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- ALADIAH - The Angel of Second Chances.

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I would have preferred to stay under the stars, talking with him.

In front of the entrance, we hear music—violin, piano, flute, and other instruments playing magnificent melodies I have never heard before.

— I'll leave you here, my pretty one. Be careful.

— You're leaving already? Don't you want to stay a little longer?

— No, you know I don't like this kind of party. And look at me—I'm not dressed for the occasion at all. Not classy or appropriate, don't you think?

— Don't make excuses. Just tell me plainly, "No, I don't want to."

— Alright. No, my pretty one, I don't want to. Satisfied with my answer?

— Yes... and no.

He turns back, his footsteps echoing softly on the ground as I watch him walk away. He has barely taken a few steps when the grand ballroom doors slowly open, emitting a faint creaking sound, allowing the dancing notes of the music from inside to escape.

At that moment, I turn my head, and my eyes land on Hadrien, leaning against the doorway. His gaze is fixed on me, intense and penetrating. As I turn my back on one brother, another suddenly appears, as if fate is playing tricks on me.

— What do we have here? says Hadrien with a smirk, his eyes still deeply locked onto mine.

That gaze unsettles me. I look away, lowering my eyes to the ground, and that's when I notice a pair of shoes near mine. Their unexpected presence throws me off balance, and the ambiance of the ballroom—with its music and distant laughter—suddenly fades away, leaving me alone with what is happening right in front of me.

— My brother, I thought you didn't like this kind of party, he continues, still smiling.

I lift my head. Hayden has returned—could it be because he heard his little brother's voice?

I still remember what he forbade me to do. "Stay away from him," he had said. I still wonder why. To me, Hayden isn't wise, but he can be kind.

Right now, his brows are furrowed, his expression tense. He doesn't take his eyes off his brother for a single second. I don't know what Hadrien might have done to him, but judging by the dark look he's giving him, things don't seem to be going well. I'm torn between wanting to step in and fearing the consequences.

— I was just leaving, Hayden replies, his jaw clenched, his fists tight.

He turns on his heels without a final glance, his face rigid.

— Little angel, you look stunning in that dress, Hadrien calls out loud enough for his older brother to hear.

Hayden stops dead in his tracks. It's clear—something is going on between them.

I remember what Hailey confessed to me—that it's because of her lies that resentment exists between these brothers. Now, I see firsthand what lies can cause, and it's ugly. Each one thinks it's the other's fault, and clearly, she still hasn't told them the truth.

I prefer not to get involved. This is a family matter, not mine. Yet, I feel like a silent witness to this tension, observing the consequences of a conflict that doesn't belong to me but affects me in some way.

— I've changed my mind, he says, coming back toward me.

He gives me a quick smile.

— I'll stay with you, my pretty one.

I return his smile.

Hadrien watches us for a moment before displaying a strange smile. He leans slightly forward, motioning toward the ballroom with a theatrical gesture of his arm. He gives us the honor of going in first, holding the door open for us, which perplexes me. It seems like Hadrien is trying to lighten the mood—or is he provoking him?

I feel my wrist tighten as Hayden grabs it and pulls me along. His anger is palpable—I can feel it through his grip. It hurts, but I don't say anything. Rather, I don't dare, caught between the urge to free myself and the fear of confronting him in this state.

Once we're far enough from the entrance, we stop in a corner of the room, and he finally lets go of me. My breath seems to return at the same time. I don't think he did it on purpose—he probably didn't realize how much force he was using.

— Hayden, I call him.

Our eyes meet, and his face gradually relaxes. He seems to come back to his senses. His clenched teeth loosen, his furrowed brows lift, and he doesn't break the eye contact we've just established.

He steps closer, and as he breaks the visual connection, he creates a physical one. At that moment, I feel his entire body lighten. The tension in him dissipates with each breath he takes.

I want to return his embrace, but I don't. The uncertainty of what he feels or thinks about me overwhelms me. I don't want to start developing feelings for him, only for him to tell me in the end that he doesn't want to be with anyone right now—or worse, that he's already with someone else. Even if seeing him with another isn't really his style, he's still a man, after all.

