Page 18 of The Fractured Veil

"More like annoyed," I shot back, my voice sharper than intended, betraying the flicker of truth in his words. I couldn't deny the undeniable pull I felt towards him, the way his presence ignited a spark within me that I couldn't quite extinguish. "What do you want, Zarek?"

"Just checking in on my favorite distraction," he replied, his smirk widening, revealing a flash of those perfectly straight, white teeth. "I haven't seen you in a while." His eyes flickered, a fleeting shadow of something unreadable crossing his features before settling back into their familiar glimmer of mischief.

"Fantastic," I retorted, my patience wearing thin. "But I really don't have time for games. So, if you'll excuse me..." I attempted to sidestep him, but he moved closer, his scent enveloping me once again. It took every ounce of willpower to resist the inexplicable pull I felt towards him—the urge to lean into his warmth, to lose myself in the depths of his eyes. He had to be using magic, some fae trick to lure me in, to weaken my defenses.

"Games?" he repeated, his voice dipping low, each word rolling off his tongue with a teasing lilt that sent shivers down my spine. His golden eyes filled with an unreadable intensity, a mixture of curiosity and challenge that made my breath catch in my throat. "Oh, I'm just getting started, Firefly," he murmured, his voice a seductive whisper. "But I promise, it's more fun when you play along."

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to meet his gaze without flinching. "You really have nothing better to do, do you?" I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm, hoping to mask the tremor of anticipation that ran through me.

His smirk grew, a dangerous glint sparking in his eyes. "Nope," he admitted, his voice a low rumble that resonated deep within me. "You're just too interesting to ignore."

I huffed, frustration bubbling to the surface, mingling with a strange sense of excitement that I couldn't quite suppress. "Well, get used to it, Zarek," I declared, my voice firm despite the erratic beating of my heart. "I'm not playing your little game."

He stepped aside with a mocking bow, his gaze never leaving mine, a silent challenge lingering in the air. "I'll see you later,Thalia." The way my name rolled off his tongue, a sensual caress that sent a shiver down my spine, made my stomach do flips. I cursed under my breath, my cheeks flushing with a warmth that had nothing to do with the setting sun.

I shot him one last glare, a poor attempt to mask the undeniable attraction I felt, before brushing past him, my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum. There was something infuriatingly charming about Zarek, a mesmerizing mix of arrogance and vulnerability that drew me in. But I refused to let myself fall under his spell, to become another pawn in his games.

Chapter8

Thalia’s POV

Stepping into the Principles of Magical Theory classroom, my gaze instinctively sought out Nox, drawn to his familiar presence at the back. Our eyes met for a fleeting moment before he quickly turned his attention back to his book. A surprising pang of disappointment—a sting of rejection—echoed through me.

He's finally moving on,I told myself, attempting to push down the unexpected ache in my chest.This is good. This is what I wanted.

Mira's voice, sharp and laced with venom, cut through the low murmur of the classroom. "Oh, look who decided to crawl back," she sneered, her words dripping with disdain. "Was it not understood that a human shouldn't be here? Or are you juststupid?"

She rose from her seat in the first row, a picture of arrogant confidence, her cronies flanking her like loyal guard dogs. Their snickers echoed through the room, their eyes gleefully anticipating my reaction. A familiar anger began to simmer in my stomach—a fiery response to her blatant attempt to humiliate me.

"No, I'm fine—wasn't that bad," I responded nonchalantly, injecting a hint of dismissiveness into my tone as I turned back to my notes. My casual dismissal hung in the air. A beat of silence stretched. Mira's carefully constructed composure was starting to crack.

"Excuse me?" she sputtered, her voice laced with disbelief. "Did you just... try todismissme?"

I slowly lifted my gaze, meeting her eyes with a cool composure that hid the nerves within me. "I believe I did," I replied calmly, my voice carrying through the silent classroom. "Unless you have something relevant to say, I'm done talking."

"You insolent little—" she began, her voice rising with fury, but before she could unleash another torrent of insults, a calm, authoritative voice interrupted.

"Everyone, please be seated," Professor Walkins interrupted without missing a beat, setting his materials on the desk with a quiet authority that warranted attention.

A smirk tugged at my lips as I met Mira's eyes one last time. Her face was contorted with a mixture of fury and disbelief, her carefully crafted mask of superiority crumbling before my eyes. It was a small victory, but a satisfying one. This "giftless" human wasn't about to take it lying down. I held her gaze for a beat, a silent challenge simmering between us, before turning back to the front of the room, a newfound sense of confidence blooming within me.

Game on, Mira.

The lecture stretched on, each minute an eternity. My attention, however, was hopelessly ensnared by Nox's presence at the back of the classroom. It was as if an invisible thread connected us, a taut line of awareness that vibrated with unspoken tension. The professor's voice droned on, a monotonous backdrop to my own thoughts, but my focus remained stubbornly fixed on Nox.

I found myself stealing glances over my shoulder, each one a thrilling act of defiance against my own better judgment. My heart quickened with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation each time, but our eyes never met. He remained immersed in his studies, seemingly oblivious to my scrutiny. Yet, I could feel him—his presence carried a weight that was impossible to ignore, a magnetic pull that kept me anchored to my seat, preventing me from escaping the invisible web we had woven.

A wave of conflicting emotions washed over me every time I considered turning to face him fully, to acknowledge the undeniable connection that fizzled between us. What was he thinking? Did he feel this strange tension, this electric charge that thrummed in the air between us?

My fingers fidgeted with the edges of my notebook, the crisp pages a poor substitute for the touch I craved—the touch I knew I couldn't have. The professor's lecture faded into a distant hum, a mere echo in the chamber of my own swirling thoughts. Nox's image consumed me: the way his dark hair fell across his forehead, the intense focus in his eyes as he leaned over his desk, the subtle flex of his muscles beneath his shirt. Each detail was etched into my memory, a testament to the unwilling fascination that held me captive.

But still, no glance was exchanged, and the frustration grew—mingling with a gnawing sense of longing, a yearning for something I couldn't quite name. I was caught in limbo.

As the bell rang, I slowly gathered my things, my movements deliberate as I stole one last glance at Nox. Still nothing. He remained hunched over his book, pointedly ignoring me. I shook my head, trying to shrug off another sting of disappointment, the familiar ache of rejection settling in my chest. With a sigh, I turned and headed for the hallway, the noise and bustle of the students washing over me.

I made it about five steps out the door when my path was blocked. Mira and her entourage of hyenas materialized before me, their sneering faces and predatory grins forming an impenetrable barrier. Escape routes vanished, and I could feel the fuse to my temper shortening. Mira's lips twisted into a smug grin as she stepped forward, arms crossed over her chest, her posture radiating an air of arrogant superiority.

"Do you really think you can speak to a high-gifted like that and not suffer the consequences?" she sneered, her voice dripping with condescension, each word a bitter strike aimed at my already bruised ego.

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