes.
"You were watching."
"I saw you lift your camera."
"So?"
"So answer the question."
She stared at him for several seconds.
"You first."
One dark eyebrow lifted slightly.
"You seem awfully interested."
"I'm a journalism student."
"That's not what I asked."
"I know."
She refused to look away.
"And I'm not answering questions from strangers."
Something almost resembling amusement flickered across his face before disappearing.
"I'm not a stranger."
"Oh?"
"No."
"You know exactly who I am."
She gave a dry laugh.
"Trust me, everyone knows who you are."
"Then we're past introductions."
"I'm still not showing you my camera."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"You need to delete those photographs."
The words caught her completely off guard.
"What?"
"Delete them."
Her expression hardened.
"No."
"They're dangerous."
"They're evidence."
"They'll get you hurt."
"I decide that."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
"I can't."
"Convenient."
Kael glanced over his shoulder.
His posture subtly changed.
He wasn't looking at the crowd.
He was searching it.
His eyes moved from face to face with quiet precision.
Almost like he expected someone to appear.
When he looked back at her, his voice dropped another octave.
"Listen carefully."
"I'm listening."
"If anyone asks about those photographs..."
He paused.
"...tell them you deleted everything."
Octavia shook her head.
"I won't lie."
"You should."
"I became a journalist to tell the truth."
"And sometimes the truth gets people killed."
The sentence hung heavily between them.
For the first time since approaching her, genuine emotion crossed Kael's face.
Concern.
Not for himself.
For her.
Octavia searched his features.
"You actually believe that."
"I know it."
She opened her mouth to respond.
A booming voice interrupted them.
"There you are."
Damien.
He emerged from the corridor with two teammates at his side.
The bruise on his jaw had deepened, but the arrogant smile had returned.
His eyes landed on Octavia first.
Then shifted to Kael.
The smile vanished.
"Interesting."
His gaze traveled between them.
"I leave for ten minutes, and my ex is already entertaining my biggest rival."
Octavia's shoulders stiffened.
"We're talking."
"I can see that."
Damien stepped closer.
His teammates remained a few paces behind, watching silently.
"I didn't realize you had such terrible taste."
Kael didn't react.
Damien laughed softly.
"You know..."
He addressed Kael without taking his eyes off Octavia.
"She always had a habit of clinging to successful men."
Octavia's face paled with anger.
"Enough."
"Oh?"
Damien smirked.
"Did I hit a nerve?"
"You don't get to speak about me like that."
"I can speak however I want."
"No."
A calm, icy voice answered before Octavia could.
Kael.
"You can't."
Damien finally looked at him.
"And who's going to stop me?"
"I will."
The surrounding conversations gradually died down.
Students sensed the tension and instinctively backed away.
Phones rose into the air again.
Someone whispered,
"They're going to fight."
Damien stepped even closer until he and Kael were nearly chest to chest.
"You think one lucky game makes you untouchable?"
Kael's expression remained unreadable.
"I don't care about the game."
"No?"
"No."
"Then what do you care about?"
For the first time since they'd met, Kael looked directly at Octavia before answering.
"People who don't deserve to be dragged into your mess."
Damien followed his gaze.
A slow, dangerous smile spread across his face.
Understanding dawned in his eyes.
"So that's it."
His voice became almost mocking.
"You're interested in her."
Octavia immediately spoke.
"Nobody is interested in anybody."
Damien ignored her.
He looked at Kael.
"If you're thinking of playing hero..."
His smile widened.
"...you're already too late."
Without another word, Damien turned and walked away.
Just before disappearing into the restricted hallway, he glanced back over one shoulder.
"We'll finish this after the final buzzer."
Kael watched him leave without moving.
Then his attention returned to Octavia.
His jaw tightened.
"Go home after the game."
"I planned to."
"Don't leave alone."
She frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he looked toward the arena entrance where the third period horn echoed through the building.
The game was about to resume.
Kael took one step backward.
"Keep that camera with you."
"I thought you wanted me to delete the pictures."
"I do."
"Then make up your mind."
His silver eyes held hers for one lingering moment.
"If you can't delete them..."
He said quietly.
"...don't let anyone else get them."
Before she could ask another question, he turned and disappeared down the players' tunnel, leaving Octavia standing motionless, her camera suddenly feeling much heavier than it had a few minutes ago.
- Writer
