For Me,There Is Only You |18+|

42. The Inner Circle

I should have slept a little longer.

The relentless pounding in my head, paired with a wave of nausea, was a harsh reminder that I'd only gotten an hour of sleep this morning.

I had been with Ansel in his study until dawn. Now, I was paying the price.

But there was no use regretting it now. I forced myself to push past the exhaustion and made my way downstairs.

As I reached the last step, I heard a few voices drifting from the kitchen. A mix of low murmurs and the occasional clatter of dishes filled the air.

When I turned the corner, I spotted Kyler sitting at the dining table, hunched over his phone, completely absorbed in whatever he was watching or reading.

But it wasn't just him that caught my eye—it was his hair. My steps slowed, and I blinked to make sure I wasn't imagining things. "Kyler..." I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. He glanced up, his expression casual. "Did you change your hair color?"

His once fiery red hair was now deep brown. For a moment, I felt like I was looking at a different person altogether.

Then it clicked. "You're not Kyler," I whispered, more to myself than to him. A memory surfaced, sharp and vivid—the boy I'd seen in Ansel's memories who looked just like Kyler.

His lips curled into a sly grin. "Aren't you quite the sharp one for a human?" His tone dripped with sarcasm. "But I guess that's a relief. Poor Ansel doesn't have to be stuck with some dumb mate for the rest of his life." His smile was anything but friendly. "I was worried, you know."

Wow. I blinked, trying to piece together what I'd done to earn the clear disdain in his eyes.

What was his problem?

Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut through. "Watch your words when you talk to my mate, Karson," Ansel's voice came from the kitchen, startling me. He appeared with a spatula in hand, his expression calm, but his words carried a warning.

I caught a glimpse of Kyler's fiery red hair peeking from behind Ansel, trying to peer over his shoulder. "I apologize on my twin's behalf, Neev," Kyler said, offering a soft smile that instantly eased some of the tension. "You can ignore his entire existence if you want. None of us will mind."

Karson shot a glare at his brother, his jaw tightening. "Is this how you talk about your older brother?"

"Stop pulling the 'I'm one minute older' card in every argument, man," Kyler shot back with a roll of his eyes. "We're not kids. It's not cute anymore."

As I glanced back and forth between Kyler and Karson, it hit me just how different the two of them were. Kyler's easygoing energy practically radiated off him, his face always hinting at some joke or playful comment. Karson, on the other hand, carried that classic irritated bad-boy vibe, like the world constantly annoyed him.

Now, they were bickering, voices bouncing back and forth in a way that made my headache worse. I winced, rubbing my temple, silently wishing for a little peace.

In between their argument, my eyes drifted to Ansel. He was already staring at me, his gaze fixed, almost piercing, but the moment our eyes met, he looked away, turning back into the kitchen.

I sighed.

So, he was still upset about the deal I'd made with Zev. Of course, he was angry—I'd used myself as a bargaining chip. It wasn't something he'd just let go of.

I started walking toward the dining table, hoping to grab a glass of water. But before I could reach it, I noticed Phoebe sneaking up behind Karson.

Without warning, her gloved hand swung down and smacked him on the back of the head.