The next morning, I couldn't shake the events of the night before—or Van. His piercing golden eyes, his quiet strength, and the mysterious pull I felt toward him had left an impression I couldn't ignore.
I didn't know what he was, or why I felt like I could trust him, but one thing was clear: if I was going to survive this whole Guardian business, I needed his help.
So, I decided to introduce him to Claire.
Convincing Van wasn't easy. He seemed reluctant to meet anyone else, but after some prodding, he finally agreed. We arranged to meet at the library after it closed.
"Claire," I began, hesitating slightly.
"I want you to meet someone."
She glanced up, her brow furrowed, and her eyes immediately narrowed when she saw Van.
"Who's this?"
"Van," he said simply, his tone neutral but his golden eyes sharp as he studied her.
Claire set the book she was holding down and crossed her arms.
"And what, exactly, is Van?"
Van smirked faintly, leaning casually against the nearest bookshelf.
"I'm... complicated."
"That's not an answer," Claire shot back, her tone wary.
"Claire," I interjected quickly, sensing the tension between them.
"Van knows about the gateway. He's been protecting it for a long time, just like us."
"Us?" Claire repeated, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Look, I know this is a lot," I said, feeling caught in the middle.
"But Van is..sort of....my saviour. He fought off a Shade and kept me safe. I think we can trust him."
Claire's eyes darted back to Van, her expression skeptical.
"You're not human, are you?"
Van shrugged. "Not entirely."
"Great," Claire muttered, rubbing her temples.
"Just what we need—a mystery man with a vague backstory and questionable motives."
Van's smirk widened, and he looked at me.
Claire sighed, clearly not thrilled about the situation but reluctantly nodding.
"Fine. If Amber trusts you, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But I'll be watching you, Van."
"Fair enough," Van replied, his tone amused.
Before we could continue, the library door creaked open, and the sound of heavy boots echoed through the quiet space. We all turned to see a man step inside—a stranger with sharp, angular features, raven-black hair, and eyes so dark they seemed bottomless.
He was tall and lean, his presence commanding and strangely unsettling.
"Well, isn't this cozy," the man said, his voice smooth and dripping with mockery.
"The Guardian, her loyal friend, and a hybrid. How quaint."
"Who the hell are you?" Claire demanded, stepping protectively in front of me.
The man smirked, his gaze flicking over each of us before settling on me.
"Name's Kyle," he said.
"And let's just say... I'm someone who's very interested in the gateway."
Van immediately tensed, his golden eyes narrowing.
"You shouldn't be here, Kyle."
"Oh, relax," Kyle said, raising his hands in a mock surrender.
"I'm not here to fight. Not yet, anyway."
"Then what do you want?" I asked, my voice steadier than I expected.
Kyle's smirk softened into something more genuine as he looked at me.
"Honestly? I'm here because of you, Amber."
"Me?" I echoed, taken aback.
Kyle nodded, his dark eyes locking onto mine.
"Word travels fast in places like Springey. The new Guardian, fresh and untested, making waves already. I had to see for myself."
"And now you've seen," Van said coldly.
"You can leave."
Kyle ignored him, his focus entirely on me.
"You have no idea what you've stepped into, do you?"
I frowned, unsure whether to be intrigued or alarmed.
"Enlighten me, then."
Kyle chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Not yet. But I will, eventually."
"You're wasting our time," Van snapped, stepping closer to Kyle.
The tension between them was palpable, like two predators sizing each other up.
Kyle glanced at Van, his smirk returning.
"Relax, hybrid. I'm not your enemy. In fact, I might even be your ally."
Claire scoffed, "And why would we ever trust you?"
"Because you don't have a choice," Kyle said simply, his tone is devoid of humor now.
"Whatever's trying to break through that gateway is bigger than all of us. You'll need me before this is over."
Van's jaw tightened, and I could see the reluctance in his eyes. But something about Kyle's words struck a chord with me.
"Fine," I said, cutting through the tension.
"But if you're lying, or if you so much as breathe wrong, you'll regret it."
Kyle's smile returned, softer this time.
"Fair enough, Guardian."
As he turned to leave, he glanced over his shoulder and added,
"You're stronger than you think, Amber. Don't let them tell you otherwise."
When he was gone, the silence in the library was deafening.
"That was a mistake," Van muttered, his golden eyes still fixed on the door.
"Maybe," I admitted. "But he's right. We need all the help we can get."
Claire sighed heavily.
"I don't like him."
But as we prepared to leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that Kyle's arrival was no coincidence. And despite myself, I couldn't ignore the way his dark eyes lingered on me—or the strange flutter in my chest when they did.