CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: WATCH MY CHILDREN DIE

Ryker sat back against the wide leather couch, his phone still pressed to his ear, frustration leaking into his voice as he spoke.

"What do you mean what he is remains a mystery, Kael? Isn’t today the freshman potential test? I’m sure everyone should have known their results by now, so why are you telling me no one knows what he is, but at the same time you’re insisting he’s supernatural?"

On the other end of the line, Kael chuckled in that infuriatingly calm way of his. "Calm down, lover boy. The reason I said he’s a mystery is because when your boy Aiden took the test, the results were unlike anything anyone has ever seen. The testing globe revealed he has the blood potential of wolves, faes, and witches, and—"

Kael did not even finish before Ryker cut him off, his voice sharp with disbelief.

"Wait. How is that even possible? That should be impossible, right? Is the testing globe malfunctioning or something? Even in my family, where we’ve mixed with other races for generations, the other traces of blood only ever boost the main wolf bloodline. They never show up as dominant on their own. Our tests always reveal only the wolf side at the top. So how could he have all three?"

Kael sighed heavily, as though he had expected this interruption. "I haven’t finished yet. Do you ever let me speak without cutting me off?"

Ryker cleared his throat and forced himself to calm down. "Fine. Sorry. Go on."

Kael continued, his tone steady. "The truth is, Aiden does have the three bloodlines, but they’re unstable. The instructors dug through the academy’s records after seeing his results, and they found a similar case centuries ago. A female student once carried three high-potential bloodlines as well. Over time, her body stabilized, and only one bloodline remained—the witch bloodline. But that one bloodline became so heightened and powerful that she eventually became the greatest witch of her era. People still speak of her today."

Ryker leaned forward, frowning, his brows pulled tight together. "That sounds a lot like what happens in my family. We all know our wealthy families marry for strong bloodlines and potential. Even when we mix with other races, the test always shows our main bloodline as dominant, while the other races only boost it to the highest level. So why is Aiden different?"

"Because," Kael explained patiently, "in us, the other bloodlines are only traces. They don’t even reach the threshold of a low-potential category. They just boost our main bloodline and nothing more. You’re an exception, Ryker, because your wolf bloodline was already at the highest potential, so when it was boosted, you became even stronger. That’s why you hold the strongest potential in your family for centuries. But Aiden... he’s unique. He doesn’t just have traces. All three of his bloodlines are already at the highest potential. Imagine what happens when his body finally stabilizes and chooses one. The other two will act as boosters. That final bloodline will be something extraordinary—beyond anything we’ve ever seen."

Ryker was silent for a moment, digesting Kael’s words. At last, he nodded slowly, though Kael could not see him. "So what you’re telling me is that Aiden is the strongest genius in Skyline Academy right now. The same boy I once saved, the same one I thought was just a fragile human... he’s turned out to be something incredible."

"That’s exactly what I’m saying," Kael replied with a laugh. "You’ve got some ridiculous luck. Everyone who likes you seems to turn out amazing."

Ryker allowed himself a small smile. Then a sudden thought struck him, one that made his pulse quicken. "Kael... doesn’t this mean I could finally free myself from Seraphina? I could choose Aiden instead. He fits the standard my family insists on, doesn’t he? High potential bloodline. If I can just prove that, I could escape this engagement."

Kael groaned audibly. "Slow down. He doesn’t completely meet the standard yet. Remember, your family isn’t only obsessed with bloodlines. They’re obsessed with wealth too. It’s not just about potential, it’s about preserving status. Aiden has no wealth, no powerful clan behind him. He’s not exactly their dream choice."

"But once his bloodline stabilizes," Ryker argued quickly, "it’ll be more powerful than anyone else’s. How could my family possibly refuse then?"

Kael’s tone turned firm. "That hasn’t happened yet. Right now he still needs to train, learn control, and discover who he really is. You’re getting ahead of yourself. You can’t drag him into your family’s problems this early, especially when you yourself admitted you don’t even know if what you feel for him is real. What if it’s only lust? What if you tie him to you and later realize he isn’t the one you truly want? Don’t ruin his life because you’re desperate to get rid of Seraphina."

