My Sister Stole My Mate And I Let Her (Seraphina) novel Chapter 130

Chapter 130: Chapter 130 PART OF THE STORM

SERAPHINA’S POV

Maya practically launched herself at me the second I stepped out of the hall’s cordoned-off space.

Her arms wrapped tight around me as she squealed in my ear before I could even catch my breath.

“Seraphina Blackthorne!” she gasped dramatically, shaking me as if I might have somehow forgotten who I was. “Do you even realize how utterly insane that was? Blindfolded! I swear, you could’ve walked straight out of some myth.”

Her words tumbled over each other in excitement, eyes sparkling with pride that almost rivaled the applause I’d just walked away from.

I laughed, a little breathless still, patting her back. “It wasn’t as spectacular as everyone thinks. Just a few tricks I practiced when I was bored.”

“Tricks?” Maya pulled back, mouth falling open. “You make it sound like you taught yourself card shuffles, not splitting arrows blindfolded. That was more than a trick. That was fucking legendary!”

Her conviction made pride bloom in my chest, but I shrugged anyway, trying to deflect. If I let myself stand too long under the heat of praise, I’d feel my skin burn.

Movement caught my attention, and my eyes reflexively sought it out.

Across the crowded hall, standing half in shadow, was Kieran.

His eyes were fixed on me—sharp, searching, and layered with something I couldn’t quite decipher. Surprise? Pride? Regret?

Whatever it was, the weight of it pressed on me, too fucking familiar, too fucking complicated.

I turned my head deliberately, ignoring the knot in my stomach. He had no right to look at me in any way. And I wouldn’t waste a single brain cell trying to understand him.

Not anymore.

“Come on,” I said softly to Maya, nudging her toward the corridor. “Let’s get out of here before someone decides I need to juggle flaming swords next.”

She giggled, looping her arm through mine, and together we slipped away from the swelling crowd.

The noise dulled behind us, replaced by the cool hush of the side hallway. Finally, I could breathe.

But I hadn’t taken five full steps before Ethan appeared, leaning casually against the wall as if he’d been waiting all along.

“Ethan!” Maya gasped, leaving my side to go to his.

His arms wrapped around her waist with a natural ease that teased a smile to my face. She leaned against him, her grin wide. “Did you see that?”

He nodded, his gaze on me, intense in a way that made my throat tighten. “I saw.”

And then, quietly, he asked, “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“Tell you what?” I asked, though I knew exactly what he meant.

“That you could shoot like that.” His voice wasn’t angry—more bewildered, a little wounded. “That you weren’t just a passable shot, but...extraordinary. All this time, you let me believe—” He shook his head, cutting himself off.

I exhaled, fingers flexing around the phantom feel of the bow. “Because it was never about being extraordinary. It wasn’t even about being good. It was about passing the time.”

His brows furrowed.

“No one ever invited me to play with them,” I continued, my voice quieter, softer. “No one wanted me on their teams. So while you and Celeste hung out with the other kids in the pack, and Mother and Father pretended I didn’t exist, I practiced archery against the old garden wall. Again and again. Until I could hit a mark with my eyes closed. Because what else was I supposed to do? Sit inside till I faded into nothing?”

A shadow passed through his expression.

I could see the realization sinking in—what I hadn’t said outright, but lingered between us: the neglect, the isolation, the quiet cruelty of constantly being overlooked.

“Celeste and I played once or twice, but even then I had to pretend I was subpar, so I didn’t bruise her gigantic, yet fragile ego.”

Ethan’s jaw clenched. His usual easy confidence faltered, and he seemed caught between words and silence.

“I didn’t know,” he admitted finally. “Seraphina...I didn’t know.”

I forced a smile, though it felt unsteady. “Not knowing doesn’t erase it.”

Before the moment could stretch any further, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

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