The silence after everything felt worse than the chaos.
Adrian sat on the edge of a narrow bed in one of the Hunters' quarters, his hands clenched tightly together. The faint glow of the mark on his wrist had dimmed again—but he could still feel it.
Like something breathing beneath his skin.
Waiting.
Watching.
"…I lost control."
The words came out quietly.
Across the room, Kai stood by the window, his back turned, staring into the darkness outside.
"You didn't lose completely," Kai replied.
Adrian let out a dry laugh.
"That's supposed to make me feel better?"
Kai didn't answer.
That silence again.
It stretched between them, heavier than before.
Adrian looked down.
"…I almost attacked you."
Kai's voice came after a pause.
"But you didn't."
Adrian shook his head.
"That's not the point."
His fingers tightened.
"What happens next time?"
Kai turned slightly.
"There won't be a next time."
Adrian frowned.
"You keep saying that like you can control it."
Kai's gaze sharpened.
"I can control myself."
Adrian let out a breath.
"…And me?"
Kai didn't respond immediately.
And that hesitation
It hurt.
Adrian looked away.
"…Right."
Before the silence could deepen
The door opened.
Riven walked in, followed by two other hunters.
His expression was serious.
More serious than usual.
"Well," Riven said, arms crossed, "that was interesting."
Adrian frowned.
"…You were watching?"
Riven raised an eyebrow.
"You think we'd leave you unsupervised after what happened?"
Adrian clenched his jaw.
"…Great."
One of the hunters stepped forward.
"You nearly turned."
Adrian looked up sharply.
"I didn't."
The hunter didn't back down.
"But you will."
The words hit hard.
Kai stepped in immediately.
"That's enough."
Riven raised a hand slightly, stopping the tension from escalating further.
"We're not here to argue," he said.
Adrian scoffed softly.
"Then why are you here?"
Riven looked directly at him.
"To decide what to do with you."
Silence.
Adrian's chest tightened.
"…What does that mean?"
Riven didn't sugarcoat it.
"It means some of us think you're too dangerous to keep alive."
The room went still.
Kai stepped forward.
"No."
Riven didn't look away from Adrian.
"I haven't made a decision yet."
Adrian let out a slow breath.
"…Good to know my life is a group discussion."
One of the hunters spoke again.
"You've already shown signs of merging."
Adrian's voice dropped.
"And?"
The hunter's gaze hardened.
"That ends one way."
Kai cut in.
"He's still in control."
Riven glanced at him.
"For now."
That word again.
For now.
Adrian stood up slowly.
"…Then what do you want from me?"
Riven studied him.
"Proof."
Adrian frowned.
"Proof of what?"
"That you won't turn on us," Riven replied.
Adrian let out a humorless laugh.
"And how exactly do I prove that?"
Riven's expression didn't change.
"You train."
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…That's your solution?"
Riven nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian blinked.
"…You're serious?"
Riven stepped closer.
"If you're going to be a threat, we'd rather you be a controlled one."
Adrian didn't like how that sounded.
"…I'm not a weapon."
Riven tilted his head slightly.
"No?"
Adrian didn't answer.
Because part of him
Wasn't sure anymore.
Kai stepped beside him.
"He's not training under your rules."
Riven looked at him.
"Then whose?"
Kai didn't hesitate.
"Mine."
Silence.
The other hunters exchanged glances.
Riven smirked faintly.
"…You're taking responsibility for him?"
Kai met his gaze.
"Yes."
Riven's smile faded slightly.
"That's a risk."
Kai didn't look away.
"I know."
Adrian glanced at Kai.
"…You don't have to do that."
Kai didn't even look at him.
"I'm not asking."
Adrian's chest tightened.
Riven exhaled slowly.
"…Fine."
Everyone looked at him.
Riven continued.
"You train him."
A pause.
"But if he loses control again"
His eyes locked onto Kai.
"…You finish it."
Silence.
Heavy.
Cold.
Final.
Adrian's breath caught.
"…What?"
Kai didn't respond.
Didn't move.
Riven's voice didn't soften.
"You said you'd take responsibility."
A pause.
"This is what that means."
Adrian looked at Kai.
"…You can't agree to that."
Kai's jaw tightened.
Still
He said nothing.
Adrian's chest felt like it was closing in.
"…Kai."
Kai finally spoke.
"…I understand."
Adrian froze.
"You—what?"
Kai turned slightly.
His expression was calm.
But his eyes—
Were heavy.
"I'll do it."
The words hit like a blade.
Adrian stared at him.
"…You'd really…"
He couldn't finish the sentence.
Kai didn't look away.
"…If it comes to that."
Silence filled the room.
Adrian laughed softly.
But it broke halfway through.
"…Wow."
Riven nodded once.
"Good."
Adrian shook his head.
"…This is insane."
No one disagreed.
Riven turned to leave.
"Training starts tomorrow."
He paused at the door.
"And Adrian"
Adrian didn't look up.
"…What?"
Riven's voice was calm.
"Don't make him regret that choice."
The door closed.
Silence remained.
Adrian stood there.
Still.
Processing.
Then slowly—
He sat back down.
"…So that's it."
Kai didn't respond.
Adrian looked at him.
"…You'll kill me if I lose control."
Kai's voice was quiet.
"I'll stop you."
Adrian shook his head.
"That's not the same thing."
Kai didn't answer.
Because it wasn't.
Adrian let out a slow breath.
"…I trusted you."
Kai's chest tightened.
"…You still can."
Adrian looked away.
"…I don't know about that."
Silence.
Long.
Painful.
But beneath it
Something else still remained.
Not broken.
Not gone.
Just… strained.
The bond between them hadn't shattered.
But it had cracked.
And both of them knew
The next time it was tested
It might not hold.
End of Chapter 20
🔥 You've now reached a MAJOR turning point
💔 Trust between Kai & Adrian is damaged
⚔️ Stakes are higher than ever (life or death)
👁️ Hunters now fully involved
Next arc begins:
👉 INTENSE training arc
👉 Adrian vs control of Void
👉 Emotional slow-burn romance deepens