Chapter 33: You Earned It
Hours earlier...
The room was lit by a pair of lamps casting soft shadows on wooden walls, the air tinged with almond incense—an attempt by Lira to calm her own nerves.
Lira stood, arms crossed, staring at Kaira, who sat in a chair with one leg crossed over the other, twirling a strand of her black hair.
"I get that you're curious about Rian," Lira said, her tone striving for calm. "But, Kaira, I'm serious: be careful with him."
Kaira looked up, frowning.
"Careful? Why?" she asked, leaning forward. "Rian doesn't seem... I don't know, dangerous? He's a bit weird, sure, but he doesn't give me bad vibes."
Lira looked away, fixing her gaze on a lamp.
'I can't tell her everything,' she thought, a knot tightening in her stomach. 'Not until I'm sure.'
Lira took a deep breath and met Kaira's eyes again.
"Rian doesn't have a great reputation in the clan," she said, choosing her words carefully. "Let's just say... he's not exactly the leaders' favorite. Or anyone's, really."
Kaira blinked, clearly confused.