Valeria's POV
The silence that followed Talon's departure hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and oppressive. My heart was still racing, the echo of his twisted words reverberating in my mind. I always get what I want. I could hear them over and over, like a broken record. He was obsessed, and that obsession would not die, no matter how hard I tried to escape it.
Adrian stood beside me, his presence solid and grounding, but I could feel the tension in his body. His jaw was clenched, his fists tight at his sides, as if he were ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. I knew that look. He was preparing for the worst.
I reached out to him, my hand trembling slightly as I placed it on his arm. "He's gone," I whispered, though I wasn't sure if I believed it myself. "He'll leave us alone."
Adrian turned his head slowly, his eyes dark, full of determination and something darker—something almost predatory. "I won't let him hurt you, Valeria. No matter what."
His words, though comforting, only made the weight of the situation heavier. Talon wasn't just any threat. His obsession ran deeper than I could comprehend. But Adrian… Adrian was right. He wouldn't let him take me. Not now. Not ever.
The sharp click of the door echoed through the penthouse, and I snapped my head toward the sound. My body tensed instinctively. I had hoped for some time, some space, before anything else happened—but the universe was never that kind.
Adrian was already moving, his instincts quicker than mine, as he strode to the door with a dangerous, purposeful gait. I could feel the tension radiating from him, a mix of anger and protectiveness. He wasn't about to let anyone—or anything—come near me.
When the door swung open, it wasn't Talon who stood there, but a figure I knew all too well.
Elias.
His dark eyes scanned the room, catching mine, and for a moment, everything seemed to stop. The weight of the battle we'd just faced, the emotional rollercoaster of Talon's appearance, and now this…
Elias stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his gaze never leaving mine. His presence was calm, calculated. His smile was that same one—half-joking, half-serious—that always made my blood run cold.
"I thought I'd come check in," he said, his voice smooth like silk. "But it seems you've already got your hands full."
I turned to Adrian, who was still poised, his body ready for anything. He didn't trust Elias, and for good reason. There had always been something off about him—his loyalty was never entirely clear, and his motives, shrouded in mystery.
"Elias," I said, my voice tight, betraying no fear but a clear warning. "What are you doing here?"
Elias's smile deepened, and for a second, I saw something flicker behind his eyes—something darker, more dangerous. "I heard about Talon. And I thought you could use a little backup."
Adrian stepped forward, his stance protective. "We don't need your help," he growled, his eyes never leaving Elias's face. "Not now. Not ever."
Elias's lips curled upward, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. "How cute. The knight in shining armor. But I think we both know you're not enough to protect her from everything, Adrian. Not everything."
I felt the tension in the air, thick and suffocating. But my gaze remained sharp, focused. I wasn't intimidated by Elias or anyone else. I had faced worse, and I would face whatever came next, just as I always had. No one controls me.
Adrian's voice was low, each word sharp and deliberate. "You should leave."
But Elias wasn't one to take orders, especially not from Adrian. "Not until I've said my piece," he replied, his tone insistent. "You're in over your heads, both of you. You think Talon is the only threat you need to worry about?" His eyes flickered toward the window, as though the city itself was holding secrets in its shadows. "There's a bigger game at play here, Valeria. And it's only just begun."
I stepped toward him, my gaze narrowing with cold clarity. "What are you talking about? Talon is obsessed with me. I know that. But you—why are you really here, Elias?"
For a moment, Elias's expression faltered, his cool demeanor slipping for just a fraction of a second. It was enough to make me realize that there was more to his visit than he was letting on. More than just Talon's obsession. More than just the game he was claiming was at play.
His eyes flicked to Adrian, then back to me. His voice was soft, almost too soft, as he spoke the next words, the ones that made everything else feel insignificant. "Because you're in danger, Valeria. And the only way to protect you is to face what's coming. To trust the right people. And that might not be who you think it is."
I didn't have to look at Adrian to feel the heat of his glare. His protective instincts were flaring up, but he was also trying to understand. Trying to process what Elias was saying—and who, exactly, he was referring to.
Elias took a step closer to me, his presence overwhelming, yet strangely comforting. He reached out, his hand brushing mine with a soft, careful touch, his eyes intense. "I know you've been through hell, Valeria. But you can't keep fighting this alone."
I didn't move. "I'm not alone," I said firmly, my voice never wavering. "I have Adrian."
Adrian moved to stand beside me, his body acting as a shield. He would do anything to protect me. "She doesn't need you," Adrian said, his words cutting through the tension. "Get out, Elias. Now."
Elias sighed, his gaze flicking to the door, but he didn't move to leave. His eyes lingered on mine, dark with unspoken knowledge. "I'm trying to help you, Valeria. But I can't do that if you keep pushing me away. I came here for you. For both of you." His smile was thin and sad. "You'll need allies. And I'm one of the only ones you can trust right now."
I didn't flinch. The words felt wrong, but they also felt like a threat I had dealt with countless times before. I wasn't intimidated by Elias. No one holds power over me.
But then he spoke again, his voice turning low, filled with a seriousness that didn't make me flinch, but it made me listen. "Valeria, you've become a target."
Adrian's stance shifted as Elias's words cut through the air. I could feel the way the room seemed to contract, the tension almost suffocating. Elias continued, his voice grave, "After what happened with Nyx… You left his domain. That's impossible for someone like you. A siren, bound by the laws of the supernatural world. But you—your powers—they're Celestial. You can't belong to just one realm. You've opened a door, and now every supernatural being is aware of you. You're a threat to the natural order. They won't stop coming for you."
I tilted my head slightly, my gaze sharp, calculating. So, that's what this was about. I had sealed my Celestial powers a century ago, buried them deep within me, thinking they were a curse. But after the battle with Nyx, my light had blazed bright—too bright. The supernatural world had felt the shockwave, and they knew what I truly was.
Adrian's grip on me tightened, his concern evident, but I could see the realization settle in. He knew this was bigger than either of us.
"So, what now?" I asked, my voice cold and unwavering. "Who can I trust? If every supernatural creature is coming for me… what do I do?"
Elias's eyes softened for the briefest of moments, but the tension in his voice remained. "The supernatural world is coming for you, Valeria. Vampires, fae, witches, demons, gods—they all know now. Some will want to control you, others will want you dead. You've opened a door that should have remained closed. The only way to survive is to face this head-on."
I wasn't scared. I didn't show fear. I never did. But I knew one thing: I wasn't going to run. Not from Talon, not from the supernatural world, and certainly not from the consequences of my own power.
"Then let them come," I said, my voice cutting through the air like a blade. "I'll take on whatever comes for me. No one takes what's mine."
The room went still. Adrian's eyes met mine, and I could feel the weight of his trust, his devotion, and his need to protect me. But there was no fear. There was only the inevitable.
They will learn what it means to challenge me.