Yet, despite not returning his embrace, this contact makes my heart beat faster than usual. He smells good. I close my eyes, savoring this moment in silence, surrounded by the hum of the ballroom. Don't speak, I tell myself.

— Thank you, he whispers in my ear before pulling away.

I answer him with a smile.

This corner of the room feels intimate after what just happened. Everyone else is dancing under the grand golden chandeliers or helping themselves at the buffet spread across long tables opposite us. For a moment, I feel like I'm alone with him, completely forgetting where we are, as time suspends in this unexpected connection between us.

— I'm going to join the girls now. Do you think you'll be okay?

— Now, yes. I'll stay near the entrance to keep an eye on everything. I'd advise you to avoid the balconies and those eager to test out their new powers.

— Is it dangerous?

— Some are harmless, like healing abilities, but I've already noticed that they've handed out personal daggers to the combat angels. The newborns are pretty impatient to play with their new toys—and I say that because I was the same when I was in their place.

— Got it. I'll be careful.

— And don't even think about your new wings, or they'll want to join you.

— Noted.

It's surprising how protective he's become, but I prefer him like this rather than the grumpy, unpredictable person I first met. Back then, he was the danger. Time flies, I think to myself. I smile at him and slip into the crowd.

Everyone is dressed in black. Not in a gothic way, but elegantly. Seeing all these well-made-up girls, I don't feel very comfortable. I should have gone to my room before coming here to powder my nose—like those high-society people from an old era would say.

Amid all this, I still haven't found Hailey or Elise. If I saw Ambre, at least I wouldn't feel so lost—but I think she doesn't like me at all. Actually, I'm sure of it since she admitted it herself. Damn, I shouldn't be making enemies in a world where demons and magic exist.

— Marie.

— Yes? I answer.

I turn at the sound of my name, but to my surprise, I see no one nearby who could have called me.

[...]

The same voice again, deep and hoarse. It's the first time I've heard it.

— It must be in my head, I reassure myself.

A tap on my shoulder makes me turn around.

— Liam.

— You know my name even though we've never spoken before.

Is that where the danger lies?

— It's true we've never been formally introduced. My name is Marie.

— Very pretty name, Miss Marie.

He takes my hand and delicately kisses it. Am I really at a Beauty and the Beast ball?

— Hey, you there, don't touch her! he shouts.

Hayden storms toward us and shoves him back to keep him away from me.

— I see, she belongs to you. You're quick. She's only been here a few weeks, hasn't she?

 — Hayden, no.

I grab his hand and force him to look into my eyes.

— Calm down, nothing happened. Look at me.

I take his chin and guide his gaze back to mine. Hesitant at first, he eventually lets me.

His shouts echoed so loudly through the hall that even the music stopped, everyone staring at us as if we were putting on some dramatic play.

— Don't ever touch her again, understood?!

Liam raises both hands in surrender, then steps back and walks away. In the distance, I see Hailey, who must have returned just in time to witness what happened. Her eyes shine, and I think I know why. She's responsible for this whole situation. She needs to tell her brother the truth before things go too far between Liam and Hayden for no reason.

With everything going on, I hadn't noticed, but the pain from the bite on my wrist has faded. Since when, I don't know. But Liam is gone. Could he be an enemy?

— What are you all staring at? Put your damn music back on.

The music resumes, the chatter slowly returns, and I hope no one speaks of what just happened. Hayden strides toward the exit, and I immediately follow.

- Hayden, wait for me.

- No, leave me alone, he says, stepping past the ballroom doors.

Hailey.

She's near the buffet, downing a large glass of straight scotch. She must really be feeling guilty.

- Hailey, we need to talk.

- Not now.

- Yes, now.

She stares into the bottom of her glass.

- Why do these drinks do nothing to us when humans seem so blissfully lost after just a few?

- I have no idea.

- What's wrong?

- I don't know what's going on with your brother, but he just fought with Liam again.

