Shadow Bound Fate

Shadows vs Shadows

Lira's POV

It had been a week since the attack on the outpost village, yet the weight of it still lingered in the back of my mind. The four of us had returned to Ravenreach a few days ago, and while I felt ready to move on, Caius had insisted I rest. He claimed I needed it, even though I kept telling him I was fine.

Vespera had sided with him. Apparently, I had used too much of my magic, more than I was accustomed to, and that was why I had passed out after the battle. Thalia had reassured me that it would get easier to wield that kind of power the more I practiced. I couldn't help but feel the burden of it, the weight of knowing I had only scratched the surface of my abilities.

Today, I found myself sitting on a worn wooden bench near the edge of the forest, away from the hustle of Ravenreach. The sunlight poured down through the leaves, warming my skin and bringing a gentle peace that I hadn't realized I'd missed. I closed my eyes, letting the golden rays soak in, the tension in my shoulders slowly unraveling.

"I enjoy the sunlight too," Vespera's voice murmured in my head, his presence coiled comfortably beside me.

I smiled softly, feeling the familiar tug of our connection. "I can barely see you in it," I teased.

"I still like it," he responded, his tone relaxed.

I chuckled lightly, settling back further on the bench. The world felt still, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to forget about magic, battles, and everything else. The quiet between us was soothing, the sunlight a balm for my restless thoughts.

But that peace was fleeting.

After a few minutes, I felt a subtle ripple, a shift in the air. My magic stirred beneath my skin, a familiar surge of awareness prickling at my senses.

"Someone's watching you," Vespera warned, his tone suddenly alert.

I opened my eyes, scanning the trees around me. I wasn't far from the village, just beyond the main square where the trees grew denser. It was quieter here, more secluded, and I often found solace in the isolation. Caius had reassured me that I was still within the village's wards, so there was no danger—or so I thought.

I looked around, seeing nothing at first, until the faintest wisp of shadow caught my attention. It curled around the base of a nearby tree, vanishing just as quickly as it had appeared.

A knowing smirk tugged at my lips, and I leaned back on the bench, closing my eyes again as if unfazed. "It's getting harder for you to sneak up on me," I said, my voice carrying a light teasing edge.

Footsteps approached, deliberate and unhurried, and I could feel the presence drawing nearer. The air shifted subtly, that familiar energy wrapping around me like a dark cloak.

"You know," I continued, not bothering to open my eyes just yet, "pretty sure you don't have to keep stalking me anymore. That was when we were back in my village."

I opened my eyes then, and there he was—Caius, standing in front of me, his silhouette framed by the afternoon light filtering through the trees. Heat flushed through me at the sight of him, his presence commanding as always. His muscled arms were crossed over his chest, dark eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. The way he looked at me, from my face down to my body and back up, sent a thrill through me that I wasn't prepared for.

"Take a picture," I quipped, leaning my head back to bask in the sunlight again, "it'll last longer."

"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Vespera's voice purred in my mind, amusement dripping from his words.