Page 40 of The Fractured Veil

Part of me knew that this was a dangerous game I was playing—letting down my guard with someone as unpredictable as Nox. His moods shifted like the wind, leaving me off-balance. And yet, I found myself unwilling to move, unwilling to break the spell that had settled over us.

I closed my eyes, my thoughts twisting in circles. What did I even mean to Nox? Was this just his sense of duty? Or was it something deeper? My fingers twitched slightly, brushing against the soft fabric of his shirt. I wanted to move—to pull away and put some distance between us before he woke up and the familiar walls slammed back into place—but I couldn't bring myself to do it. His sleeping face held me captive. It was a reminder that maybe he wasn't as heartless as he wanted everyone to believe.

I stayed like that for a while, letting the minutes stretch on, untethered from reality. Studying the gentle rise and fall of his chest, the way his arm cradled me close—it all made the world outside, with its problems and demands, feel far away. It was as if we existed in a bubble, suspended between dreams and reality. I knew I was delaying the inevitable, the moment where the spell would break, and I would have to face everything. Reality would come crashing back, and with it, all the unanswered questions and the inevitable chaos that always seem to follow me.

But then, I felt it—a subtle shift beneath me. The almost slight tightening of his muscles, the way his head turned slightly, his breath catching in his throat. My heart gave a small jump and without thinking, I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep.

There was a moment of stillness, and I could almost feel the confusion radiate from him as he realized the situation we were in—me, with my head in his lap, him holding me close. I listened as he let out a soft breath as his hand moved slightly, like if he was debating whether to pull away or stay where he was.

Slowly, I felt his fingers brush against my hair, the pads of his fingertips against my skin as he tucked a stray strand behind my ear. It was such a gentle gesture, so unexpectedly tender, that it made my chest tighten until it felt like it was going to explode, a rush of warmth flooding through my veins. I had to fight to keep my breathing even, shallow and measured, to keep up the illusion of me still sleeping. Even as every nerve ending in my body wasscreamingto touch him back. He paused for a moment, his fingers lingering near my temple, and I could almost hear the thoughts racing through his mind, a silent whirl of questions.

After a moment, I felt him shift again, the muscles in his arm tensing slightly as he carefully moved it away from me as he tried not to disturb me. He was being so cautious, so careful—as if he didn't want to wake me from a peaceful dream—and it sent a strange mixture of longing and bliss through me.

I heard him let out another breath, this one a little heavier. He shifted his weight, the mattress dipping slightly beneath him, and I felt the bed sway gently as he moved to stand. I kept my eyes closed, my lashes fluttering against my cheeks, listening as he walked quietly across the room, his footsteps soft against the floor. The rustle of fabric as he adjusted his clothes, the faint creak of the door as he pulled it open—it all painted a picture of him leaving, and a pang of something bittersweet settled in my chest, a lingering echo of his presence in the quiet room.

The door clicked shut, and I opened my eyes, staring at the spot where he'd just stood, a ghost of his warmth lingering in the air. I pulled the blanket tighter around me, trying to hold on to the comfort that Nox's presence had brought—the scent of cedar and rain still clinging to the sheets—but it was slipping through my fingers like sand.

I sat up slowly, the plush comforter sliding off my shoulders. I couldn't stay in bed forever, drowning in my emotions. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I planted my feet on the soft plush rug and pushed myself to stand. My legs wobbly at first as I made my way to the door.

My hand hovering over the cool metal of the handle for a moment. I didn't know what I would find on the other side—if Nox would still be the same Nox as before, or if things would be different between us.

"No, don't go there," I told myself, shaking my head, pushing those thoughts aside.

Plus, I really needed to get back to my dorm for a much-needed shower. The lingering scent of Nox, while intoxicating, was a constant reminder of the moment we just shared, and I needed to wash everything away and clear my head.

I opened the door slowly, the hinges creaking slightly, and peeked out into the hallway. It was empty. The shock of cold against my bare feet sent a jolt up my spine, waking me up more.

My fingers trailing lightly along the smooth surface of the wall while I made my way down the hallway. I reached the top of the grand staircase and paused, glancing down into the open area below. The sunlight spilled into the space, illuminating the gleaming stone floors and the few pieces of dark, heavy furniture scattered around.

I heard faint voices drifting from somewhere below—the low murmur of conversation that I couldn't quite make out. I hesitated again, my hand gripping the wood of the banister as I debated whether to go down or stay hidden. Part of me wanted to retreat, to go back to the shadowy safety of the room and avoid whatever waited for me downstairs. But I knew there was no running from this.

I started down the stairs, each step echoing softly in the vast, quiet space. The voices grew louder as I got closer, and I recognized one of them—Zarek. His tone was calm, measured, but there was a sharp edge to it, something serious that made me pause at the bottom step.

I couldn't make out the words, but I could feel the underlying tension in his voice. Even without understanding what they were saying, I knew it wasn't good.

I took another small step forward, moving closer to the curved doorway that led to the main room. The flickering light of the fireplace danced on the walls. I peeked further around the corner, my eyes landing on Zarek and Damon. Both were standing near the large fireplace, their faces set in serious, almost grim expressions.

Zarek was speaking, his hands moving in animated gestures as he talked, his brow furrowed in concentration. Damon stood beside him, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his gaze focused intently on his brother. His jaw was clenched, the muscle ticking beneath his skin. The tension between them was almost suffocating, the kind of tension that made the air feel thick and heavy, difficult to breathe.

They were talking about me. I knew it with a certainty that settled deep in my bones. I took a deep, steadying breath, trying to calm the tremor in my hands, and stepped out from my hiding place—my gaze locking onto Zarek's just as he looked up and saw me.

The conversation stopped abruptly, both brothers turning to face me, their tones shifting dramatically. Zarek's eyes softened, a flicker of relief passing through them. While Damon's eyes darkened, his features hardening at my presence.

"Morning," I said, forcing my voice to be steady and my eyes to hold theirs.

Zarek shot me a small, reassuring smile, the corner of his lips tugging upwards as he nodded. "Good morning, Firefly. Come on in. We were just talking. Right, brother?" He clapped Damon on the shoulder, a gesture that seemed to stiffen him.

Damon's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze flickering between me and his brother. He didn't say anything, but the silence was heavy. I took another step forward, feeling really out of place.

"How are you feeling?" Zarek asked, as I sat down on one of the plush couches.

"Surprisingly good, just a little sore," I admitted. "But I need to get back to the dorms. I could really use a shower and a change of clothes." My eyes flickered between the brothers, searching for any hint of what they were hiding—what they were talking about. Zarek's signature smirk appeared, a playful glint in his amber eyes, while Damon continued to look at me with that same expression, the one that didn't hide the disgust he felt for me.

"You can use mine," Zarek offered, motioning back towards the grand staircase, his tone light, almost teasing. "It's much better than the ones in the dorms."

"That's okay, I should really get back," I argued, standing up, a sense of unease creeping up my spine. "Just need my shoes," I added, giving an awkward smile, hoping to deflect the offer without causing offense. Zarek has always been kind to me, and I didn't want to impose more than I already had.

Zarek raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, his smirk widening as if he found my reluctance amusing. "Thalia, it's just a shower. Trust me, the water pressure here is divine. And I even have fluffy towels."

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