HIDDEN (FIGHT OR FLIGHT)

Chapter 27

FELIX'S P.O.V.

My heart raced as I stared at Kyle. The resemblance was uncanny-he looked so much like Damon that it made my stomach churn. His pale face was drawn tight, panic flickering in his eyes as he stammered, "Who? Who are you talking about?" His voice trembled, like he was teetering on the edge of something terrifying.

Andrew stood next to him like a guard dog, his arm protectively draped around Kyle's shoulders, his wide, anxious eyes glued to me. He didn't say a word, but I could feel the desperation coming off him in waves-he wanted answers, needed answers. The whole room felt like it was holding its breath, the air thick and suffocating. Logan and his parents looked completely lost, their confusion written across their faces as Logan helped steady me on my feet.

I couldn't shake the feeling that Kyle and Andrew already had an idea of what I was talking about, but they needed me to confirm it. That realization was like a cold water poured on me. Could it be that Kyle knew Damon? My eyes traced the familiar hunch behind his back, identical to how Damon looked when he wore a jacket to hide his wings. I was almost certain he was a Cygan, but that raised a whole host of other questions. Damon never mentioned having a twin-hell, Papa didn't even hint at it. What if there was more to this? What if Papa had hidden this to protect Damon?

My mind was a whirlwind of questions, but one thing was crystal clear: I needed to find out who this guy was before I let Damon anywhere near him. For all I knew, Kyle could be dangerous.

Then, Damon's voice sliced through the chaos in my head. "Felix, I'm in Bluefield. Vincent and I are hiding behind a tree near a house where your scent is really strong. Are you okay?"

I could feel Damon's panic through the mind link, and I had to put a lid on it before he did something reckless. "I'm fine, Damon. Seriously, don't freak out. I called you because there's something important here you need to see. Just stay hidden for now. Trust me, I'll be quick."

I plastered on a smile, the kind of smile that said, 'everything's fine,' even though my brain was doing cartwheels. "I'm fine, really," I said to everyone, trying to keep my voice steady. "I just... I didn't expect to run into Kyle here." I shot Kyle a look that practically screamed 'help me out here,' hoping he'd catch on.

And Kyle, bless his heart, did. He blinked for a second like he was processing, then forced a grin. "Felix? Wait, is that really you? Man, I'm sorry! I didn't even recognize you! You, uh... you've lost some weight since the last time I saw you."

Weight? Seriously? I almost snorted right there. That's what he went with? Of all the things? But I kept it together, nodding along like it wasn't the most awkward cover-up ever.

Andrew, quick on the uptake, jumped in. "Kyle, is this the guy you told me about? The one who helped you and your mom after you got mugged? He's the one who paid for your food and hotel, right?"

Kyle, clearly relieved that Andrew was catching on, nodded like his life depended on it. "Oh yeah, that's right! How could I forget? Felix, man, thank you for that. You were a lifesaver back then."

I chuckled, playing along. "Yeah, never mind that. Long time, huh?"

Logan still looked like he was trying to piece together a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces, but Andrew gave him a reassuring smile. "Felix just got a little overwhelmed, that's all. It's not every day you run into someone from the past, right?"

Kyle put on a sheepish look, doing his best 'guilty friend' impression. "Sorry, man. I feel terrible for not remembering you right away. It's been so long."

I sighed dramatically, throwing in some mock offense. "Yeah, it stings a little. I thought we were closer than that, Kyle."

The whole thing felt so ridiculous, but it was working. Logan's parents had relaxed, and I could see the tension in the room start to ease. We were pulling off this charade, for now. But as soon as we stepped outside, I was going to get some real answers-and fast.