i-Spy | A Stalker Romance

Chapter 38: Hunting the Prince

Stella's P.O.V.

The moment Kairo said it, my world seemed to freeze. Love. The word echoed in my mind, crashing against every wall I'd carefully built around my heart. My breath caught in my throat, and I stared at him, eyes wide with shock, confusion, and... something else I wasn't ready to admit.

His confession hit me like a tidal wave, drowning me in emotions I didn't know how to face. I wanted him—hell, I'd always wanted him, despite everything. There was something between us, something electric and undeniable. But love?  I have only started to trust him... And now this... Was it too fast? Too soon?
This was a different beast entirely, one that terrified me to my core.

Could I really do this?

My mind raced, calculating the risks, the fallout. We lived in a world where danger lurked around every corner, where losing someone you loved wasn't just a possibility—it was almost a certainty. The thought of Kairo being taken from me, of him becoming my Achilles' heel- No. I didn't let myself think about that. I wasn't sure I could afford to make him my weakness, to let him into the one place I'd vowed to protect above all else: my heart.

Kairo was watching me, his intense blue eyes searching my face for any clue of what I was feeling. He looked so vulnerable in that moment, so open, and it made my heart twist painfully in my chest. I could see the hurt creeping into his expression as the silence stretched between us, his usual confidence faltering just slightly.

Finally, he exhaled deeply, breaking the tension in the air. "You don't have to say anything, Stell," he murmured, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it. "You don't have to think about it now. Just... take your time."

His words were a lifeline, a chance for me to retreat into the safety of my own mind, but they didn't erase the hurt I saw flicker in his eyes. I hated that I had put it there, that my hesitation had wounded him. And yet, I needed this time—time to process, to sort through the mess of emotions swirling inside me.

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice, but all I managed was a slight nod. I didn't trust myself to speak, not when my thoughts were in such disarray. Kairo shifted beside me, and before I knew it, his strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into the warmth of his chest.

I let myself melt into him, resting my head against his shoulder as we lay there in silence. The steady beat of his heart against my ear was a comforting rhythm, grounding me in the here and now. And yet, my mind wouldn't stop racing.

Why am I so scared?

What if.... What if he betrays me? 

I have only started to know him now. 

I clenched my jaw, trying to shove the thoughts away, but they kept clawing their way back, relentless. Kairo shifted slightly, his hand moving to stroke my hair, his touch gentle, reassuring. It was like he could sense my turmoil, even without me saying a word.

I sighed, my breath shuddering as I tried to relax into the moment. I wanted to savor this—this rare peace between us—but my mind wouldn't let me. The fear, the uncertainty, it all kept bubbling up, threatening to drown out everything else.

He had opened up to me. He had shown me his weakness, his vulnerability. He even saved my life. Revealed parts of himself and hoped that I would accept him. And I did... so why does the idea of loving him back seem so... daunting?

But Kairo... he was still here, still holding me, despite the uncertainty I knew he felt too. He was giving me space, giving me time, and for that, I was grateful. I knew I wasn't ready to give him the answer he wanted, not yet, but I also knew he wasn't going anywhere. He'd wait for me, as long as it took.