Page 29 of The Fractured Veil

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. "So youarestalking me," I accused, my voice sharp with annoyance. "What the hell, Z?—"

Before I could finish my sentence, Zarek closed the distance between us in the blink of an eye—his movements a blur of speed that left me reeling. With a swift, effortless motion, he hoisted me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing, his strong arms securing me in place.

"I swear to the gods, Zarek, put me down!" I snapped, my voice echoing through the trees. I squirmed against his shoulder, but the movement only seemed to tighten his grip—his fingers pressing into my side just enough to send a shiver down my spine.

"Nope, I'm good," he replied, the laughter in his voice infuriatingly clear.

I huffed in frustration, my heart pounding in my chest. The world spun around me as Zarek moved with inhuman speed, his footsteps silent against the forest floor. I could feel the muscles in his shoulder shift and flex beneath my body—a blunt reminder of the raw power he possessed.

"This isn't funny, Zarek!" I protested, pounding my fists against his back in a futile attempt to break free. "Put me down right now!"

"Relax" he said, his tone light and teasing. "We're just taking a shortcut."

"You know, you could have just asked nicely," I grumbled, my annoyance giving way to a grudging amusement.

"Oh, but I did ask nicely," he countered, a playful lilt in his voice. "But you... you just have to make it difficult." He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into mine, and I hated that it made me smile. There was something undeniably charming about him, the way he seemed to know exactly how to push my buttons, how to make my heart race when I least wanted it to.

I sighed dramatically, letting my body go limp in an attempt to make it more difficult for him to carry me.

"Really, Firefly?" he asked, his voice low and amused. He didn't miss a beat, continuing on as if I weighed nothing at all.

"Yes, really," I insisted. "And stop calling me that. It's bad enough your little girlfriend wants to murder me. Word's going to spread about this little kidnapping situation, and hopefully, she'll kick your ass."

He tensed for a moment. "She's not my girlfriend, Thalia," he corrected, his voice firm. Then, with a teasing lilt, he added, "But is that jealousy I hear in your voice?"

I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn't see it. "Jealous? Me? Please," I scoffed, trying to sound nonchalant. But I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, and it was taking everything I had not to let it show in my voice.

"Uh-huh, sure. Keep telling yourself that," he teased, his voice laced with a knowing edge. "But I can definitely hear it. You're blushing, aren't you?"

"Oh, please. You're not that charming," I retorted, my tone light but playful. "I mean, you are—but I'm not affected by it."

His laughter echoed through the trees, and I felt the warmth of his body against mine. "Is that so? Because you seem pretty affected right now."

"Hardly," I replied, trying to maintain my composure. "You're just another pretty face in a sea of chaos."

"Pretty face, huh? I'll take that as a compliment," he said, his voice a low purr. "Face it, Firefly, I'm growing on you."

"You're delusional," I retorted, but my voice lacked conviction.

He finally set me down once we reached the clearing, the silhouette of that familiar house sitting before us. His hands lingered on my waist for a heartbeat longer than necessary. His eyes met mine, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips, as if he knew the effect he had on me.

"Is your pet beast under control this time?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I glanced into the forest, attempting to diffuse the tension that crackled between us. I studied the very house I had practically crashed into—the place where I had come face-to-face with their enormous guard panther, who had decided that my presence in the woods was an affront to its very existence.

The shadows danced at the edge of my vision, their movements mimicking the unease swirling within me.

"Yes, our pet beast is under control," he said with a chuckle, shaking his head at my attempt to deflect.

We stood in comfortable silence for a moment, the only sounds the rustling leaves and the distant calls of birds. But eventually, Zarek broke the quiet, his voice gentle yet curious.

"What do you see when you're out here?" he asked, his gaze fixed on the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. "In the forest?"

I hesitated, unsure how much I wanted to reveal. My connection to the shadows felt deeply personal—something that belonged only to me. "Shadows," I replied, glancing back at him with a slight shrug.

He hummed thoughtfully, studying me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. "Shadows, huh? They seem to like you," he observed, his voice laced with intrigue. "I've never seen anything quite like it."

I arched an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on my lips. "And how exactly would you know that?" I asked, my voice light. "Are you admitting to following me?"

Zarek smirked, his eyes a darker shade of amber, meeting mine with a heat that made my cheeks burn. "Maybe I have," he admitted, his voice a low purr. "Or maybe I'm just good at noticing things that others miss."

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