Page 45 of The Fractured Veil

Damon let out a cruel laugh, his eyes rolling. “She’s more than just ‘important.’ She’s a wildcard, a fucking question mark. And that makes her dangerous.”

My patience finally snapped as I glared at him. “You don’t know anything about me, Damon. All you see is a threat, but hell, maybe Iama threat to your fragile ego.”

The room fell into a tense silence, the air thick with animosity. Damon’s shadows flickered, and for a moment, I thought he might actually kill me. That his anger would finally boil over into violence. But instead, he just stood, his eyes no longer that deep blue, but now black, bottomless pits of rage and resentment. The transformation was unsettling. A glimpse into a darkness that lived within him, a darkness that seemed to mirror the shadows flickering at my own fingertips.

“Just remember what I said,” he muttered, his voice low and menacing, directed at Zarek and Nox, before turning and leaving the room, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. I noticed Nox following him out, his silence adding another layer of unease to the already charged atmosphere.

I looked back at Zarek, who was watching me with a mix of sympathy and admiration, his gaze a comforting presence in the wake of Damon's hostility.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, my voice barely audible, grateful for his attempt to mediate, to offer some semblance of understanding. “For at least trying to help me understand.”

Zarek shrugged, “We’re in this together, Thalia. Whether Damon likes it or not.”

“And what about Nox? Is he... uh... okay with this?” I asked, feeling embarrassed at the slight desperation in my voice, the question betraying my growing concern for his opinion of me. Something had shifted between Nox and me since the Wonders of Nexara, a silent understanding, a connection that confused the hell out of me.

Zarek's expression softened, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “Nox is... complicated,” he said, pausing as if searching for the right words, his gaze distant for a moment. “But he cares. He might not show it the same way, but he’s on board. He knows what’s at stake.”

It's hard to read Nox—he was guarded, mysterious, his emotions always hidden behind that steely exterior, a wall he had carefully constructed around himself. But there had been moments, fleeting as they were, when I thought I saw something deeper.

Zarek leaned back, studying me for a moment before he spoke again. “You know, Nox isn’t used to letting people in. None of us are, really. But you... you’ve gotten under our skin.” He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “In a good way, I think.”

“Well, at least two out of three don't want to murder me anymore," I joked. "I don't think I've gotten under Damon's skin in a good way.” I added, though it came out more nervous than I intended.

Zarek's eyes sparkled, and he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Give it time. Damon’s not as tough as he pretends to be.” His gaze held mine for a moment, and I felt a flicker of something made me feel a little less alone, a little less adrift in the swirling chaos.

I gave him a small smile, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken connection between us. The sound of a familiar rhythm of footsteps echoed through the hallway. I looked up just as Nox entered the room, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the scene, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before flicking to Zarek, an edge of something I couldn't quite place lingering in his tone.

“Am I interrupting something?” Nox's voice was low, a quiet rumble that filled the room, his gaze flicking between Zarek and me, a silent question hanging in the air.

I straightened, a slight flutter in my chest, a nervous reaction to his presence. “No, just talking,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral, casual, but the awareness of his presence made it difficult to maintain the facade of composure.

Nox crossed his arms over his chest, his expression unreadable, a mask of indifference, but his eyes remained fixed on me—a silent, watchful presence that made my skin tingle. Before Nox could respond, the tension ratcheted up another notch as Damon stormed back into the room, his entrance as abrupt and disruptive as his exit.

“We need to talk about what happens next,” he announced, his voice sharp and commanding, his gaze immediately settling on me—his eyes cold and calculating, as if assessing my worth, my potential threat. “You want answers, Thalia?Fine. But that means you’re going to have to prove you aren't athreat.”

I frowned, a mix of irritation and curiosity bubbling within me. “What do you mean? I don't have to prove shit to you.” My defiance flared, fueled by his constant accusations. I wasn't going to jump through hoops for him—not after the way he has treated me.

Damon’s lips curled into a smirk, one that didn’t reach his eyes, a cruel twist of his lips that betrayed his true intentions. “Training. If you’re going to be part of this, you need to be ready. No more being a liability.” His words were a deliberate jab, a reminder of my perceived weakness—my dependence on them.

I clenched my jaw, his words cutting me deep. The memory of Nox protecting me in my dream flashed through my mind. “I’m not a liability,” I shot back, my voice rising with anger, my cheeks flushing with indignation.

Damon raised an eyebrow, his gaze challenging, daring me to prove him wrong. “Then prove it. Training starts tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.” He turned on his heel and left the room without another word, his abrupt exit leaving a lingering tension in the air.

Zarek sighed, shaking his head, his expression a mixture of exasperation and amusement. “Don’t mind him. Damon’s... well, Damon. He’ll come around eventually.” His words were an attempt to smooth over the rough edges of his brother's abrasive personality.

I wasn’t so sure. There was something about Damon—something in the way he looked at me, like I was an unwanted puzzle piece, an anomaly that didn't fit into his carefully constructed world—that made me doubt we’d ever be on the same side. But if this was what it took to get the answers I needed, to understand my place in this strange new reality, then I’d do it. I'd endure his hostility, his suspicion, if it meant getting closer to the truth.

“I should be getting back to my dorm,” I said as I started to stand up, my eyes moving to Nox's. His expression made me stop in my tracks, a sudden shift in his demeanor that sent a wave of anxiety through me.

“Absolutely not.” His tone was sharp, his brows furrowed down. The firmness in his voice that made it clear this wasn’t up for debate. His words were a command, not a suggestion.

I blinked, taken aback by his sudden assertiveness, the force of his words momentarily silencing my own protest. “Why not?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but there was a hint of frustration there. “I’ve been here long enough, and I think I can?—”

Nox shook his head, stepping closer, his eyes turning a dark forest green as they locked onto mine, the proximity of his body radiating a warmth that made my breath catch in my throat. “It’s not safe. You’re staying here, where we can protect you.” His words were a declaration, a promise of safety, but also a subtle reminder of the dangers I was apparently in.

The room seemed to shrink as he closed the distance between us, the weight of his look pressing down on me. I could feel the heat of his presence, the way his eyes bore into mine—searching, questioning.

I opened my mouth to argue, to insist that I could handle myself, that I didn't need their protection—but Zarek stepped in, his voice more gentle than his brother's, a calming presence in the midst of the brewing storm. “Nox is right, Firefly. It’s better if you stay here for now. We don’t know who might be looking for you. You can't trust everyone at the academy.” His words were a gentle reminder of the unseen threats.

---