Fated to kill you

Unexpected Bonds

Leah bolted down the corridor, her bag swinging wildly as she raced to her anatomy class. The morning had been a complete disaster. She’d overslept, missed breakfast, and Sath was already gone when she woke up—leaving her guilty for breaking her promise to cook. And now, she was running late for Professor Stone’s notoriously strict class.

Bursting into the anatomy lab, she froze at the threshold, breathless and disheveled. Rows of cadaver stations stretched before her, each with a pair of students already working. The air was thick with the sterile scent of formaldehyde and the sharp tang of tension. Professor Stone’s sharp eyes locked onto Leah, and her lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line.

“You’re late,” the professor bellowed, her voice cutting through the room like a whip. “And now you have no partner. Being late to my class is unacceptable!”

Leah’s heart sank. She stood rooted to the spot, scrambling for an explanation that wouldn’t make things worse, but before she could stammer a word, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Liam burst into the room, his golden hair slightly tousled, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he skidded to a halt beside her.

“Sorry, Professor,” he said, sounding entirely too cheerful for someone in trouble. “I couldn’t wake up.”

Leah barely stifled a gasp. Liam?! Late?

Professor Stone’s expression darkened further, if that were even possible. Her fiery glare shifted between Liam and Leah, and Leah could swear the room’s temperature dropped.

“Liam, you’re late as well?” she snapped, her tone icy, “as a senior and with your status, you are supposed to set an example. You’ve disappointed me.”

“Me too? Who else came late?” Liam said with an amused chuckle, his grin widening as he glanced at Leah.

Stone’s nostrils flared, but Liam’s casual attitude seemed to bounce off her fury like armor. He turned to Leah and winked, his grin as dazzling as ever.

“Professor,” he said smoothly, “since we’re both late, why don’t we pair up for today’s practicals?”

Stone scowled but relented with an irritated wave of her hand. “Fine. Get to a station,” she barked. “Your cadaver has already been dissected in the previous lesson. Explore the internal structures, identify them, and document your findings. Seniors are to guide juniors, and I will check your work during rounds.”

Liam led the way to an empty station, and Leah trailed behind, equal parts anxious and exhilarated. As they worked, Liam’s skill became immediately apparent. He moved with precision and confidence, his focus unshakable as he identified the intricate anatomy of the cadaver. Leah struggled to keep up, her hands trembling as she documented his findings.

For everyone else, anatomy was the longest class of the semester. For Leah, it was over in the blink of an eye. Time dissolved as she watched Liam work, his calm determination mesmerizing her. Her heart raced whenever his arm brushed hers, and she could barely focus on the professor’s instructions.

It was both a blessing and a curse—she was thrilled to be near him, but she knew she’d have to revise the entire lesson later.

“Hey, that was awesome,” Liam said with a bright smile as the class ended.

“Awesome,” Leah repeated in her head, smiling faintly. Awesome wasn’t the word she’d use to describe the storm of emotions he stirred in her, but she nodded anyway.

When Leah arrived at the cottage, the guilt from her broken promise lingered. Sath still wasn’t home, and she decided to make it up to him by cooking lunch. Digging through the fridge, she pulled out ingredients and whipped up a quick fried rice.

Just as she placed the dish on the table, the door creaked open, and Sath walked in. He glanced at her cooking and raised an eyebrow.

“Do you call this lunch or brunch?” he asked, his lips quirking into a rare smile.

Leah laughed. “I overslept. I’m so sorry! I didn’t have time to make breakfast,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing.

Sath shrugged and started setting the table, laying out plates with practiced ease. “Figured as much. Did you get in trouble for being late?”

Leah snorted. “Oh, you have no idea. Professor Stone almost burned a hole through me with her glare. But Liam showed up even later, so I wasn’t the only one she yelled at.”

Sath laughed lightly, a sound Leah wasn’t used to hearing. “That sounds about right. If you aren’t around on mornings, I can give you a wake-up call..if you want,” he offered casually.

Leah’s eyes lit up. “You’d do that? Really? Oh, thank you! That would be amazing!”

Sath nodded. “No problem.”

As they ate, Leah realized how easy it was to talk to him. Sath had a calming presence—steady and grounded, the complete opposite of Liam’s dazzling intensity.

“So,” she said, curious, “what are you studying?”

“Political science,” Sath replied.

Leah grimaced involuntarily. She hated politics, especially given how much it fueled the divisions between the clans.

“It’s not for everyone,” Sath said with a knowing smile.

“Yeah, definitely not me,” Leah said, shaking her head.

To her surprise, Sath laughed again, the sound soft and genuine. Leah found herself smiling back, realizing how rare it felt to see him laugh. Unlike Liam, Sath’s quiet and calm demeanor made him approachable. He didn’t overwhelm her; he gave her space to breathe. Around Sath she felt comfortable.

There was so much she wanted to know about him, but she decided to take her time. Sath was a mystery she could unravel slowly, piece by piece.

As she cleared the table, Leah couldn’t help but reflect on the stark contrast between the two men. Liam was like a blazing fire, impossible to ignore and intoxicating to be near. Sath, on the other hand, was like a steady river—calm, reliable, and quietly intriguing.

Both drew her in, each in their own way, and she couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for all three of them.