Page 23 of The Fractured Veil

The smile faded slightly from Zarek's face, but his eyes still glinted with mischief. "Maybe not, but she's here now. And considering she managed to find her way into our home, that has to count for something, doesn't it?"

I glanced between them, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. Damon's silence spoke volumes, his gaze moving from Nox to Zarek before finally settling on me. He let out a sigh, his tone flat and controlled. "She shouldn't be here, but she's here now. We'll figure out what to do with her."

I frowned, crossing my arms again. "I'm not some stray animal you found on the side of the road. I just want to find my way out of here without becoming a beast's dinner."

"Then stay out of the fucking forest, Thalia." Nox said, his voice like a warning, eyes narrowing.

I held his gaze, unwilling to back down. "Noted," I said, my voice unwavering. "But maybe you should focus on keeping your 'pet' on a leash."

Chapter11

Thalia’s POV

The next morning, I was groggy and confused, the images of the last night flickering behind my eyelids. Zarek had insisted on escorting me back to the dorms, his fake version of chivalry stubbornly overriding my protests. We'd bickered most of the way until my resistance dwindled away out of pure exhaustion. The silent walk back had been strangely peaceful, though; Zarek's voice had eventually faded into the night, leaving us in a shared quiet that was surprisingly comforting.

The brothers hadn't seemed remotely concerned about the beast lurking outside—which I assumed was some kind of bizarre, oversized guard panther—and that left a gnawing unease in my stomach.

"She doesn't belong here"

Nox's words echoed through my mind as I got ready for the day. Another reminder of my outcast status here at Nexara Academy clung to me like a shadow. But shadows or not, I was determined to make something of my time here. After pulling on my uniform, I decided to find El and James later, maybe they'd be willing to help me train.

Classes were an endless loop of information that felt irrelevant to my existence. While other students discussed their gifts and control techniques, I could only sit and absorb theories and histories that seemed more fantasy than reality for someone like me. I was learning plenty about the world I'd been thrust into, but nothing that explained why I was here.

With each lecture, the sense of isolation grew sharper—like a thorn lodged beneath my skin. These were lessons for witches, shifters, fae—beings with power flowing through their veins. And there I was, just Thalia. The powerless human. An anomaly among prodigies.

I masked my frustration with attentive scribbling in my notebook—notes that might never be useful but kept me anchored in each moment. Despite feeling like an outsider peering into a world where I didn't quite fit, I wasn't ready to give up. Not yet. Not when there was still so much left unexplained.

By lunch, I had lost all interest in being around people. I opted to skip the crowded cafeteria, instead grabbing some snacks before heading to Combat Training. The leaves were turning, painting the campus in shades of orange and gold as fall settled in. My academy sweatshirt did little to shield me from the cool breeze as I made my way to the training field, but the brisk air felt good. It was refreshing—a reminder that I was alive, still standing.

I started running laps around the track, trying to clear my head, the rhythm of my footsteps grounding me. Each step seemed to push away the lingering unease, the doubts, the feeling of being watched. After a couple laps, I began to notice other students making their way to the field, their voices mixing with the rustle of leaves in the wind.

Grabbing my water, I took a deep breath, the crisp air filling my lungs as I scanned the growing crowd. I needed to find El and James—if anyone could help me right now, it was them.

I spotted El first, her chestnut hair catching the light as she laughed with a group of students near the mats. Relief washed over me as I made my way toward her. James appeared moments later, his smile as bright as always.

“Well, there’s the sunshine,” he beamed, throwing an arm over my shoulder and pulling me in close. A blush crept up my cheeks, and I glanced away, trying to hide it as El gave me an amused smile.

“Where were you at lunch?” she asked, her tone casual but with a hint of curiosity.

“I wanted to get a head start on training,” I replied, shrugging. “Speaking of training—” I was cut off mid-sentence by an unmistakable feeling—shadows looming over me, making my skin prickle. James’s arm slipped away, and he took a step back, his expression shifting slightly. I let out a small scoff, already knowing who it was without having to look.

Wonder who that could be.

I turned to see none other than the psycho trio. Their presence was as imposing as ever, each of them radiating that strange combination of power and intensity that seemed to fill the entire space around them.

“Can I help you?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Zarek’s grin spread across his face—that lazy, annoying smile that always seemed to say he knew something I didn’t. “Just wanted to see if our favorite troublemaker was planning on causing any more scenes today,” he said, his eyes bright with playfulness.

Nox’s gaze was as sharp as ever, those violent eyes locking onto mine. He didn’t say anything, but the intensity in his expression spoke volumes. Damon, standing beside him, looked as stoic as always, his eyes narrowed slightly as if assessing my every move.

“Scenes?” I repeated, crossing my arms over my chest. “Are we really doing this?”

El cleared her throat beside me, stepping forward with a bright smile. “Oh, are we starting drama already? I thought we’d wait at least until the warm-up,” she joked, her eyes darting between the brothers and me, her tone light but not without an edge.

James chuckled, his boyish smile returning as he took his place beside me again, his presence warm and steady. “Yeah, fellas, give the girl a break.”

Nox's expression darkened at James's comment, but Zarek only seemed more entertained. "You wound us, sunshine," he purred, his voice smooth as silk, a hint of laughter in his eyes as he emphasized the nickname.

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