_Kael's POV_
After we left Morana’s cabin, I dropped Alex at his house. He didn’t ask too many questions, but I knew his mind was spinning.
"You good?" he asked as he stepped out of the car.
"Yeah," I nodded. "Thanks for coming with me."
"Just be careful, man," he said, gripping the door. "That woman… she gave me the creeps."
"I know. I’ll be fine."
Once he was gone, I drove straight back home. The bottle was heavy in my pocket, but it felt heavier in my mind. Like it carried the weight of something unseen.
I went up to my room, locked the door, and pulled the bottle out. I placed it inside my closet, tucked in the back behind some folded clothes. Then I locked the closet with a small key and slipped the key into my wallet.
No one could know.
Not my parents. Not Roxanne. No one ap
