𝓤𝓝𝓕𝓞𝓡𝓣𝓤𝓝𝓐𝓣𝓔, 𝓣𝓗𝓔 𝓞𝓡𝓘𝓖𝓘𝓝𝓐𝓛𝓢

CHAPTER 10

Klaus is on the phone, walking up and down the courtyard with visible frustration. Early morning light filters through the windows as Riya wakes up in her room, stretching and rubbing her eyes sleepily. She sits up, letting out a soft yawn before swinging her legs off the bed and heading to the bathroom.

A few minutes later, Riya stands under the warm shower, the water cascading over her shoulders, washing away the remnants of sleep. She grabs her lavender-scented shampoo and lathers it into her hair, enjoying the soothing scent. After rinsing, she reaches for her conditioner, letting it soak in as she leans against the tiled wall, lost in thought.

Stepping out of the shower, Riya dries herself off with a fluffy towel, wraps it around her, and returns to her room. She picks out a simple yet elegant outfit—a pastel blue blouse paired with a pair of white jeans. Sitting in front of the vanity, she carefully combs her long hair, untangling each strand. Her reflection stares back, wide-eyed and uncertain, as she considers the events of the past few days.

Finally, she ties her hair back in a loose braid and slips on a pair of flats. Taking a deep breath, she straightens her shoulders and steps toward the door, mentally preparing herself for the day ahead.

As soon as she opens her bedroom door, she hears a familiar voice downstairs. It's Klaus, pacing the courtyard below, the tone of his voice sharp and clipped. Riya's eyes narrow slightly as she moves closer, peeking out to see him gripping his phone tightly. He's agitated, the way he only gets when something is seriously wrong.

"A bit of an issue," Klaus said sharply into the phone, his eyes darting around the courtyard as if searching for something—or someone. "It seems our little bird has flown the coop," he told whoever was on the other end, his voice low but tense.

Riya steps forward, leaning against the railing as Klaus turns around, his gaze snapping up to meet hers. They lock eyes, and for a brief moment, the tension between them is palpable. Riya lifts an eyebrow, silently questioning, and Klaus exhales heavily, running a hand through his hair.

"Great," Riya said softly, her voice carrying a mix of resignation and annoyance as she descended the staircase to join him. "What did she do now?" she asked, tilting her head slightly as if daring him to give her the whole story.

Klaus shakes his head, gesturing dismissively. "It's not what she did, love. It's what she didn't do," Klaus told her, his lips curling into a half-smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. He stuffs his phone into his pocket and crosses his arms, glancing back up at Riya. "She didn't stay where she was supposed to," he said pointedly, his gaze intense.

Riya sighs, dropping her hands to her sides as she stands in front of him. "And now we're going to have to deal with it," she said, her voice softening with an edge of exasperation.

Klaus nods slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Indeed," Klaus said quietly, a touch of amusement flickering in his gaze. They both sigh at the same time, knowing it's going to be a long and problematic day ahead.

❤️❤️❤️

Klaus stood at the center, his eyes blazing with frustration. "You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to know the obvious," Klaus said sharply, his gaze flickering around the room. "Our secret weapon has escaped."

Marcel stood a few feet away, his expression tight with disbelief. "She wouldn't just leave," Marcel told Klaus firmly, crossing his arms. "She knows the witches want her back."

Riya sat on the edge of the couch, listening intently, her brows furrowed. Her gaze shifted between Klaus and Marcel, a flicker of unease crossing her face. As much as she wanted to agree with Klaus, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story.

Just then, Elijah appeared from around the corner, stepping into the room with a calm, composed demeanor. Marcel immediately turned toward him, his eyes narrowed suspiciously.