Zara’s pov

  The halls of the university felt different now. Or maybe I was the one who had changed.

  Two days had passed since Michael Lorne’s death, and while my body had healed, the rest of the world had not. People whispered when they thought I couldn’t hear them. Some looked at me with awe, others with fear.

  I wasn’t surprised. After all, I had nearly died—and I had come back.

  But I refused to let what happened silence me.

  “Are you sure about this?” Kage asked beside me as we walked through the university courtyard. His sharp gaze flickered toward a group of students who quickly turned away, their murmurs barely concealed.

  “I have to be,” I answered, adjusting the bag over my shoulder. “If I stop teaching now, then Lorne wins. And I won’t let him.”

  Kage was silent for a moment before he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Then I’m walking you in.”

  I smirked. “You do realize that makes me look more intimidating, right?”

  “Good.”

  When we entered the lecture hall, a heavy tension filled the air. My students were already there, some of them watching me with uncertainty, others pretending not to look at all. I knew what they were thinking. How could I stand here, in front of them, after nearly being murdered for the very magic I was about to teach?

  I set my things down on the desk and took a deep breath before turning to face them.

  “Fear changes people,” I began, my voice steady despite the weight pressing down on me. “It makes us react, sometimes before we even know what we’re afraid of. And sometimes, that fear leads to hate.”

  A few students exchanged glances. I continued.

  “Michael Lorne was afraid. He lost his family to magic, and instead of searching for understanding, he let that fear turn into something else. Something dangerous. He thought eliminating magicals would bring him peace. But hatred doesn’t create peace—it only creates more loss.”

  I let the words settle before speaking again, my voice softer now. “Some of you might be afraid of me. I see it in your faces. I know what people are saying. That I shouldn’t be here. That necromancy is dangerous. That I should let it die with me.”

  I stepped forward, letting my glowing green eyes sweep over them. “But I won’t stop teaching. Because knowledge is the only thing that can break the cycle of fear and hate. If we let fear silence us, then we’ve already lost.”

  The room was silent. Then, slowly, a few students nodded. Not all of them, but enough.

  When the lecture ended, I gathered my things. I expected resistance. I expected to feel alone. But when I turned, Kage was still there, leaning against the back wall. Watching. Waiting.

  I gave him a tired smile. “Told you I could handle it.”

  He smirked. “Never doubted you.”

  Before I could respond, the door opened and one of the university administrators stepped inside.

  “Professor Zara, a word?” he asked, his expression unreadable.

  I nodded, glancing at Kage before following the administrator into the hall. I already knew what this was about.

  “We’ve reviewed the recent… events,” the man began carefully. “And given everything that’s happened, we’d like to offer you extended leave. Time to recover. To reconsider your position here.”

  There it was. The polite way of saying, Step down before things get worse.

  I squared my shoulders. “I appreciate the concern, but I’m not leaving.”

  The administrator hesitated. “You’ve become a controversial figure, Professor. The board is concerned about the safety of the students. And your own.”

  “Then they should be more concerned about education,” I countered. “Because I’m not stopping. And I’m not afraid.”

  The administrator studied me for a long moment before nodding. “Then I hope you’re ready for what comes next.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  I watched as he walked away, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. Ready or not, I wasn’t backing down.

  Zara’s POV

  Walking into Naja’s apartment brought back memories, but this time, it wasn’t me who needed help—it was her.

  “I hate this,” she muttered as she eased onto the couch. “I feel fine.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, well, I remember saying the same thing. And you nearly passed out healing me, so I don’t want to hear it.”

  She rolled her eyes but let me help her. The bloodstains were still there. The ones from the night she died. I grabbed a bucket of water and started scrubbing.

  Naja watched me quietly for a while before she spoke. “So. You and Kage.”

  I paused, glancing at her. “What about us?”

  She raised a brow. “Have you slept with him yet?” Naja asked, her smirk widening as she stretched out on the couch like she was settling in for a long gossip session.

  I nearly dropped the rag I was using to scrub the bloodstains. Heat rushed to my face as I shot her a glare. “Excuse me?”

  She laughed, clearly enjoying my reaction. “Oh, come on, Zara. I may have been dead for a little while, but I can still see what’s right in front of me. You two are practically orbiting each other. So?”

  I sighed, scrubbing the floor with a little too much force. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

  Naja gasped dramatically. “That’s not a no!”

  I groaned. “Fine. Yes. Happy now?”

