Chapter 252

AURELIA’S POV Kael wasted no time. The very next day, his “plan” unfolded right before my eyes—whether I was ready for it or not. We were in the courtyard again, the morning air fresh and cool, when Darius arrived with his usual steady calm. He gave me one of his unreadable glances, then turned his focus to Kael as if nothing in the world could shake him. But Kael was already smirking. He slid onto the bench beside me, closer than usual, his arm brushing mine deliberately. I stiffened, but before I could move away, he plucked the ribbon from my hair and twirled it between his fingers. “This color suits you,” he murmured, his tone teasing but just soft enough to feel far too intimate. “Makes your eyes stand out.” My heart lurched. I opened my mouth to protest, to snatch the ribbon back, but then I saw it—out of the corner of my eye, Darius’s shoulders tensed. It was subtle, so subtle most wouldn’t have noticed. But I did. Kael saw it too. He leaned even closer, tilting his head as thoug