CHAPTER 312: CHERISH THE RARE GIFT

Evaline:

The phone screen glowed faintly against my palm as I finished replying to Draven’s latest string of messages. He had started getting restless... almost like he was past his limit of staying away from me. I sighed quietly, locked the screen, and slid the device back into my coat pocket.

We were only a few minutes away from the Thorne estate, but the snow had thickened, swirling against the windshield. The world outside had gone pitch-dark except for the car’s headlights cutting two pale beams across the road. Kieran drove slower than usual, his hands steady on the wheel, his profile calm despite the storm pressing in around us.

I sneaked a glance at him, hesitated, then mumbled, "Sorry."

His head tilted slightly, eyes flicking toward me for a second with genuine confusion. "For what?"

I bit down on my lower lip, staring at my hands clasped in my lap. "For wasting half of your day. First, I dragged you to Greenville... and then instead of actually helping, I fell asleep in your office. And now, you are stuck driving me back through this weather."

For a moment, the only sound was the faint hum of the engine and the soft hiss of the heater. Then, much to my surprise, he chuckled... the sound was low and warm, not mocking, but amused.

"You think today was a waste?" he asked, shaking his head slightly. "Evaline, if anything, I learned about Miss Naira being first case of recent Soul Deaths. That alone makes it worthwhile. Besides," he added, his lips quirking faintly, "I now have another person to rely on for spy work inside the Academy walls."

Despite myself, I smiled a little.

"And," he continued, his tone casual, "you proofread nearly sixty percent of my report before you fell asleep. You corrected my mistakes. You even added your own notes. That’s hardly wasting my time."

I blinked at him, startled that he had already taken a look at the report.

"And driving you back?" he added, eyes still on the road. "It gave me an excuse to spend the night at the house. A meal with my brothers... and with you. That’s something I have been missing."

I felt warmth stir in my chest, but before I could even respond, he added softly, "Even if you took all those reasons away, I still wouldn’t call it a waste of my time. Not if it’s you."

The words landed like a spark in my chest, too bright, too warm. I wasn’t prepared for them... I never was with him. My throat tightened, but I forced a small nod, mumbling, "Thanks."

And then I went silent, because if I said anything more, I was afraid I would read too much into it.

By the time we reached the estate gates, the snow was falling in thick sheets, dusting the wrought-iron bars in white. The gates creaked open, and we drove through. The tires crunched over the gravel drive until we rolled to a stop in front of the porch.

We hurried out into the cold, rushing inside to escape the storm. Warmth and light spilled from the main hallway as I made my way to the living room, where River, Oscar, and Draven were all waiting.

The moment I stepped inside, three pairs of eyes fixed on me. Their gazes were carrying the weight of worry and disapproval, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I was about to get an earful... especially from River. But the second they noticed Kieran walking in behind me, their expressions shifted. Relief flickered across their faces, softening the edge of their concern.

Having their brother home, even unexpectedly, lit something bright in them. And they were clearly relieved to see me safely back with them.

Dinner was lively after that. Conversation flowed easily, warmth threading through the dining hall as laughter occasionally broke out. I learned between bites of roasted vegetables and soup that Kieran was nearly finished with his current round of work. By Wednesday evening, he would be back at the mansion for the rest of the holidays.

And wednesday was only two days away.

After dinner, I excused myself quietly, intending to head up to my room. But as I reached the hallway on the bedroom floor, I found Kieran already there, waiting.

"Send me Rowan’s number," he said without preamble. "I’ll make a chat group for the three of us."

I nodded, pulling my phone out, but before I could open my contacts, he surprised me with his next words.

"Have you used your healing powers since that night?"

I froze, looking up at him with surprise. Slowly, I shook my head. "No... I haven’t."

He inclined his head, unsurprised. "Oscar told me about them."

My lips parted, but no words came.

"Evaline," he said firmly, "no matter how or why you got those powers, don’t be sad about them. Don’t treat them like a burden. Healing power is rare. It’s a gift. Cherish it. Welcome it."

His words pressed into me like a balm, easing the quiet unease I hadn’t even realized I was still carrying. Slowly, a small smile tugged at my lips.

And then he did something I hadn’t expected at all. He reached out, his palm brushing lightly against the top of my head in a gentle pat.

"I’ll help you with it," he promised. "When I’m back for the holidays."

The simple gesture made my chest tighten with a warmth that spread slowly outward. I nodded, the smile lingering on my face. "Okay."

We bid each other goodnight then, parting ways at the hall’s end.

I slipped into my room, closing the door behind me. And just as I predicted, Oscar and Draven appeared at my door not long after to ask again if they could stay with me tonight. But with Kieran here, I couldn’t let them. Not yet.

Which only made them more determined, more resolved, to finally tell him about the bonds they shared with me.

By Wednesday evening, there would be no more hiding.