Ryker’s frustration returned. He pressed a hand against his temple. "But I can’t stand it anymore. I feel suffocated every single day with this ridiculous engagement hanging over my head. Seraphina is like a chain around my neck."

"I know," Kael said softly. "But you just have to endure it. Right now, your family will still choose her over Aiden. Aiden doesn’t even understand his bloodline yet. He still smells like a human to everyone. He hasn’t proven himself. Give him time, Ryker. And give yourself time too."

Ryker exhaled loudly and slumped back. "Sometimes I swear, Kael, if it was just me and my mom, I’d be happier and freer than I’ve ever been."

"You’ll be free soon," Kael reassured him. "Even without Aiden, you already planned to endure only two more years. Your company—the one you secretly built at fourteen—will be strong enough to stand without your family’s influence then. You’ve always been a genius, Ryker. Don’t start searching for shortcuts now. Don’t use Aiden’s feelings as a way out, only to abandon him later. That’s not who you are."

Ryker found himself smiling despite his heavy heart. "You always manage to talk sense into me, Kael. Somehow, you’re the calm I need."

Kael laughed. "That’s my job. I’m your cool to your hot, remember?"

Ryker chuckled along with him. "Have you heard from Jace lately? That boy disappears and reappears whenever he feels like it."

"I reached him last week," Kael said. "He told me he’ll only return to school next week. Who knows what he’s always busy with."

"Yeah," Ryker muttered. "He’s always secretive for no reason. Well, I need sleep. Goodbye, Kael."

"Wow," Kael teased, "so you’re abandoning me after using me up?"

Ryker laughed, shaking his head. "You’re dramatic. Goodbye." He ended the call before Kael could protest further.

Silence filled the apartment, heavy and unsettling. And without Kael’s voice to distract him, Ryker’s thoughts drifted back to Aiden once more. He remembered the boy’s delicate features, the nervous way he pinched his fingers when flustered, and most of all, those lips. The thought of them sent a shiver down his body, and to his dismay, his arousal stirred again.

"Not again," he muttered under his breath. It was always the same. Ever since that night he had saved Aiden, his thoughts would spiral whenever he remembered him, and his body would betray him. He rubbed his face with both hands, groaning in frustration.

"This is bad. This is very bad."

Rising from the couch, Ryker made his way toward his master bedroom.

___

Meanwhile, Aiden, Ashton, and Julian were still walking around the school grounds, letting Aiden get familiar with his new environment. With Ashton and Julian by his side, he had managed to shake off his earlier bad mood and even started to enjoy the tour. Ashton kept talking non-stop, pointing out buildings, halls, and gardens, as though he couldn’t run out of things to say.

After a while, Aiden finally stopped him with a question. "But seriously, does this school really have to be this big? Are there that many students here?"

This time Julian answered instead of Ashton. "Yes and no. I wouldn’t say there are too many, but we’re not exactly few either. Altogether, there are less than 1,500 students."

Aiden frowned. "Then that’s not much at all. So why build something that looks more like a university for less than 1,500 students ? Isn’t that a little too much?"

Ashton shook his head, grinning. "Not really. The number of poor students here is barely a hundred. The rest come from wealthy families. Their parents donate constantly, and the alumni also want to give back. Since the school doesn’t know what else to do with the money, they just keep expanding and building."

Aiden rolled his eyes. "Wait. Does the supernatural world hand out a manual on how to get rich? Because why is everyone rich? I don’t get it."

Julian gave him a look. "Faes and wolves can live more than five hundred years, and witches over two hundred. With our intelligence, if we don’t become rich, we may as well hit our heads on a stone. Living in poverty wouldn’t make any sense."

That silenced Aiden, who nodded slowly. Then his eyes widened in horror. "Wait. If wolves and faes live that long... doesn’t that mean I’ll live over five hundred years too? I’ll have to watch my children grow old and die. Oh my goodness."