-Soren-
It's late enough that the halls of Whisperwind are nearly silent, torches casting soft flickers against the stone, the wards humming softly in the quiet. I roll my shoulders back, letting the shadows drape over me like a second skin, steadying the tightness in my chest. It's been there all day, ever since I saw them at breakfast—the way she leans into Finn's side, the way he looks at her like she's his whole world. It shouldn't matter. But it does.
I pause outside her dorm room, lifting a hand to knock, hesitating. The shadows flicker, reflecting my uncertainty back at me. She needs this. She needs control. I knock. No answer. I knock again, softer, before the door clicks, cracking open as Zeus noses it wider, tail thumping. The warmth of the room hits me first—vanilla and chamomile and that wild scent that always clings to her. Kaia's bed is empty, her boots tossed haphazardly near the wardrobe.
And there, curled up on the bed under the soft glow of a single lamp, are Alexia and Finn. Finn leans back against the headboard, one arm around her shoulders, his fingers lazily drawing circles on her arm. She's curled into his side, face tucked into his chest, eyes closed, a small, contented smile on her lips. It's innocent. Soft. And it sends a crack of something sharp through me.
Finn's eyes snap open first, meeting mine, and she shifts, guilt flashing across his face. "Oh, hey man."
Alexia's eyes flutter open, confusion flickering before widening as she realizes where she is, pulling back slightly, her cheeks flushed. "Soren. Sorry, what time is it?"
"Late," I say, keeping my voice neutral and calm. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
She pushes herself upright, rubbing her eyes, the blanket pooling around her waist. "No, it's fine. What's up?"
I clear my throat, shifting the shadows back so they don't bleed into the warm light of the room. "I came to see if you want to practice tonight. Your magic."
Her eyes brighten, though uncertainty flashes across her face as she glances back at Finn.
"I can come another night," I add, but it's a lie. She needs this now, before the chaos inside her eats her alive.
"No," she says quickly, meeting my eyes. "I want to. Just—give me a second?"
Finn's lips press into a line, and he looks at her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You sure you're not too tired?"
She gives him a small, fond smile, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to his cheek. "I'm sure."
She slides off the bed, grabs her boots, and pulls them on quickly. Zeus hops down, tail wagging, ready to follow her anywhere.
Finn stands, rubbing the back of his neck, eyes flicking to me before dropping to the floor. "Take care of her, okay?"
I nod once. "Always."
Alexia grabs her jacket and turns to Finn, hesitating before reaching out, squeezing his hand. "I'll be back."
His smile is small but real. "I know."
She turns to me, drawing in a breath. "Ready."
We step into the hallway, the door shutting softly behind us, and the air shifts instantly—fabulous, quiet, filled with the scent of grass and distant rain. We walk through the sleeping halls of Whisperwind, boots soft against the stone, the only sound the occasional flicker of torchlight and Zeus's nails clicking on the floor.
"You didn't have to come get me," she says quietly as we step outside, the cold air nipping at our cheeks.
"I wanted to," I reply, letting the shadows gather around us, keeping the wind from biting too harshly. "You need this."
She looks at me, eyes soft and tired, a hint of fear tucked behind them. "I do."
We reach the practice field, the grass damp with dew, the moon bright above us, stars scattered like salt across the dark.
I stop, turning to face her. "Close your eyes."
She hesitates, then obeys, lashes lowering as she draws in a slow breath—the vines under the ground shiver, the air warming around her, chaos stirring under her skin.
"Breathe," I murmur, stepping closer, letting the shadows ease the noise of the world. "Don't reach for it. Let it come to you."
Her brow furrows, and the vines twitch again, chaos flickering, a violet glow under her skin.
"Alexia." I step closer, taking her hands in mine, grounding her, letting the shadows slip around us, quiet and protective. "Ask. Don't demand."
She takes a deep breath, and slowly, the chaos inside her calms, the vines stilling, the air humming softly around us—the bond between us hums, warm, alive.
Her eyes flutter open, bright and awed. "I felt it."
I don't get to answer. A low growl rumbles from the edge of the field. Zeus stiffens, fur bristling, as Asher steps out of the shadows, arms crossed, eyes cold, jaw tight, the wolf in him simmering just under the surface.
"What the hell is this?" Asher demands, his voice a low snarl.
Alexia jerks back, pulling her hands from mine, the warmth vanishing as she stumbles a step away, guilt flashing across her face.
"Asher, we were just—"
"Training?" His eyes cut to me, dark, furious. "This is what you call training?"
I straighten, letting the shadows slide around me, protective, calm. "She needs to learn control."
His eyes narrow, flicking back to her, and for a moment, something pained passes through them before the coldness slams back into place.
"Next time," he growls, "tell someone before you drag her off alone at night."
Alexia wraps her arms around herself, staring at the ground, the vines under the earth shifting uneasily.
"I should go," she whispers, hugging herself, eyes on the ground as the vines shift again.
"I'll walk you back," I say.
She looks up, startled, as if she's forgotten I'm still here. For a moment, I see her considering saying no, to walk it off alone, to hide away in her thoughts where no one can reach her. But then she just nods, wordless, and turns toward the path to the dorms, Zeus falling into step at her heel.
We walk in silence through the moonlit grounds of Whisperwind, the only sounds the soft crunch of dew-wet grass under our boots and the rustling of leaves in the cold breeze. The shadows drift along the path beside us, mirroring the tension that winds tight between us. Asher's anger still clings to the air, thick and heavy, the bond I share with Alexia humming softly, restless, like it doesn't know if it's allowed to reach for her right now.
She hugs her jacket tighter around herself, eyes fixed on the ground ahead, her hair hiding most of her face. I let my shadows brush away the wind, keeping the cold from biting at her, but I don't let them touch her. Not right now. I want to say something. She does well tonight. That she's stronger than she thinks, that Asher's anger isn't her fault.
But the words get stuck in my throat, and I don't know if she'd believe them anyway. When we reach her door, she pauses, turning to look up at me, her eyes tired, the moonlight catching on the green, making them glow.
"Thank you," she says softly, her voice almost lost to the night.
I nod, shadows curling around me like a promise I can't speak aloud. "Anytime."
For a moment, it feels like she might reach out, like she wants to say something else, but she doesn't. She just gives me a small, strained smile before slipping inside, the door closing softly behind her. I stand there for a moment, staring at the wood, the cold seeping in around me, the shadows shifting restlessly at my feet. Then I turn, letting the darkness swallow me as I head back into the night, the tension for everything unsaid burning in my chest like a promise.