The Wisteria Accond

Chapter Fourteen

The forest is a blur of dark greens and browns as I run, my breath ragged in my chest. My feet pound against the forest floor, dodging roots and low branches, each step taking me further away from the shouts. My mind is spinning, heart still hammering from how close I was to Ashen and how everything almost changed between us.

What would've happened if we hadn't been interrupted? Would he have kissed me? Would I have let him?

I shake the thought from my mind, my breath hitching. I need to focus. But his eyes, that pale blue of fear, stay with me. Fear like that comes from something deep, something primal. He's a Nightborne; he shouldn't be afraid. And yet, he was. The idea of him being afraid for me stirs something unsettling inside me.

I push myself faster, darting through the underbrush, moving in a way that's become second nature. I've always been fast—light on my feet. And I need every ounce of that speed right now.

I slip through the gates unseen, my heart hammering in my throat. I weave through the narrow alleys and back pathways until I reach the barracks. My room is just beyond the corner—safety, for now. My mind keeps replaying the way his eyes shifted, the way he moved closer, and my own impulsive decision to lean in, eyes closed. It was foolish, reckless even, and yet... I couldn't help myself. What was I thinking?

I reach my door, my hand fumbling with the handle as I push it open and practically stumble inside. I close the door softly, pressing my back against the wood, my breath still heavy in my lungs.

"Where were you?"

I nearly jump out of my skin, my eyes snapping open to find Soren standing there, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes sharp and scrutinizing. For a second, I can't think of a single excuse. I'm too rattled from the run, too shaken by everything that nearly happened.

"Reading the scrolls," I blurt out, my voice a little too high, a little too fast.

Soren raises an eyebrow, and I can tell he doesn't believe me, not for a second. He tilts his head slightly, studying me with those piercing blue eyes of his that seem to see through every lie. For a moment, he's silent, the tension in the room stretching taut.

"You look out of breath for someone who was reading scrolls," he finally says, voice even but edged with suspicion. "You weren't doing anything... reckless, were you?"

I swallow, forcing myself to stay calm. "I went for a walk," I say, trying to sound nonchalant. "Cleared my head. Got caught up in my thoughts."

His eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn't push it. Instead, his lips curl into a wry, almost knowing smile. "Well, while you were 'clearing your head,' we managed to capture that Nightborne."

The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. I can't stop my eyes from widening, a rush of cold washing over me. "You... you captured him?"

Soren nods, his smile widening just a fraction as if he's enjoying my reaction. "You seem awfully concerned about that."

I scramble to recover, forcing a scoff. "Of course I'm concerned. He's dangerous, isn't he?"

Soren's smile fades, and he tilts his head again, studying me closely. "Maybe," he says slowly, "but it almost sounds like you care about him, Kiera."

I open my mouth to deny it, but the words die in my throat. I try to mask the panic rising inside me. "I care that he's dangerous and out there," I say, managing to keep my voice level. "What do you think I mean?"

He holds my gaze for a long moment, then sighs, the hint of amusement fading from his face. "There was another figure with him," he continues, his tone more serious. "But it vanished before we could reach them."