I sat in Leora's office, the morning sun filtering through the tall, arched windows, casting long shadows across the ancient oak desk. Papers were scattered everywhere, a chaotic mess that perfectly matched the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind.
I tried to focus, to drown myself in the monotony of paperwork, but my hands were shaky, and my mind kept drifting back to the previous day to Ciara.
My fingers absently traced the edge of a parchment as I struggled to concentrate. The air was thick, heavy with the scent of old books and ink.
I could hear the faint rustling of leaves outside, a soft whispering that seemed to taunt me, reminding me of the tension simmering beneath my skin. Leora sat across from me, her eyes flicking over documents with sharp precision. She was calm, too calm, and it only made me more restless.
I tried to steady my breath, to focus on the task at hand, but I could feel my frustration building. The memory of Ciara's teasing smile, the way she had looked at me, the intensity in her eyes... it was too much. I shook my head, willing myself to stay on task.
Then, suddenly, an alarm blared through the office, a piercing sound that shattered the silence and sent a jolt of adrenaline racing through my veins.
Leora's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. "A rogue demon in the royal garden," she muttered, already rising from her chair, her movements swift and precise.
My heart skipped a beat. "What?" I asked, a surge of panic and curiosity coursing through me.
"Get ready," she commanded. "We need to prepare."
But I didn't wait. My feet were already moving, carrying me out of the office and into the corridor. I needed to see. I needed to know what was happening.
The urgency pulsed through my veins, a mix of fear and excitement propelling me forward. I pushed through the doors and raced down the hall, my breath coming in short bursts.
As I rounded the corner, I collided with someone—a solid, immovable force that sent me stumbling back.
Nathaniel. Of course.
He caught my arm, steadying me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Aeliana, where are you off to in such a hurry?"
I barely spared him a glance, trying to pull away. "There's a rogue demon in the garden. I need to—"
"Relax," he interrupted, his grip tightening just enough to hold me in place. "Ciara and Cassandra are already taking care of it."
The mention of Ciara made my heart skip, my chest tightening with something I couldn't quite name. I struggled against his hold, trying to free myself. "Let go, Nathaniel. I need to see for myself."
His smirk widened, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Why so eager, Aeliana? Are you worried about Ciara… or Cassandra?"
The insinuation in his voice made my skin prickle. I glared at him, refusing to take the bait. "I don't care," I shot back. "I just need to make sure everything's under control."
He chuckled, releasing me with a flourish of his hand. "Oh, I'm sure it's very… under control," he said, dragging out the words like they were some kind of joke I wasn't in on. "In fact, they were looking pretty cozy last I saw them."
I ignored him, pushing past with a determination that surprised even me. My mind was racing, filled with images of Ciara her fierce expression, her magic crackling in the air. I had to see her, had to know what was happening.
The garden was just ahead. I could hear the distant sounds of a scuffle, the clash of metal against metal, and the crackling of magic. My feet pounded against the cobblestone path, the cool air biting at my cheeks as I ran.
And then I saw them.
I skidded to a stop, my heart hammering in my chest. Ciara stood in the middle of the garden, her purple fire magic swirling around her like a living thing.
Her expression was focused, intense, every muscle in her body coiled and ready to strike. Beside her, Cassandra moved with a fluid grace, her movements swift and precise.
But it wasn't the fight that caught my breath it was what happened after. The demon, battered and weakened, finally collapsed, and in the next instant, Cassandra turned to Ciara, a slow smile spreading across her face. Without warning, she leaned in, and then… she kissed her.
My heart plummeted. It felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me, like everything I thought I knew had just shattered into a million pieces. I stood frozen, unable to look away, unable to process what I was seeing. My breath caught in my throat, a strangled sound escaping before I could stop it.
The world around me seemed to blur, everything fading into the background except for them. I felt a sting at the back of my eyes, tears welling up despite myself. Why did it hurt so much? Why did it feel like my chest was splitting open?
Ciara's eyes met mine. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Her expression shifted, a flicker of shock and something else something I couldn't quite read. But I couldn't stay. I couldn't face whatever this was.
Without another thought, I turned on my heel and ran, tears streaming down my cheeks. The wind whipped against my face, and my heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear anything else.
I didn't know where I was going; I just needed to get away, away from the sight of them, away from the confusion and the pain that gnawed at my insides.
I made it back to the courtyard, and that's when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned, half-expecting to see Ciara chasing after me, but instead, it was Nathaniel, his face softened into an expression of mock concern.
"Aeliana," he said softly, stepping closer, his voice suddenly so gentle it made my skin crawl. "Are you alright?"
"No," I choked out, my voice breaking, "I… I just need to be alone."
But he didn't let me go. Instead, he pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me in a way that felt all wrong. "I'm here for you," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "Whatever you need, I'm here."
The tears came harder then, my body shaking with a mixture of anger, sadness, and confusion. I didn't want his comfort; I didn't want his pity.
But at that moment, I didn't know what else to do. The world felt like it was crumbling around me, and all I could do was hold on, trying to keep myself from falling apart.