Page 47 of Catalyst

My poor, sweet girl.

Chapter 15

Callie

The idea of opening the letter tormented me for the entire night. Did I want to know what was inside? Yes! How could I not? But I didn’t trustVexxas. Why would he want to talk about his son withme? And how was I supposed to trust someone the entire world had branded as evil?

Someone who tried to kill my father?

That’s why it was best for me to ignore the letter. But the feeling of not knowing what Vexxas had to say kept me awake. A little past midnight, I crawled out of bed, hoping a shower would help me fall asleep.

Sulien’s room had a private bathroom, but the hot water didn’t work. I didn’t mind it back when I was pyromancer temperature, but now that my fever had broken, just the idea of standing under cold water made me shiver.

The apartment was quiet, save for the low hum of the refrigerator in the background. Shadows stretched along thewalls, and the stillness made the place feel eerie in a way I couldn’t explain. It was the same apartment as always, but at night, it felt different—almost scary. I couldn’t tell if it was the dark playing tricks on me or if I was just wired and paranoid from lack of sleep. Either way, I shook off the feeling to better focus on staying quiet. I’d heard Jace leave for work about an hour ago, but Kane was still home, and I didn’t want to wake him.

I padded softly down the hall toward the main bathroom. Once inside, I flicked on the bathroom light, squinting as the brightness chased away the shadows. For a moment, I stood there, letting my eyes adjust before turning on the water as hot as it would go.

I shut the door, waiting as steam filled the room, softening the edges around me and dulling the corners. Once the mirror fogged over, I removed my clothes, stretching as I did. Sawyer stirred as I yawned, and I gently patted my stomach as if to tell himshhh.

I’d known for a while I was going to be a mom; that’s what happened when you got a positive pregnancy test. But… for the first time in my pregnancy, I was getting excited about my baby. And not in theI can’t wait to not be pregnantway, but in theoh my god, I’m having a babyway.

I just needed to get ready for him… and that was a whole separate issue. Sure, I was staying here, and even though I had grown very attached to Jace and Kane, this wasn’t my home. Not yet, at least.

Jace loved me; that much was clear. Allegedly, Kane felt the same, but with nothing to back up those thoughts, I couldn’t know for sure. I just wished he’d actually show me how he felt. That way, I could get comfortable enough to stay for good.

But all ofthatwas a problem for tomorrow. Right now, the goal was to slip into the shower and relax enough to sleep. Justas I stepped into the tub and reached for the shower curtain, the bathroom door flew open. Kane stumbled in wearing nothing except his boxers. The sight caused my heart to skip. I stood as still as a statue as he yawned and walked directly to the toilet.

Instinctively, I wrapped one arm over my chest, the other remaining stuck to the curtain. Kane grunted as he lifted the lid and dropped his boxers to his ankles. He had to be half asleep–if not sleepwalking–to not have noticed the light or the running water.

He fumbled slightly, propping one hand on the wall, and I heard the unmistakable sound of him starting to relieve himself. Embarrassed laughter rose in my throat, but I held my breath, not daring to make a sound. This was the type of awkward moment that I’d never,everimagined happening.

The seconds ticked on like minutes as I stared at him, unable to look away even though I knew this wasdefinitelya violation of privacy… even if he started it. He let out a contented sigh as he dropped the lid and moved to pull up his boxers, but just as his tattooed fingers met the waistband, consciousness seemed to hit Kane like a truck.

His shoulders stiffened, and then his gaze lifted, catching mine in the fogged-up mirror. His eyes went wide as the realization he wasn’t alone dawned on him. Slowly, he turned to look at me, his jaw dropping slightly.

His mouth moved wordlessly for a moment before he managed a gruff, “Callie?”

I nodded twice, my heart thundering in my chest.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and I wondered how quickly I could sprint back to the safety of Sulien’s bedroom. Like if I ran fast enough, he and I could pretend I didn’t watch him pee.

“Y-you should flush.” I tried to manage a joke, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Kane’s face rapidly shifted through emotions–All of which were some flavor of shock or embarrassment–before settling on a pained grimace.

“Oh my God–Why didn’t you say something?” His voice was rough with horror.

“I thought you’d figure it out!”

“Well, I didn’t!”

“I know that now!”

He and I stared at each other like stray cats in an alleyway. And after a beat of uncomfortable silence, an idea struck. One that I wouldn’t have normally offered, but between the delirium of night and the shock of the moment, I realized I really didn’t have anything to lose.

“Do you want to join me?” I asked softly.

Kane blinked before staring at me like I’d just spoken Latin.

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