𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺.

Twenty seven.

Rowan paused, finally returning to Renetta's question from earlier. The weight of her past emotions and the tangled web of memories made her uneasy, but she couldn't avoid it any longer. She'd thought long and hard about this, and the answer came in a quiet, almost reluctant tone.

"It's just because I care about her. That's why I'm always focused on Akira," Rowan said, her voice barely above a whisper, but the truth was clear in her words.

Renetta shot her a knowing glance, raising an eyebrow. "I see..." she said, her voice thick with skepticism. "You know I don't buy that for a second, right? I know exactly what's going on. You're in love with her. It's obvious."

Rowan's breath caught, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn't meant for her feelings to be so obvious. But Renetta wasn't done.

"I know everything, Rowan. You and Kael were entrusted with Akira's protection by the Headmaster, but that's not all. I was always there, lurking in the background, watching as you two kept the forest safe and maintained the peace of the spiritual beings in their territories. You helped protect me too, remember?" Renetta's eyes glinted with mischief, but there was an edge of sincerity in her words. "I always saw you two together in the forest... but of course, that old man—Akira's grandfather—he couldn't let things be. He tried to erase everyone's memories, didn't he? Kael's, yours... even Akira's."

Rowan's stomach tightened. Renetta's words hit too close to home. "I—"

Renetta raised a hand, cutting her off. "Let me guess... were your memories really wiped, or are you just keeping secrets? I'll know if you're lying, Rowan. You can't hide it from me. You better be honest."

Rowan swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around the edge of a shelf as she and Renetta continued walking through Akira's dorm, setting up the space to make it feel like home for her—particularly now that Akira's vampire side had been awakened again. They were trying to make her transition easier, but Rowan's mind kept drifting to the conversation with Renetta. How much did Renetta know? How much had been hidden from her?

"I'm not hiding anything," Rowan said, her voice firmer now. "I just... haven't been ready to face it all, not even with myself. Akira's the priority right now."

Renetta chuckled, a sound filled with both amusement and understanding. "You know, Rowan, hiding your feelings isn't going to help anyone. Akira's going through enough as it is with her transition. She needs you to be honest with her... and with yourself. Besides, we all know the Headmaster's memory wipe didn't work on me. I wasn't affected."

Rowan shot her a quick look, but Renetta only smiled.

"And I know you're keeping something back. But that's okay. You don't have to tell me everything right now." Renetta's smile softened. "But don't think I won't catch on sooner or later."

Rowan exhaled slowly, her body relaxing as the tension eased slightly. "I don't know what's going to happen next with Akira. She's different now, and I'm not sure I can keep everything under control anymore."

Renetta's tone turned more serious. "None of us know what's next, Rowan. But we'll face it together. Akira's still Akira, no matter what. And I think she'll need all the support she can get as she figures out what's happening to her."

They entered the main area of Akira's dorm, the faint scent of lavender filling the air. Renetta set a pillow on the couch while Rowan adjusted the blankets on the bed. They were doing their best to make Akira feel safe, to help her ease into this new life as her vampire side began to resurface.

Renetta studied Rowan closely, her expression unreadable, but there was a knowing in her eyes. She could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken truth that lingered between them like a shadow. She didn't need Rowan to say anything—it was obvious to her how much Rowan cared for Akira, but there was something deeper there, something she could sense.

Despite this, Renetta chose not to press it. She didn't want to make Rowan feel vulnerable or out of place, especially with everything going on with Akira. They were all working together, and she was starting to feel like they were becoming a family, each of them bound by a shared responsibility to protect Akira. After all, her vampire side had awakened, and with it, a new level of power that could become uncontrollable if not guided properly. That was why they were all so focused—Akira was special, and she needed them more than ever.

As Renetta looked over at Rowan, arranging Akira's things, she knew that the stakes had grown higher. They couldn't afford to make mistakes now, especially with Akira's potential for danger. But there was something else, too—something about how they all felt toward Akira, the weight of their connection to her. Akira was no longer just the girl they'd been assigned to protect; she was becoming something much more, and Renetta knew that they had all grown attached in ways they hadn't expected.

"She'll be okay," Renetta finally said, breaking the silence. Her voice was steady, but there was a warmth behind it, as though she was reassuring herself as much as Rowan. "She's strong, and we're all here to make sure she stays that way. We just need to keep her grounded."

Rowan nodded slowly, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She didn't trust herself with those words—she wasn't sure Akira could be kept safe for long, not with the kind of power she was harboring inside her now. They were all walking a fine line, and one misstep could cost them everything.

"We'll protect her, no matter what," Rowan said, her voice low and firm, a promise in the air between them. "That's all that matters."

Renetta smiled faintly, feeling a small sense of peace settle over her. She didn't say anything more. They both knew the weight of their words and the responsibility that came with it. In that moment, it wasn't about their personal feelings or secrets—it was about Akira and ensuring she had a future worth fighting for. They would protect her. Together.

For a moment, the weight of the world seemed a little lighter as they worked together in silence, both aware that their lives were about to change in ways they couldn't fully predict. But no matter what, they'd be there for Akira—always.