Jay's pov
The morning light felt like an intruder. It crept across the floorboards of the dormitory, pale and unforgiving, a sharp contrast to the smoke and crimson that had stained the sky just hours before. I stirred, my body feeling heavy, anchored by a warmth I hadn't known I was allowed to have.
I didn't open my eyes at first. I just breathed. The air smelled of cedarwood, faint traces of gunpowder, and the unmistakable scent of Keifer.
His arm was a solid weight across my waist, pulling me back against his chest as if he were afraid the shadows of Hell University would snatch me away the moment he let go.
I felt completely entangled in him. My legs were woven with his, and his heartbeat was a steady, rhythmic thrum against my back.
For a few minutes, the war didn't exist. The uprising, the blood on my hands, the screams of the fallen—it all faded into the background. I looked peaceful. I felt peaceful.
Then, like a bucket of ice water, the memories of last night flooded back. The way we had clung to each other in the aftermath of the rebellion. The desperation in our touch, the silent promises made in the dark, and the sheer, raw intensity of realizing we had both made it out alive.
I turned slowly in his arms, trying not to break the silence. Keifer was still deep in sleep, his features finally relaxed.
The lethal edge he usually carried—the coldness in his eyes and the tension in his jaw—had vanished, replaced by a softness that only I was ever allowed to see. I reached out, my fingers trembling slightly as I traced the line of his jaw.
I couldn't help myself. I leaned in, ghosting my lips against his in a feather-light peak, a silent "thank you" for being the anchor I needed.
I slipped out of the bed with the practiced grace of a shadow, careful not to wake him. I needed to move, to feel the reality of the morning.
I pulled on a pair of casual clothes—just a simple oversized jacket and jeans. There were no classes today. No training. No orders. It felt surreal.
(Check comment)
I walked over to the cracked mirror in the corner of the room to pull my hair up, but the moment I saw my reflection, my heart skipped a beat.
Five.
Five dark, blossoming marks were scattered across my collarbone and the side of my neck, bold and unmistakable. They were deep purple, a map of exactly how much Keifer had missed me—and how much he intended to claim me.
"Damn it, Keifer," I hissed under my breath, feeling a fierce heat climb up my face.
I scrambled for my bag, digging out a bottle of heavy-duty foundation. I spent the next ten minutes dabbing, blending, and layering the makeup until the skin looked flawlessly pale again. Once I was sure the "evidence" was buried, I took one last look at the sleeping lion on the bed and stepped out into the hallway.
The common area was already a beehive of activity. The survivors were gathered around, some cleaning weapons, others just sitting in the newfound silence of a school without masters.
"Look who finally decided to join the land of the living!" Felix's voice boomed the second I stepped into the room. He was lounging on a table, looking far too energized for someone who had fought a revolution yesterday. "Honestly, Jay, I thought I'd have to send a tactical recovery team into that room to fetch you."
Zein looked up from a map she was studying with Ace. Her sharp eyes darted to me, a knowing, slightly predatory glint in them. "Finally, Jay. Where's Keifer?"
Before I could even think of a lie, a deep, gravelly vibration sounded right behind my ear. "I'm right here."
I jumped slightly as Keifer leaned against the doorframe behind me. He looked effortless—hair messy, shirt slightly rumpled, and an expression of total, smug satisfaction.
"Why are you both glowing?" Mia asked, narrowing her eyes as she looked between us. "Seriously, you look like you just won the lottery, not a war."
"Yeah, you both are glowing way too much," Freya added, leaning back with a suspicious smirk.
Rakki leaned into the center of the circle, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear. "That's not normal survivor glow. That's 'we did something' glow."
"Probably did that," Edrix piped up, wagging his eyebrows.
"Shut up, Edrix!" I snapped, my face turning a shade of red that no foundation could hide.
"Look at that! She's actually blushing!" Dave laughed, pointing a finger at me. "The Tornado of Hell University is turning into a tomato."
Keifer didn't help. He didn't even try to defend me. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence looming over me like a protective shadow. He leaned down, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered loud enough for the group to catch, "Baby girl, should I just tell them what we did yesterday? Save them the guesswork?"
I whipped around, my eyes narrowed into lethal slits. "You dare say a single word, and I will personally cut your dick off and feed it to the crows."
Keifer winced, though the smirk stayed firmly on his lips. "Ouch. So harsh. And after such a beautiful night, too."
"Do you two realize we're still here?" Matt groaned, covering his eyes.
"They're definitely planning for round two," Cin teased, and the room erupted into whistles and catcalls.
The teasing was reaching a fever pitch when a voice cut through the noise—a voice that made the air in my lungs freeze.
