Lussaria; Her Final Blade

chapter 10

Rosa paced the length of the room, her mind racing. She couldn’t sit still, not after everything that had just happened.  the weight of his presence, his words, and his touch had unsettled her in ways she hadn’t anticipated. The locked door loomed behind her, a constant reminder of her confinement, but it wasn’t the four walls that suffocated her—it was the unknown.

Now she was confused, she couldn't place her finger on what was going on, Nolan was like family to her when she was still just a kid, but now, she was sent to kill that every family

The sharp click of the lock turned her thoughts to the door. It creaked open, and Nolan stepped through, his expression unreadable as he held a tray in his hands. The warm scent of roasted vegetables and something savory drifted through the room, making her stomach growl despite the turmoil she felt.

“I’m not hungry,” Rosa snapped, folding her arms over her chest as she glared at him.

Nolan ignored her and set the tray on a low table near the fireplace. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across his face as he turned to face her. “You need to eat,” he said, his voice calm but commanding.

“No” she shot back, taking a step toward him. “You can’t just lock me up and expect me to sit down for a cozy meal like nothing’s wrong.”

Nolan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as if weary of the argument already. “Sit down, Rosa. We need to talk.”

She hesitated, weighing her options. There weren’t many, and defiance would only get her so far. With a reluctant huff, she sank onto the edge of the couch, her eyes narrowing as Nolan poured two glasses of water and sat across from her. He didn’t make a move to eat, just watched her, waiting.

“Fine,” she muttered, grabbing a fork and stabbing a piece of roasted chicken. “Talk.”

Nolan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze steady. “Your uncle—he’s been keeping things from you.”

"No shit" Rosa replied, her eyes firmly on his as her lips wrapped the fork snatching the piece of meat Into her mouth

Nolan’s jaw tightened, and he looked away for a moment before returning his gaze to hers. “There’s more going on than you realize. He threw you into the middle of a conflict that’s been brewing for years. A war, Rosa.”

She froze, her breath caught in her throat, her grip on the fork tightening. “A war? What kind of war?”

Nolan sighed again, this time with a hint of frustration. “It’s not as simple as you think. There are factions—people with power, influence. Your uncle’s been playing both sides, trying to jam two heads together, trying to stay on top, and now he's dragged you in, they know who you are, and they’re coming for you.”

Rosa’s pulse quickened. “Why me? I don’t have anything to do with any of this.”

He leaned forward, his eyes dark and serious. “It’s not about what you’ve done. It’s about who you are. You’re more important than you realize.”

Rosa shook her head, disbelief and anger rising in her chest. “So what? My uncle throws me to the wolves, and now I’m supposed to just sit here and let you play hero?”

Nolan’s expression hardened, but there was a flicker of something—concern?—in his eyes. “I’m not trying to be a hero. I’m trying to keep you alive.”

She scoffed, setting the plate down on the table. “I can take care of myself.”

“Clearly,” Nolan said, his voice laced with sarcasm as his gaze drifted to her wrists, still red from the zip ties. “But this is bigger than you. Bigger than anything you’ve ever known.”

Rosa’s frustration boiled over. She shot to her feet, pacing again. “You keep saying that, but you’re not telling me anything useful! What is this war? What do they want from me?”

Nolan stood as well, crossing the space between them in a single stride. His hand caught her wrist—not to restrain her, but to stop her pacing. His touch was firm but gentle, grounding her in the moment. “You need to trust me, Rosa. I’ll explain everything, but you have to stay calm. If you run now, if you try to fight this on your own, you’ll be dead before you can even understand what’s at stake.”

Rosa met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to resist, to push him away, but something in his eyes—something raw and unguarded—held her in place.

“And if I stay?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nolan’s grip tightened slightly, his thumb brushing over the pulse at her wrist. “If you stay, I’ll keep you safe. And I’ll make sure you know the truth.”

For a moment, they stood there, the fire crackling softly behind them, the tension between them palpable. Rosa’s mind raced, trying to process everything he had said. Her uncle, the war, the danger she was in—it was too much. But beneath the chaos, there was one undeniable truth: Nolan was the only person who seemed to know what was really going on.

And right now, he was her best shot at surviving.

“Fine,” she said, her voice stronger this time. “But no more games. You tell me everything. Starting now.”

Nolan’s lips twitched into a faint smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Deal.”

He released her wrist, his hand lingering for just a moment longer than necessary, and then stepped back. Rosa’s pulse still raced, but this time, it wasn’t entirely from fear.

And maybe it wasn't from fear at all