The girl, Sarah, was standing with a small group near the windows, not far from where i and Rachel were, actually. She was stunning in an effortless, natural way. Honey-blonde hair cascading in waves over her shoulders, wearing a red dress that stood out against the muted elegance of the other guests like a fla in the darkness. When she laughed at sothing one of her friends said, her whole face lit up with genuine joy, and Sky could absolutely see why Cory kept looking. She radiated warmth and life.
Sarah Cowling. Sky didn’t know how he knew her na, but sohow he did. Maybe he’d overheard it earlier, or maybe soone had ntioned her in passing. Either way, the na felt right when he looked at her. And if he was correct, she was the one Cory was into. The one with a twin brother whom Cory despised with his entire being. They said he was a devil. Whatever that ant, he didn’t know.
Vale had noticed Cory’s wandering attention too. Of course he had. His expression was carefully blank, ticulously controlled, but his knuckles were white around the stolen glass, and there was sothing dangerous in the set of his jaw. Sothing possessive and dark that made Sky deeply uncomfortable.
Sky debated walking away. This was none of his business. He should absolutely mind his business. He had enough to deal with in his own relationship without getting involved in whatever twisted family dynamics were happening here.
But sothing about the scene made his skin crawl. The possessive intensity in Vale’s gaze, the way he tracked every single glance Cory sent Sarah’s way like he was cataloging evidence, like he was building a case, it felt wrong. Familiar in a way that made Sky deeply uncomfortable, like looking into a distorted mirror that reflected all his own worst impulses back at him but twisted into sothing darker, more obsessive.
The bartender passed a fresh tray with drinks to a waiter who approached to pass the drink to guests before he handed Sky his drink, and he took it but didn’t move away. Instead, he found himself moving closer to where Vale stood, positioning himself beside the younger boy.
Vale’s eyes flicked to him for a fraction of a second, then returned to Cory. Dismissive. Sky wasn’t important. He wasn’t Cory.
"She’s beautiful," Sky said casually, nodding toward Sarah.
Vale didn’t respond. Didn’t even acknowledge Sky had spoken.
Sky tried again. "Is Cory close with her?"
Still nothing. Vale’s focus remained absolute. Unwavering.
Sky was about to give up when Vale’s lips moved, barely above a whisper. "Not exactly."
The words were flat. Emotionless. Like he was talking in his sleep. Or like speaking to Sky required so little of his attention that he could do it while keeping 99% of his focus on Cory.
"Both families don’t agree," Vale continued in that sa detached monotone.
Sky watched Cory across the room. The boy looked wistful, stealing glances at Sarah when he thought no one was watching. Sweet. Innocent. Hopeful.
"He looks interested," Sky observed.
That got a reaction.
Vale’s head turned, slow and deliberate, until his full attention landed on Sky. The intensity of that gaze was like being pinned by a spotlight. Or a sniper scope. For a boy his age, sixteen, maybe seventeen at most, and even shorter than Sky, there was sothing unnaturally controlled about him.
"That’s irrelevant." Vale’s voice was still flat, but sothing burned underneath. Sothing cold and absolute.
Sky forced himself not to step back. "Is it? He’s your brother. Don’t you want him happy?"
"Adopted." The word ca out sharp. Precise.
Vale’s eyes hadn’t left Sky’s face. Studying him. Assessing.
"Does Cory think the sa way?"
Vale’s lips curved. Not a smile. Sothing colder. "It doesn’t matter what he thinks. Yet."
The word "yet" hung in the air like a threat.
Sky felt cold slide down his spine. "What does that an?"
Vale set down his half empty glass on a nearby surface with deliberate care, his gaze returning to Cory with that unsettling, unwavering intensity. "When the ti is right, he’ll understand. He’ll see things differently."
"The ti?" Sky pressed, even though part of him wanted to walk away, wanted to not know whatever twisted logic Vale was operating under. "You an when you’re of legal age and he’d see you as an adult?"
Vale didn’t confirm or deny, just continued watching Cory with that focused stare that made Sky think of a spider watching a fly caught in its web. Waiting for the perfect mont to strike.
Sky tried a different angle, hoping to break through whatever delusion Vale had constructed. "You figure he’s probably not even interested in guys?" he asked, keeping his tone light, conversational. "And that he definitely won’t be interested in soone he considers his younger brother?"
Vale’s attention snapped back to Sky. Really looked at him this ti. Studied him with unnerving focus.
Then sothing shifted in Vale’s expression. Recognition. Understanding.
"You’re like ," Vale said quietly. Not a question. A statent of fact.
Sky stiffened. "What?"
"You’re possessive of him. Chris." Vale’s gaze was penetrating, reading Sky like an open book. "I just saw you and could see it. Your whole body tracks his location in the room even when you’re not looking at him. You’re doing it right now."
Sky realized with a jolt that Vale was right. So part of him was always aware of where Chris was. Always.
"We’re the sa," Vale continued, and for the first ti, there was sothing almost human in his voice. Relief, maybe. Or recognition. Like he’d found the only other person in the world who spoke his language. "You understand. That’s why you’re talking to . That’s why I’m answering."
Vale looked back at Cory, but kept talking. And now that he’d started, the words ca easier. Like a dam breaking.
"People don’t understand what it’s like. The certainty. To see what is ant for us. And be restless until we get it. Inevitable."
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