Moments before Kyron and his makeshift army will arrive, Aria watches how Derek readies himself for what's to come, off to one side Scott and Stiles were sharing a conversation.
She turns towards Derek, "I will not be sitting around and watch that psycho kill you."
Derek's gaze flicked over her—eyes hard with determination.
"You don't have to worry about me," he stated simply. "I can handle myself."
"And I can not?" Aria asked matching his gaze.
"It's not that you can't." He countered smoothly—his tone leaving no room for argument. "But I don't want you involved."
"Derek... Please... I'm already involved..."
Derek's expression softened at the tone of her voice but his words remained firm.
"Aria… please. I can't have you putting yourself in harm's way."
Scott placed a hand gently on Aria's shoulder. "There's no reason in arguing when his mind is already made up."
"The queen needs to be protected against all costs," Stiles voiced. Making it sound like their all pawns in this game of chess.
Aria shot Stiles a sharp look, her jaw tightening.
"Queen? I'm not some piece to be moved around a board while you all play hero."
She turned back to Derek, eyes blazing.
"I'm not asking for permission. I'm telling you—I'm fighting. And if you try to stop me…"
Her voice dropped—quiet, dangerous.
"…then maybe the Ashokan blood in my veins is more of a curse than a gift."
Tiredly he pulled his fingers through his hair. "Please, my love, don't make this hard for me. I'm begging you, stay out of sight. Kyron isn't a war you want to fight."
Aria's face hardened.
"Don't patronize me, Derek."
She took a step forward, her eyes blazing with defiance.
"I'm not a child, and I'm not going to hide like some scared little girl while you and the others risk your lives. You can't ask me to do that. I won't let you."
Derek's lips pressed into a thin line.
"Aria… please."
"Derek..."
Derek's shoulders sagged—just slightly—as if the weight of it all was finally pressing down on him. He reached for her, cupping her face gently between his hands.
"You think I don't want you by my side?" His voice was raw, quiet. "You think I don't see how strong you are?"
His thumb brushed over her cheekbone.
"But Kyron… he doesn't just want to win this war."
"He wants to erase us."
"And if he gets close enough? If he lays a hand on you—he'll use our connection against us like a weapon?"
He swallowed hard.
"I won't survive that, Aria. Not emotionally. Not spiritually. Not physically."
"So please…"
"For me…"
"Stay back. Just this once."
She sighs in defeat, as she leans into his touch. "Fine, I'll play it your way but when things takes a turn for the worst, I'm stepping out of the shadows."
Derek let out a breath—half relief, half dread.
"Fine." He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly—like he could shield her from the world just by touch.
"Just stay behind Scott and Stiles. If anything happens… run. Don't look back. Promise me."
"I'm sorry Derek but that isn't a promise that I'm about to make willingly."
Derek stiffened—eyes flashing with a mixture of fear and desperation.
"Aria…"
"Don't look at me like that. I'm in all or nothing. Without you I will not survive."
Derek felt like the wind was knocked out of him—her words like a knife to his heart.
"Aria…"
He gripped her shoulders, looking her in the eyes.
"You have to promise me. Promise you'll get out if the fight goes badly."
"I've already promised to play by your rules, but I won't promise to run when things gets tough. I'm sorry, but I love you to much to watch you fall."
His eyes closed at her words, pain flickering across his expression before darkening into determination.
He lifted his hand, gently gripping her chin—his touch gentle but firm.
"Aria… you're stubborn as hell, you know that?"
"So are you... This Anima Cantat won't be this affective if we didn't mirror each other."
He huffed out a quiet laugh—more of a scoff than anything else.
"Guess we're two of a kind, then."
His gaze drifted down over her face, taking in every feature he knew so well—tracing the slope of her nose, her cheek, her lips…
Just as Derek's lips were about to touch hers, the earth became eerily quiet. No breeze rustling through the leaves. No bird song in the tree tops. It gives of the feeling that the atmosphere is holding its breath.
Derek's eyes darkened—the change in mood not lost on him. He inhaled deeply, letting the air out in sharp puff.
"He's close."
His voice was low, eyes scanning their surroundings.
Derek's eyes glows golden, as he flash a glance into Scott's direction.
Scott instantly straightened, jaw tightening as he met Derek's glowing stare. The unspoken command passed between them like lightning—
He's here. Get ready.
Scott gave a single, sharp nod—then turned to Stiles, who was already pulling his bat from the car trunk with a grim look on his face.
Aria stood frozen for only a second—heart pounding in her chest—as the silence stretched for far too long, much too heavy for comfort. It wasn't just quiet anymore.
It was waiting.
And then—
A single crow called from the tree line.
Then another.
And another—until the woods echoed with their cawing, like an omen descending.
From beyond the trees… shadows began to move.
Not natural ones—the kind cast by men or beasts under moonlight—but figures that slithered from darkness itself… malformed, flickering at the edges as if stitched together by something older than life.