The library was usually Riele's sanctuary, the one place where she could hide behind stacks of books and slip into the background. Today, though, the familiar comfort of the quiet aisles and dim lighting was shattered. Jace was here, and he wasn't hiding his presence.
Riele could feel him watching her from across the room. His gaze was an anchor, holding her in place, even as her instincts screamed for her to flee. But she stayed rooted to her seat, heart pounding as she flipped through the same page in her textbook, pretending to read while her mind raced.
She didn't have to wait long. Within moments, Jace was in front of her, settling into the chair across from her, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Felix," he began, his voice dangerously quiet. "I've been thinking."
Riele forced a smirk, hoping to throw him off balance. "That sounds dangerous. Should I be worried?"
But his expression didn't soften. If anything, his jaw tightened, his gaze sharpening in a way that made her stomach flip with both excitement and dread. She tried to maintain her calm, but she could feel her mask slipping under his scrutiny.
He leaned in, his elbows resting on the table as he studied her, every movement calculated. "I don't like being lied to, Felix."
The words hung in the air like a storm cloud, and Riele's heart skipped a beat. She forced herself to keep her composure, her mind racing for an answer that wouldn't betray her secret. "What are you talking about?" she replied, keeping her tone casual.
Jace's gaze was unyielding. "There's something you're hiding. Something… important. And I'm tired of pretending it doesn't matter." His hand moved across the table, his fingers brushing against hers, and she flinched at the unexpected warmth.
"Why do you care so much?" she whispered, more to herself than to him.
"Because," he replied, his tone unwavering, "I don't like things slipping through my fingers. I want to know you, Felix. The real you."
Riele's breath caught, her heartbeat hammering in her chest. She knew he was dangerously close to discovering her secret, yet something within her yearned to let him in. It was a feeling she couldn't explain, a pull she had never expected. She'd always told herself that emotions were a distraction, a weakness. But here, sitting across from Jace, she felt her resolve crumbling.
"You don't know what you're asking for," she managed, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Then tell me," he countered, his voice dropping to a murmur. "Let me in."
His fingers tightened around hers, his gaze never wavering. The intensity in his eyes made her want to run, but it also made her want to stay. She was trapped, caught between loyalty to her mission and the growing desire to let Jace see the girl hidden beneath the mask.
Before she could respond, he leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what's keeping you from me, Felix, but understand this: whatever it is, I'll break it down. You're mine, and I don't let go of what's mine."
A thrill shot through her, his words both terrifying and exhilarating. She wanted to laugh it off, to tell him he was being ridiculous, but the possessive look in his eyes made her blood run cold. She had never been on the receiving end of such fierce attention before, and it was as intoxicating as it was dangerous.
She pulled her hand away, trying to regain control. "You're overthinking things, Jace. I'm not hiding anything."
But he didn't seem convinced. Instead, he watched her with a dark, possessive glint in his eyes, as if he could see straight through her defenses. "I don't believe you, Felix. And I don't like not knowing what's keeping you from me."
Riele forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow even to her own ears. "I think you're imagining things. I'm just… private."
"Private?" he echoed, his tone skeptical. "Or hiding something?" His hand reached out again, this time gripping her wrist, his touch gentle but firm. "I want the truth, Felix. And I'm not letting you go until I get it."
The demand in his voice sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt her pulse quicken. The truth. It was on the tip of her tongue, a forbidden confession that would change everything. She could feel her control slipping, her carefully constructed walls cracking under the weight of his possessive gaze.
But then her phone buzzed in her pocket, the familiar vibration snapping her back to reality. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A message from her mother. "Don't forget what's at stake."
The cold reminder of her mission sent a jolt through her, forcing her back into reality. She
straightened, pulling her wrist free from Jace's grip, her mind racing. She couldn't afford to get lost in him. This was all a game—a dangerous, intoxicating game—and if she let herself fall, there would be consequences.
"I have to go," she said, standing abruptly.
Jace's expression darkened, and he rose to his feet as well, his eyes flashing with something close to anger. "So that's it? You're just going to walk away?"
Riele swallowed, summoning a faint smile. "I'll see you later, Jace."
But before she could take a step, he caught her arm, his grip possessive yet gentle. "You can try to run, Felix. But understand this—I won't let you slip away. You're mine, and I won't let anything take you from me."
A chill ran down her spine at his words, an unspoken promise lingering in his voice. She wanted to say something, to reassure him or push him away, but the intensity in his gaze held her captive, as if he'd already bound her to him.
Finally, she pulled away, managing a shaky nod. "Goodbye, Jace," she whispered, more to herself than to him. With every step she took, she could feel his eyes on her, his presence lingering like a shadow. She'd never felt more vulnerable, yet a part of her couldn't deny the thrill of his possessiveness, the way he seemed determined to claim her as his.
But deep down, Riele knew that her secret was slipping, and it was only a matter of time before Jace uncovered the truth. And when he did, there would be no turning back.