- I know, I saw the whole thing. But I'm not getting in their way. This is a ball, and I want to enjoy it.

Her eyes shine as if she's holding back tears.

- You say that, but your eyes don't match your words.

She lifts her head, and it's obvious she's about to cry. Angels and their emotions—they're so hard to manage.

- Hailey, go talk to him. He'll listen to you. He's hurt, and I don't want him to get even more hurt.

- Alright, I get it. I'll go. Where's Liam? I need to talk to him too.

- I don't know. I think he already left the ball.

Her eyes widen suddenly, as if a realization just struck her.

- Before or after my brother?

- Before, I think. Why?

Her expression changes again, filling with dread. And in that one look, I understand exactly what she's thinking.

Oh, no.

We take off running, trying to catch up to Hayden. We burst out of the ballroom and rush down to the entrance hall—empty.

Even with the little I know about him, I can tell that Hayden wouldn't hesitate to fight Liam if given the opportunity—or the excuse.

- The training grounds, she suggests.

- Yes, let's go.

I follow her, but my heels slow me down.

- Hailey! I call out.

She turns around and sees me taking off my shoes.

- If they hurt, spread your wings. We'll be faster flying anyway.

My wings. No, don't think about them. No. Carrot, strawberry, shoe.

- I can't...

- Your wings haven't appeared?

- I'm done, let's go.

- I'll fly. You check the ground.

- Alright.

She spreads her new wings, and I'm mesmerized by their beauty—large, black, and gleaming—before she soars high into the sky.

Barefoot again, I run toward the training grounds behind the castle. I managed to dodge Hailey's questions about my wings this time, but I really need to figure out how to keep them from appearing whenever I think about them.

Carrot, banana, rabbit. Hopefully, that works. It should keep my mind off wings. Raspberry, banana, horse.

GRR.

Now I'm hungry. Great.

I reach the training grounds, but the dark night makes it hard to see anything—except one thing. A bright, blue flame I've seen before. The glow of celestial weapons.

I get closer and finally see them—Hayden gripping his sword, Liam holding his bow with arrows at the ready. The fight hasn't started yet, but it won't be long. I rush forward to place myself between them, to stop their stupidity, but—

A sharp noise rings out.

The fight has begun.

- Stop! Hayden, stop! I scream at the top of my lungs.

How can he fight with only one good arm?

- Hayden!

He's too consumed by rage to hear me.

Liam hovers above the field, firing arrows rapidly, while Hayden dodges as many as he can or deflects them with his blade.

- Stop! I keep shouting, but they don't listen.

As Liam reloads his bow, Hayden seizes the chance to close in.

I stand at the edge of the field, feeling the gusts from their wings, hearing the clash of arrows against steel. Hayden is at a disadvantage with one arm, but that works in my favor—he won't be able to kill Liam so easily. Hopefully, he'll tire out and stop playing the murderer.

Liam runs out of arrows. No—he's going to kill him.

Hayden lunges forward with a powerful flap of his wings, aiming for Liam's throat. Liam barely dodges in time.

He really means to end this.

Hayden tries again, slashing powerfully. This time, Liam isn't fast enough—Hayden's blade cuts his arm, slicing through fabric, spilling blood onto his clothes, the ground, and the sword itself.

Smoke rises from Liam's wound, pain clear on his face.

- Liam! I cry out.

Finally, he turns his head toward me.

- Hayden, stop! Why do you want to kill him? For a simple kiss on my hand?

- No. It's for much more than that.

Is he talking about Leila?

- Listen to her! And I already told you—I didn't do anything!

- Yes, you take what isn't yours! he shouts.

His voice is so full of rage that I shiver.

- You mean Leila? I say.

He straightens, his gaze darkening.

- He told you, didn't he? So you've betrayed me too? You've been meeting in secret, haven't you?

With every word, his voice deepens, on the verge of transformation.

- No!

Hailey appears.

- I... I lied to you, she confesses, hovering between Liam and her brother. It wasn't Liam who betrayed you—it was me.