  “Oh, very,” she said, looking way too pleased with herself. Naja leaned in, her eyes shining with excitement. “Tell me everything!” she exclaimed. “How was it? Was it as explosive as I’m imagining?”

  I couldn’t help but blush further. “Well, it wasn’t exactly what I expected.”

  “Oh no, don’t leave me hanging,” she protested, her eyes wide with anticipation. “Details, Zara! Give me all the juicy details!”

  I took a deep breath, feeling my face grow hotter. “Okay, okay,” I conceded. “It was…intense. More than I could have ever imagined.”

  “How many times?” she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.

  “I…I don’t know,” I mumbled, my cheeks now on fire. “Maybe four?”

  Naja’s eyes widened. “Four times? In one night?!” She giggled, then quickly sobered up. “But are you okay with that? I know how you can be about relationships and getting attached.”

  I nodded, my heart racing as I remembered the night. “It just felt right, Naja. Like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.”

  Her smile grew warm, and she took my hand. “And do you think you’re falling in love with him?”

  I swallowed hard, looking down at our joined hands. “I think…I think I might be,” I admitted. “It’s scary, but also…it feels incredible.”

  “Oh, Zara,” she said, her voice full of affection. “You deserve to be happy.”

  “But what if it’s too good to be true?” I asked, fear creeping into my voice.

  “It’s not,” she assured me. “You’re one of the strongest people I know. You can handle this.”

  I squeezed her hand. “Thanks, Naja. I just don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “Well, you’ll never have to find out,” she said, her eyes shining. “Because I’m not going anywhere. And neither is Kage, if he knows what’s good for him.”

  We shared a laugh, the tension in the room easing. As I continued to clean the bloodstain, we talked more about Kage, about our past, and about the future. It was the first time in what felt like forever that I felt truly alive. And having Naja back, getting to gossip and share my deepest secrets with her again, made everything seem so much brighter.

  “But seriously, four times?” she said, nudging me with her foot again. “You go, girl.”

  “Naja!” I yelped, trying to playfully smack her leg.

  “What?” She grinned. “I’m just saying, you’re living your best life.”

  I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help but smile back. Maybe she was right. Maybe, with Kage, I had found a piece of myself I didn’t even know was missing. And maybe, just maybe, it was time to let myself be happy and love without fear.

  Kage’s POV

  By the time I reached Zara’s door, I was practically buzzing with excitement. I knocked once before stepping inside, already scanning the room for her.

  She was sitting with Naja, both of them nursing cups of tea, their conversation pausing the moment I entered.

  Zara arched a brow. “You look… weirdly excited.”

  I smirked, unable to hold back the grin tugging at my lips. “They offered me a promotion. Detective in the magical crimes unit.”

  Zara’s eyes widened, and then—a real, radiant smile broke across her face.

  “Kage! That’s amazing!”

  She set her tea down, crossing the room in a few quick steps before throwing her arms around me.

  For a split second, I froze—caught off guard by the warmth of her body against mine, the way she just fit so perfectly against me. Then, I let myself sink into it, my arms winding around her waist, holding her close.

  She tilted her head up, her breath warm against my neck. “I knew they’d recognize how good you are,” she murmured. “You deserve this.”

  I pulled back slightly, just enough to meet her gaze, my hands still firm on her waist. “I wasn’t sure before. But now? Now I know this is where I belong.”

  Her smile softened, something deep and unreadable flickering in her eyes. And before I could second-guess myself, before I could think about what this meant, I leaned in and kissed her.

  It wasn’t rushed, wasn’t desperate—just deep, firm, real.

  She exhaled against me, her lips parting slightly, her fingers curling into my jacket, holding me there. The taste of peppermint lingered on her lips, her scent filling every inch of my senses.

  Somewhere in the background, I heard Naja dramatically sigh.

  “Aww. You guys are so cute it makes me sick.”

  I felt Zara smile against my mouth before she broke the kiss, turning to glare over her shoulder. “Naja.”

  Naja grinned, unbothered. “I’m just saying, get a room. Preferably one I’m not in.”

  I huffed a quiet laugh, still breathless, my forehead resting against Zara’s for a brief moment before I finally pulled back.

  Naja raised her tea in a mock toast. “But seriously, congrats, big bad detective. Zara’s clearly rubbing off on you.”

  Zara rolled her eyes but didn’t step away from me, her fingers still lightly hooked onto my jacket.

  I glanced down at her, the warmth of her body still pressed against mine, and for once, I let myself just be happy.