Page 62 of The Fractured Veil

Damon didn't flinch, his expression unwavering—a mask of controlled fury. "You and I both know thatyouwill be next. Arethax will come for you. Why not use the resources from Nexara before it's overtaken like the other realms?"

A shiver ran up my spine at his words. Other realms had already fallen? Just how powerful was this Arethax? The weight of the situation really settled over me. The stakes were higher than I had imagined.

Astaroth’s eyes narrowed slightly, the amusement fading to be replaced by something colder, harder. "Hm." He turned his gaze back to me, as if evaluating me, weighing me up like a piece of meat in a butcher's shop.

"I will consider it," he finally said, his voice carrying an edge of disdain—a casual dismissal that grated on my nerves. "And when the time comes, you will know my decision."

A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. Damon's head whipped toward me, his eyes flashing with a warning, a silent reprimand. But I couldn't help myself. The sheer arrogance of him—the casual disregard for the impending doom—was too much to bear. "Are you fucking kidding me?" I said, my voice laced with disbelief. "I get that you're supposed to be the devil or whatever, the big, bad ruler of the Shadow Kingdom, but that's so low, even for you."

Astaroth's eyes widened slightly at my outburst, but I didn't care. I had faced worse than his disapproval. I had stared into the abyss and survived.

"Whenitcomes for your realm, when your precious Shadow Kingdom crumbles around you, don't expect our help," I snapped, turning on my heel, unable to bear his presence a moment longer. I walked out of the hall, my heart pounding a furious rhythm against my ribs, leaving behind a very pissed-off Damon, a surprised Nox, and a Zarek who was desperately trying to keep a straight face, his lips twitching with suppressed amusement.

The heavy oak doors closed behind me with a resounding thud, a final punctuation mark on my defiance. And then I heard Astaroth's voice echo from within, cold and sharp as shattered ice. "I suggest you get your plaything out of here, now, Damon." His words were loud, meant for me to hear, but I didn't pause. I didn't even flinch. I kept moving, my steps steady and resolute, refusing to let his words sink any deeper than they already had. They bounced off me like pebbles against a stone wall.

The cold air of the hallway met me like a slap. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, to calm the storm raging within. I knew I had crossed a line—broken some unspoken rule of courtly etiquette—but I couldn't stand there and let him belittle everything we were trying to do, dismiss the very real threat looming over us. Not when so much was at stake. Not when the fate of entire realms hung in the balance.

Chapter26

Thalia’s POV

"You really couldn't keep your mouth shut," Damon growled, grabbing my arm and pulling me through the shadows with a force that made me stumble. Zarek and Nox followed close behind, their expressions mirroring my own surprise at Damon's sudden action. The world blurred around me—a dizzying swirl of dark energy—until we abruptly stopped, the familiar sight of their home coming into view.

"Nope," I said, popping the 'p' for dramatics, trying to regain some semblance of control after being manhandled through the shadows. "And for the record, it makes perfect sense you are the way that you are. Considering who spawned you, I'm only surprised you're not worse. Actually, no. I take that back. You know, I didn't think I could meet someone more revolting than you," I snapped, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. A slight pang of regret echoed in my chest at my own harshness, but I quickly pushed it down.

"Fuck, Thalia, you have no idea what you just did," Damon's words were sharp, like shards of glass, as he released my arm. It was almost as if he needed the physical contact to anchor himself, to control the storm brewing within him. I opened my mouth to retort, to fire back another sarcastic remark—but the look in his eyes silenced me. It wasn't just anger; there was something deeper, something raw and vulnerable that looked almost like fear.

"You put yourself in danger back there," Damon finally said. "Astaroth... he doesn't take disrespect lightly. Especially not from someone like you—someone he sees as beneath him, insignificant."

I crossed my arms, trying to mask the sudden unease his words brought. "Well, someone had to say it. If someone likemehad to say it, then so be it. I'm not just going to stand there and let him act like we're insignificant. We're not."

Zarek, who had been lingering nearby, a silent observer to the escalating tension, stepped forward, his expression a mixture of amusement and concern. "You have guts, Thalia, I'll give you that. Real firecracker. But Damon isn't exaggerating. Astaroth isn't someone you can just mouth off to. He's dangerous, powerful, and holds grudges."

Nox nodded in agreement. "Next time, think before you speak. We're walking a tightrope here, and we can't afford any more risks—especially not ones caused by impulsive outbursts."

I swallowed, the weight of their words settling in my stomach like a lead ball. Maybe I had been reckless, maybe I should have held my tongue, but I couldn't bring myself to regret it. He needed to know that we weren't just pawns in his twisted game. Still, the genuine worry etched on their faces, made my chest tighten—a pang of guilt mixing with the remnants of my outburst.

"Fine," I said, my eyes rolling involuntarily—my usual defensive mechanism kicking in. "I'll try to be more careful. But I won't just sit back and let him—or anyone, for that matter—walk all over me. I've had enough of being treated like shit."

Zarek clapped his hands together, the sound echoing in the sudden quiet, breaking the tension that had settled over us like a thick fog. "Alright, enough of this heavy stuff. It's Friday night, and I think we could all use a drink. Or several. My treat." He winked, that playful glint returning to his amber eyes. He had a knack for lightening the mood, even when I felt like I was drowning in it. "How about we head inside and forget about all of this for a while?" He gestured towards the house.

"THALIA!" A female voice called from the woods, making me jump. A dark shape blurred in front of me—Nox, his emerald eyes scanning the tree line, his body coiled tight as a spring. "THALIA!" It called again, closer now.

"Is that... Elara?" I asked, peering around Nox's broad frame. He stood like a sentinel. He'd been strangely protective, almost hovering, ever since the Wonders of Nexara. I supposed it made sense; he and that student healer had found me practically drained of life. I was honestly surprised that beast hadn't finished me off when it had the chance. There must have been some powerful protection spell woven into the arena during the games—something that even that monstrous creature couldn't break through.

I was right about the voice. Elara and James burst through the thick foliage, both of them skidding to a halt as they took in the sight before them: me standing behind Nox, who looked ready to pounce, while Zarek and Damon flanked us, radiating an almost palpable animosity. Their eyes—narrowed and sharp—were fixed on my friends, their stances tense and guarded.

"Um, Thalia?" Elara's eyes darted between the three of them, her brows drawing together as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Where the hell have you been? We've been looking all over for you! And why do the three of you look like you're about to start a bloodbath in some random field?"

"Elara, hi—sorry—it's a long story," I said, stepping around Nox. He shifted slightly, a low growl rumbling in his chest. As I walked over, I glanced over my shoulder to see all three of them glaring at James and Elara. Their faces all held an underlying possessiveness that made my stomach flip.

"Well, you can explain on our way back to the academy," Elara responded, clearly not pleased with my vague answer.

"That's if shewantsto go back," Zarek's voice carried, and I could hear the smirk behind his words. Elara's eyebrows shot up, and my cheeks started to warm. James didnotlook amused, his glare fixed on them, his jaw tight.

"Oh, shewantsto go back," James said, his voice hard, stepping forward slightly, as if to place himself between me and the Shadow Brothers. "Enough with whatever this is, Thalia. You belong at the academy, not... whateverthisis." He gestured vaguely at the three of them, his disapproval evident.

I hesitated, looking between them, my gaze flickering from James's tight jaw to the brothers' guarded stances. I could feel the tension rising again, a wave of protectiveness and possessiveness emanating from both sides.

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