"Jay-Jay?"
The name was spoken with a familiarity that didn't belong to anyone in this room. I turned, my heart hammering against my ribs. Standing at the entrance was a tall, familiar figure.
Jare.
I didn't think. I didn't care about the image I had built or the people watching. I sprinted. I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist like a koala.
Jare caught me effortlessly, his strong arms locking around me as he let out a jagged, relieved breath.
"I missed you so fucking much, princess," he muttered, spinning me around in a dizzying circle.
He finally set me down but kept his hands on my shoulders, his eyes scanning me for injuries. He leaned in and kissed my forehead, a gesture of pure, unfiltered brotherly love.
I grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the stunned group.
"Guys," I said, my voice thick with pride. "Meet Jasprit Jace Mariano. My elder brother."
I went through the introductions—Zein, Ace, Raze, and the rest of the inner circle. Jare gave them a curt, respectful nod, his protective aura radiating off him in waves.
"I missed you, Jare-baby!" Percy shouted, suddenly appearing from the crowd and throwing his arms around my brother in a bone-crushing hug.
"Fuck off, Percy," Jare groaned, though he didn't actually push him away. Percy immediately started rambling about how handsome he still was, even after all the chaos. Jare and I shared a look and rolled our eyes at the exact same time.
"They really are brother and sister," Vanessa whispered, watching the synchronized movement.
I glanced over at Ace. He looked... uncomfortable. His jaw was tight, and he was staring at Jare with a strange intensity. Is Thunderpuff jealous? I thought, confused. But why? Jare isn't even close to Zein.
But the peace didn't last long. Keifer stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Jare's. He didn't look intimidated. If anything, he looked challenged.
"Welcome, brother-in-law," Keifer said, his voice smooth and dangerously casual.
Jare's expression shifted instantly.
The warmth for me vanished, replaced by a cold, lethal glare directed at Keifer. "I am not your brother-in-law. Especially not an asshole like you. Remember, my sister is no one's wife."
Keifer's lips curled into that devastating, arrogant smirk. "Yet."
Before Jare could swing, Mia's voice pierced the air. "Oh my god, Jay! What is that on your neck?"
I froze. I had been moving too much. The collar of my hoodie must have shifted, or the sweat from the excitement had thinned the makeup.
"What is that on her neck, Keifer?!" Jare roared, his face turning a dark shade of purple as he pointed a shaking finger at the marks. "Is that a hickey?!"
The room went deathly silent.
Keifer didn't flinch. He didn't look guilty. He didn't even look like he regretted it. He just leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest with an unbothered air.
"Actually, Jare," Keifer said, his voice echoing in the quiet room, "consider it a property tag. I just wanted to make sure if she got lost in the crowd, everyone knew exactly whose soul she belongs to. No need to thank me for the security." 😉😏🔥
The air in the room practically hissed with tension.
"Her neck is not your canvas to draw on, Keifer," Ace growled, stepping forward. His voice was like grinding stones. He had always looked at me like a younger sister, and seeing those marks had clearly triggered his protective side.
"He's right," Jare hissed, cracking his knuckles as he stepped toward Keifer. Both men looked ready to tear him apart limb from limb.
Zein quickly stepped in, grabbing Ace's arm to hold him back. "Ace, calm down. This isn't the time for a brawl."
I stepped between the three of them, hands raised. "Okay! Everyone, just stop! It's fine, I'm fine—"
"My, my," a shrill, mocking voice interrupted from the doorway. "It looks like a family reunion in here. How touching. The little rebels playing house while the world is still in pieces."
We all turned to see Roxanne standing there, her arms crossed, looking at us with her usual mask of superiority.
Jare didn't even blink. He looked at Roxanne, took in her sneer, and then looked her straight in the eye. "And who invited the clearance-rack villain? You look like someone who was rejected from a low-budget horror movie for being too fake. Does the bitterness come naturally, or do you have to practice being this pathetic?"
The room collectively gasped. Roxanne's face went from pale to a bright, humiliated red. She turned to Ace, her voice trembling with outrage. "Supremo! Are you going to let this... this person talk to me like that?"
Ace didn't even bother looking at her. But Zein did.She just adjusted her sleeve and spoke in a voice as cold as ice. "He's right, Roxanne. You are a pathetic bitch. Now get out before I decide Jare isn't the only one who wants to hit something today."
Roxanne fled the room in a flurry of indignity, leaving us in a room that was still charged with the tension of Keifer's "property tags" and the arrival of a brother who was clearly not going to make Keifer's life easy.
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A/n
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Next Chapter Target: 15+ comments! Let me know what you think happens next—will Keifer survive Jare's wrath?