"You're smuggling arms? And you think I'll just let it slide?"
Elara's voice was cold as a blade, slicing through the room's tension. In peacetime, she'd have raged, condemned him—anything to wash her hands of his filthy business.
But the apocalypse was days away. Peace was a lie.
Kael's line of work? It just might keep them alive.
Kael stared at her, his sharp gaze fixated on her face, not missing a single flicker of emotion. He'd braced for disgust, for her to recoil like he was toxic.
Instead, he saw only a flash of surprise… then calm. No hatred, no judgment.
The weight in his chest crashed down. Thank gods.
He leaned against the wall, his angular features sharp and unyielding—high cheekbones, piercing eyes, a jaw set in a permanent scowl. His wheat-colored skin stretched over corded muscle; even in a plain shirt, he exuded the danger of a caged predator.
Elara's breath hitched. How long had it been since she'd truly looked at him?
In her past life, she'd hated him so fiercely, she'd refused to meet his eyes. By the time she died, his face had blurred into a vague memory—just a name, a shadow of the man who'd died protecting her.
Kael's jaw tightened. He saw it clearly—the way her gaze drifted, like she was staring through him at someone else.
Felix Corin? Or some other bastard who thought he could touch what was his?
Whoever it was, they'd regret it. He'd burn the world down before letting anyone take Elara from him.
"Stock up on ammo," Elara said, tearing her eyes from the window to meet his. Her tone was flat, but urgency simmered beneath. "As much as you can get."
Kael nodded, his earlier irritation melting away. He'd ask no questions—for once, she was talking to him, not screaming. That was enough.
He held up the ink jade pendant he'd found on her desk, his fingers clammy around the cool stone.
Panic shot through him. He'd broken her cardinal rule—invaded her room, touched her things. He'd braced for her to snap, to throw him out.
"Whose is this?" His voice was uncharacteristically cautious, like he feared spooking her.
Elara's expression softened, just a fraction. She'd traded her bracelet for this pendant on purpose—she'd known its space secret from her past life.
"Lila Marek's. I swapped my bracelet for it, but it's not my style."
Kael's heart skipped. She'd answered him. Voluntarily.
He slipped the pendant into his pocket, like claiming a hard-won trophy. "I'll take it. Waste not, right?"
He turned to leave, pausing at the door. "I've got a plan for the antiques. Make me a list of everything else you need—no limits. And go to bed early."
Elara hummed in response, already refocusing on her Superpower practice.
Kael left, a faint, rare smile tugging at his lips. Progress. Slow, painful progress—but progress all the same.
Downstairs, Mother Voss smiled softly as she watched them through the kitchen door.
Father Voss nodded, a look of quiet relief crossing his face—after years of tension, their children were finally speaking civilly.
Kael might be a brute, but his devotion to Elara was undeniable.
The Next Morning
Elara found Kael by the door, his cold face splitting into a grin when he saw her. "Morning, Elara!"
"Morning," she replied, the word sticking in her throat. She couldn't bring herself to call him "brother."
The smile faded from Kael's eyes, but he masked it quickly. "Skip school today. Rest—you're still recovering."
She nodded, pulling a list from her pocket. "These supplies, as much as possible. Find a sealed, secure place to store them."
Kael scanned the list—canned food, water purification tablets, medical kits, gasoline. It was a survivalist's wishlist. He didn't ask why. "Done."
Elara leaned in, her scent—jasmine mixed with something sharp—washing over him. "Dad's antiques. Sell them fast. Use the money for more supplies."
Kael froze. Her proximity, her trust, the way her breath fanned his neck—it was overwhelming.
He wanted to pull her into his arms, lock her away where no one could hurt her.
Instead, he ground out a gruff "Got it" and watched her walk to the kitchen.
Later That Day
A knock on the door shattered the peace. Mother Voss's voice called up: "Elara, your Uncle Yang and Theo Corin are here!"
Elara sighed. She knew exactly why they'd come—money. Her mother's side of the family had always been greedy, and the apocalypse had only sharpened that hunger.
She changed quickly and headed downstairs.
Yang Ming and Theo Corin sat on the couch, their eyes raking over the living room's expensive decor—vases, paintings, antique lamps. Their greed was palpable, ugly.
"Theo's of marrying age, but we're strapped," Yang Ming whined to Mother Voss, his voice thick with fake despair. "If only we had a hundred grand or so…."
Mother Voss's smile was strained. She hated conflict, especially with family.
Theo's gaze locked onto Elara as she descended the stairs. His eyes turned predatory, raking over her figure—tight jeans, lace-trimmed shirt, her cold, untouchable beauty.
Elara met his stare, her eyes icy enough to freeze blood. She'd seen that look before—in the apocalypse, men like him thought greed or brute force gave them the right to take whatever they wanted.
She'd killed men like him.
"Cousin Elara, long time no see," Theo purred, standing up. "You've grown even more beautiful."
Elara's lips curved into a dangerous smirk. She'd planned this—Theo had been a nightmare in her past life, a water-element Superpower user who'd joined her enemies to hunt her down.
This time, she'd end him before he could start.
"I was just about to show the garden. Come with me, cousin."
Theo's face lit up. "I'd love to."
Mother Voss looked worried, but Elara squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We'll stay close. Dad and Kael will be back soon."
Outside, the sun shone bright—but Elara's eyes were dark. She led him to the backyard—grass, a swing, a small garden of roses.
She sat on the swing, her back to him.
"Theo, I heard you're scared of swings," she said, her voice feigning innocence.
Theo sputtered. "That's a lie! Swings are for kids—I could handle one blindfolded."
Elara glanced over her shoulder, a challenge in her eyes. "Prove it. Stand on it. Show me how tough you are."
Theo's pride got the better of him. He climbed onto the swing, gripping the ropes. "Watch this."
He pumped his legs, sending the swing soaring higher and higher.
Elara watched, her fingers twitching as she channeled her gold and air Superpowers.
The swing's ropes—six thick strands, meant to hold two adults—began to fray, one by one.
Theo laughed, oblivious. "See? Piece of cake—"
Snap!
The ropes gave way.
Theo screamed as he plummeted eight feet into the rose bushes, thorns tearing at his skin.
Elara stood, staring down at him. No guilt, no mercy—only cold satisfaction.
In the apocalypse, kindness was a weakness. And she'd already died once for being weak.
She turned to leave, just as Kael's voice roared from the house. "Elara!"
He sprinted toward her, panic etched into his face. He'd heard the scream, seen the broken swing—and thought it was her.
"Are you hurt? Did he touch you?" He grabbed her arms, his touch rough but gentle, checking for injuries.
Elara shook her head, nodding toward the bushes. "He fell. Accidentally."
Kael's gaze darkened as he saw Theo's crumpled form. He'd always hated Yang Ming and his son—leeches, the both of them.
"Stay away from him," Kael growled, his protectiveness flaring. "From now on. I'll crush anyone who tries to hurt you."
Elara didn't argue. For once, his overprotectiveness didn't irritate her. It felt… familiar. Safe.
As Kael knelt to haul Theo out of the roses, Elara glanced at the swing's broken ropes.
One problem solved. Now, back to preparing for the end of the world.
Next Chapter Teaser
Yang Ming's greed turns violent—he screams for compensation for Theo's "accident," but Elara has no intention of paying. Kael's smuggling contacts collide with family drama, and bullets fly. Elara's Superpower teeters on exposure, while the jade pendant's space secret whispers to Kael. Will he discover its power before she reclaims it? And when Father Voss's antique vault is emptied, will the family's fragile peace shatter—along with Elara and Kael's tentative bond?