### **Chapter 5: Threads Begin to Fray**
The silence in Dylan's room was unnerving, broken only by the faint hum of the heater kicking on. Valen and Kieran had barely spoken since they escorted him back from the strange encounter on the street. Dylan sat curled up on the edge of his bed, his knees pulled to his chest as he tried to process everything that had happened.
The words from the metallic-eyed man replayed in his head on a loop: *You can't run from what you are.*
"What did he mean?" Dylan finally asked, his voice breaking through the heavy quiet.
Kieran, sitting lazily in Dylan's desk chair, glanced at Valen. "You want to take this one, or should I?"
Valen stood by the window, his golden eyes scanning the street below like he expected trouble at any moment. "Not yet."
"Not yet?" Dylan repeated, his frustration bubbling over. "You keep saying I'm in danger. You keep showing up when weird things happen. Now some stranger is telling me I don't belong here, and you're still not going to explain? What am I supposed to do with that?"
Kieran's lips twitched into a faint smile. "You're feisty when you're mad. I like it."
"Stop flirting with him," Valen snapped, his gaze never leaving the window.
Kieran shrugged, unbothered. "Just trying to lighten the mood. It's not like he's wrong, though."
"About what?" Dylan pressed, his fists clenching the bedspread. "You two are impossible."
Valen sighed, finally turning to face him. "It's not that we don't want to tell you, Dylan. It's that we can't—not yet. There are things you're better off not knowing right now."
"Not knowing?" Dylan echoed incredulously. "How am I supposed to protect myself if I don't even know what's going on?"
"That's what we're here for," Kieran said, leaning back in the chair and crossing his arms behind his head. "You don't need to worry your pretty little head about the scary stuff. Leave that to the professionals."
"Professionals?" Dylan shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You mean the guy who's acting like a brooding vampire at my window and the other one who can't stop making bad jokes?"
Kieran grinned. "He's catching on fast."
"Enough," Valen said sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument. He turned back to Dylan, his expression softer but no less serious. "We're here because you're important. More important than you realize. And there are people—beings—who would use that against you."
"Why me?" Dylan asked, his voice quiet now. "I'm nobody."
"You're not nobody," Valen said firmly.
Kieran's grin faded, replaced by an uncharacteristically somber look. "Far from it."
Dylan opened his mouth to press for more, but a sudden knock at the front door cut him off. The sound echoed through the small apartment like a gunshot.
Valen and Kieran exchanged a glance, their bodies tensing instantly.
"Stay here," Valen ordered, his tone brooking no argument.
"Like hell I'm staying here!" Dylan shot back, scrambling to his feet.
"You don't have a choice," Kieran said, already moving toward the door with Valen close behind him. "Lock the door and don't open it unless we say it's safe."
Dylan hesitated, his heart pounding. "What if—"
"Just do it," Valen said, his golden eyes flashing with urgency.
They were gone before Dylan could argue further, leaving him alone in the dimly lit room.
---
### **Outside**
Kieran reached the front door first, his usual carefree expression replaced by a deadly calm. Valen flanked him, every muscle in his body taut with tension.
"Who do you think it is?" Kieran murmured, his hand hovering near the doorknob.
"Does it matter?" Valen replied quietly. "If they're here for him, we deal with it."
Kieran nodded, then yanked the door open in one swift motion.
To their surprise, it wasn't another otherworldly threat waiting for them—it was a girl.
"Claire?" Valen said, his voice losing some of its edge.
Dylan's best friend stood on the doorstep, arms crossed and an unimpressed look on her face. "Took you long enough. What were you doing in there, solving world hunger?"
Kieran leaned against the doorframe, visibly relaxing. "And here I thought you were one of the scary ones."
Claire narrowed her eyes at him. "Who the hell are you, and why are you in Dylan's apartment?"
"Long story," Kieran said with a wink.
Claire ignored him, pushing past both men without hesitation. "Dylan!" she called, heading straight for his room.
"Wait—" Valen started, but she was already at Dylan's door.
---
### **Back in Dylan's Room**
Dylan jumped as Claire burst in, her face a mix of worry and annoyance.
"Why didn't you tell me you were being stalked by weird dudes?" she demanded, her hands on her hips.
"What are you talking about?" Dylan asked, genuinely confused.
Claire gestured vaguely toward the living room, where Kieran was leaning against the wall, watching her with amusement. "Them! Who are they? And don't tell me they're your 'friends'—I've never seen them before."
Dylan hesitated, glancing toward the door as Valen appeared, his expression unreadable.
"They're... helping me," Dylan said finally.
Claire snorted. "Helping you do what? Win the lottery? They look like they're about to star in a crime drama."
Kieran grinned. "She's not wrong."
"Claire," Valen said, his tone firm but not unkind. "This is more complicated than it looks. Dylan is in danger, and we're here to keep him safe."
"From what?" Claire demanded, not backing down.
Valen hesitated, clearly weighing how much to tell her.
"Don't worry," Kieran cut in, his tone light but his eyes serious. "We've got it under control. Just keep an eye on him, and let us handle the rest."
Claire crossed her arms, glaring at both of them. "I'm not going anywhere. If Dylan's in trouble, I'm staying."
Dylan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Guys, can we not do this right now? I've had a long night."
"Fine," Claire said, dropping into a chair. "But you're telling me everything tomorrow."
"Sure," Dylan muttered, knowing full well that he wouldn't.
---