Chapter 4: Denying

They turned and walked toward the door, their movements quick and purposeful. Phoenix watched them go, her heart in her throat. She knew she should let them leave, that it was better to pretend she’d never seen them before. But something made her stand up, her legs moving before she could think.

“Wait,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Qilin stopped at the door, their hand on the doorknob. They didn’t turn around, but Phoenix could feel their gaze on her, even though they weren’t looking at her.

“What do you want?” they asked, their voice cold.

Phoenix walked toward them, her hands shaking. She stopped a few feet away from them, her eyes fixed on the back of their neck, where the mark was hidden.

“I… I need to talk to you,” she said.

Qilin turned around slowly, their storm-gray eyes locking with hers. There was no recognition in their eyes now, just coldness and annoyance.

“I don’t have time to talk to you,” they said. “I have training.”

They turned back to the door, but Phoenix reached out and grabbed their arm. The moment her skin touched theirs, she felt a jolt of electricity run through her body, and she saw Qilin flinch. They pulled their arm away quickly, as if she’d burned them.

“Don’t touch me,” they said, their voice low and dangerous.

Phoenix took a step back, her hands raised in surrender. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I just… I need to explain. About last night.”

Qilin’s eyes narrowed. “Last night?” they said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You do,” Phoenix said, her voice getting stronger. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. The alleyway. The mark.”

For a moment, Qilin didn’t say anything. They just stood there, their eyes searching Phoenix’s face, as if they were trying to decide whether to believe her. Then, they let out a short, cold laugh.

“You’re crazy,” they said. “I don’t know who you are, and I don’t know what you’re talking about. Stay away from me.”

They turned and walked out the door, leaving Phoenix standing there, her heart broken. She watched them go, her eyes filling with tears. She knew they were lying—she could feel it in her bones. But why? Why would they deny it? What were they afraid of?

The classroom was quiet again, but Phoenix didn’t notice. She just stood there, staring at the door, her mind racing with questions. She knew one thing for sure: this wasn’t over. She’d marked Qilin, and no matter how much they tried to deny it, that mark would bind them together. And she was going to find out why they were lying, even if it meant putting herself in danger.

She turned and walked back to her desk, her head held high. She wasn’t going to give up. She was going to find the truth, no matter what it took. Because she knew that somewhere, deep down, Qilin wasn’t the cold, unfeeling legend everyone thought they were. There was more to them than that. And she was going to find out what it was.

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