Adrian's POV
The early hours after Valeria left were still and unsettling. The penthouse, normally a sanctuary of modern sophistication, felt oddly hollow without her presence. The faint hum of the city below barely registered as I paced the living room, my mind replaying the events of the past few days.
She had gone to Siren Industries— Yet, I had the feeling that she was walking into more than a boardroom full of skeptical executives. Valeria might have been outwardly composed when she left, but I knew the truth. The Relic's power wasn't just sitting idle. It was waiting.
And so was I.
I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Every instinct screamed at me to follow her, to make sure she wasn't facing this alone. But Valeria wasn't like other people—wasn't like anyone I had ever met. She didn't need my protection. Hell, she probably didn't want it. But the idea of her standing in that boardroom, facing down human judgment with supernatural weight on her shoulders, made me feel powerless.
It wasn't just that I cared for her—it was more than that. She was magnetic and destructive, beautiful and terrifying. The kind of person you don't walk away from, even if it means losing yourself in the process.
I stopped pacing and leaned against the counter, my hand gripping the cool marble surface. I had to do something. Anything. Sitting here, waiting, wasn't an option.
And then the doorbell rang.
My chest tightened as I crossed the room. It wasn't paranoia that made me cautious—it was experience. Valeria's world wasn't safe. Neither was mine anymore, not since I'd met her.
I opened the door slowly, expecting... well, I wasn't sure what. A courier? A threat? Instead, I was greeted by a woman dressed in black, her expression neutral but her eyes sharp.
"Adrian," she said smoothly, her voice carrying a strange edge, like she knew far more about me than I wanted her to. "I'm here on behalf of Valeria."
My body tensed. "Who are you?"
She tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Someone who knows what's coming. And someone who knows you'll want to be there when it happens."
I stepped into the doorway, blocking her view of the penthouse. "Cut to the chase. What do you want?"
"It's not about what I want," she replied, her tone still maddeningly calm. "It's about what you're willing to do. Valeria's power is awakening, but she's not the only one tied to this storm. You've been drawn into it for a reason, Adrian. You're more than just an observer in this story."
I frowned, the weight of her words settling uncomfortably in my chest. "And what exactly does that mean?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper. "When the time comes, you'll need to make a choice. But first, you'll need to understand what's at stake."
I stared at the paper in her hand but didn't take it. "I don't have time for cryptic nonsense."
Her smile widened, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Then make time. Valeria's not just fighting a battle for herself. This is bigger than either of you."
Before I could respond, she turned and walked away, disappearing down the hall like a shadow slipping into the night.
I looked at the paper in my hand. Unfolding it, I found a single address scrawled in neat handwriting.
It wasn't far.
---
Half an hour later, I found myself standing in front of an unassuming building on the outskirts of the city. The address had led me here, but there was no sign, no indication of what waited inside. The door was plain, the kind of place you'd walk past a hundred times without noticing.
I hesitated before pushing it open.
The interior was dimly lit, the air thick with an energy I couldn't quite place. At the center of the room stood an older man, his back to me. He was tall and thin, his posture straight despite the weight of years etched into his features.
"You came," he said without turning around.
I didn't bother asking how he knew. "You sent her to me."
He turned then, his gaze piercing. "She's a messenger, nothing more. The choice you face is yours alone."
"What choice?" I demanded, frustration lacing my voice. "Why does everyone keep talking in riddles?"
The man stepped closer, his presence commanding despite his unassuming appearance. "Valeria's power is unlike anything this world has seen in centuries. The Relic isn't just a source of strength—it's a prison, a beacon, and a curse all in one. It has awakened something inside her, but it has also awakened the world around her. Forces are moving, Adrian. Forces that will destroy everything if left unchecked."
"And what does this have to do with me?" I asked, though I wasn't sure I wanted the answer.
"You are bound to her now," he said simply. "Not just by choice, but by design. The Relic doesn't choose its host by accident, and those drawn into its orbit are there for a reason. You have a role to play, whether you like it or not."
The weight of his words settled on me like a physical blow. "And what is that role?"
"To protect her, even when she doesn't want you to. To stand beside her when the darkness threatens to consume her. To remind her of what she's fighting for."
I shook my head. "She doesn't need me for that. Valeria's stronger than anyone I've ever known."
The man's expression softened, though it was tinged with sorrow. "Even the strongest can fall, Adrian. And when they do, it's the ones who care for them that hold them together."
---
The walk back to the penthouse felt heavier than before, the man's words echoing in my mind. Protect her. Stand beside her.
By the time I reached the door, the sky was darkening, the city lights flickering on like fireflies in the distance. I pushed the door open, half-expecting to find Valeria there, her presence filling the space as it always did.
But the penthouse was silent.
İ felt the full weight of what it meant to care for someone like Valeria. And I was standing in the eye of it.
Now, I just had to figure out how to keep from being swept away.