Adrian's POV
Valeria hadn't slept. I could see the exhaustion in her eyes, the shadows that crept under them, but there was something else there too—fear. I could tell she was trying to hide it, but every tense movement gave her away.
She was different since last night, and whatever had unleashed her powers… it had drawn him right back to her. Talon.
I gritted my teeth at the thought of him. She'd called him an "old acquaintance," but I knew better. I could see it in the way she spoke about him, the pain laced with something deeper. And I hated him for it. He had some kind of claim on her, one that made him think he could just show up, threaten us, and take her away as if I didn't even matter.
"Adrian?" Her voice cut through my thoughts, drawing my gaze to her as she set a cup of coffee on the table in front of me. I wanted to keep my anger hidden, but I knew she could see right through me.
"You didn't tell me he was… this," I said, my voice rough with jealousy I couldn't hide.
Her expression softened, but there was a flicker of guilt there too. "I didn't think it would matter anymore."
"Of course it matters, Valeria. He's not just anyone. He thinks he has some kind of claim over you." I swallowed hard, feeling my throat tighten. "And you… you were close to him."
The pain in her eyes deepened. "It was a long time ago. Talon was… he was different then."
"Different?" The word left a bitter taste in my mouth. "Valeria, he's a monster. And he's obsessed with you."
She sighed, her gaze dropping. "That's exactly why I need to meet him alone, Adrian. He won't stop until he thinks he's won. And if you're there…"
"No." I cut her off, the finality in my voice surprising even myself. "I'm not letting you do this alone. I don't care who he is. If he thinks he's going to take you away, he'll have to go through me."
She gave me a soft look, but I saw the hesitation in her eyes. "This isn't a normal fight, Adrian. Talon… he's not bound by the same rules as us. He's dangerous."
"I don't care. I'm not backing down."
Her gaze lingered on me, and for a moment, something flickered in her expression—pride, maybe even admiration. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by the cold, hard determination that had carried her through the night.
"Fine," she whispered, her tone steely. "But you stay close to me. And if things go wrong, you leave."
I nodded, though we both knew I wasn't going anywhere.
---
The pier was empty, shrouded in fog that seemed to curl around us, thick and oppressive. I could feel Talon's presence before I saw him, a sickly pull in the pit of my stomach.
Valeria walked ahead, her steps sure, but I could sense the tension radiating from her, the way her fingers clenched and unclenched as we neared the edge of the dock.
And then he was there, emerging from the shadows like he belonged to them, a dark figure with a wicked smile that made my blood run cold. He looked at me with barely concealed disdain, as though I were a mere insect daring to stand in his way.
"So this is the mortal you chose," he sneered, his gaze flickering between us. "I expected more from you, Valeria."
I clenched my fists, a surge of anger rising within me. "She doesn't belong to you," I shot back. "And I'm not going to let you take her."
He laughed, a low, mocking sound that sent chills down my spine. "You think you can protect her from me?" He took a step forward, and I forced myself to hold my ground, even as every instinct screamed at me to back away. "You're nothing more than a fleeting distraction to her. She'll tire of you soon enough."
"Enough, Talon," Valeria interrupted, her voice hard and unyielding. "I came here like you asked. Now leave him out of this."
Talon's gaze slid to her, softening in a way that made my stomach twist. "You don't need him, Valeria. You never did. I was the one who understood you, who stood by your side when no one else would."
"Understand?" I couldn't stop myself from interjecting, the jealousy burning through me. "If you understood her, you wouldn't treat her like something you own."
Talon's smile turned cold. "And what would you know about her? Do you even know who she really is? What she's capable of?" He turned his gaze back to her, his expression possessive. "Valeria, he's nothing compared to us. A fragile human trying to play hero."
I felt something shift, a strange warmth wrapping around me, a gentle light that seemed to radiate from Valeria. It enveloped me, a soft, pulsing glow that shielded me from the oppressive darkness pressing in around us. I glanced down, my eyes widening as I realized that I could actually see it—a shimmering aura encasing me.
"What… what is this?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Valeria didn't look at me, her focus solely on Talon. "Protection," she murmured, almost too softly to hear. "Something he can't break."
Talon's eyes darkened, his lips curling in disgust. "You dare to use your power to protect him? For a mortal?"
"He's more to me than you ever were, Talon," she replied, her voice unwavering. "And he doesn't need to be anything but human to make that true."
The rage in Talon's eyes was unmistakable, a darkness that seemed to seep into the very air around us. He took another step toward me, his expression twisted with fury.
"Do you really think that light will protect him, Valeria? You forget who I am."
Before either of us could react, he lunged at me, his hand reaching out with supernatural speed. But the moment his fingers met the barrier of light around me, he recoiled, a snarl of frustration tearing from his throat as the light flared, repelling him.
Valeria took a step forward, her gaze steely, unyielding. "Leave him alone, Talon. You have no claim over me."
"No claim?" Talon's voice was thick with anger and hurt. "I was everything to you. You were mine, Valeria. I won't allow some mortal to steal what belongs to me."
"You're wrong," she said, her voice calm but fierce. "You were never everything to me. And I was never yours."
The words seemed to wound him, his expression darkening. I could see the madness in his eyes, the twisted obsession that had consumed him, and I realized that he wasn't just dangerous—he was completely unhinged.
"Fine," he sneered, his gaze flicking between us. "If you're so set on this human, then I'll show you exactly what happens when you defy me."
He raised his hand, dark energy swirling around him, but before he could strike, Valeria moved, stepping between us and unleashing a burst of light so intense that I had to shield my eyes. The warmth of her power surged around me, protective and fierce, and I felt an overwhelming sense of safety, as though nothing could touch me as long as she was there.
When the light faded, Talon was gone, his presence erased as if he had never been there at all. But the threat lingered, a dark promise in the air.
I looked at Valeria, still stunned by the power she had displayed, the light that still flickered faintly around me. "You… you protected me."
She met my gaze, her expression unreadable. "I had to. Talon… he won't stop until he gets what he wants. And as long as you're with me, you'll always be in danger."
I stepped closer, ignoring the lingering warmth of her light around me, ignoring everything but the fierce determination in her eyes. "I don't care. Whatever it takes, I'll fight him if I have to."
A hint of sadness crossed her face, but she nodded.
And in that moment, I knew—I'd give anything to keep her safe, even if it meant standing against a darkness that defied everything I understood.