Shadow Bound Fate

Another Day With Shadows

Lira's POV

The next morning, I found Caius in the training area, but something felt off. He wasn't waiting for me downstairs like he usually did. Instead, he stood there, his broad frame rigid, arms crossed over his chest. His usual armor covered him from neck to boots, the dark fabric glinting in the morning light. The tension around him was palpable, like a storm ready to break.

As I approached, I noticed the way his dark hair was a mess, the kind of mess that came from running fingers through it too many times in frustration. His expression was distant, almost bored, as if he were waiting out of obligation rather than anything else.

"Hey," I greeted him, attempting a small smile to break the ice.

"Start with your warm ups," he ordered, his tone clipped, not bothering with any pleasantries.

I raised an eyebrow at him, taken aback by the coldness in his voice. Something was wrong. I unstrapped the knife from my side, tossing it aside. "Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, Lord Caius?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

His eyes darkened, the usual glimmer in them absent. "Just do as you're told."

I rolled my eyes but complied, stretching and trying to shake off the irritation growing inside me. The training session was tense from the start, Caius snapping commands at me, pushing me harder than usual. Every move I made, he countered with precision, each hit from him more forceful than necessary.

I could feel my patience wearing thin as my punches were dodged effortlessly. I barely avoided his retaliation, his fist whizzing past my cheek. The intensity between us spiked, my own anger flaring in response to his mood. I lashed out, a kick aimed at his chest. This time, I caught him off guard, forcing him to stumble back a few steps.

He recovered quickly, but I saw the brief flash of surprise in his eyes. Good. Let him know I wasn't just his punching bag today.

As I pressed forward, throwing a flurry of punches, his magic began to stir. Black shadows slithered across the floor, weaving and twisting as if responding to his rising emotions. Vespera stirred within me as well, and gray smoke seeped out, swirling with the dark shadows like two halves of a greater whole. They mirrored the push and pull between Caius and I, the tension in the air almost tangible.

Suddenly, Caius lunged, faster than I could react. He swept my legs out from under me with a brutal precision, and before I knew it, I hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from my lungs. In the blink of an eye, Caius was straddling my waist, pinning me down. His face hovered dangerously close to mine, both of us breathing heavily from the exertion, and the heat of his body pressed against me sent a shiver down my spine.

My pulse raced, but not from fear. There was something electric about the way he looked at me, the intensity of his gaze boring into mine. The proximity was maddening, my body reacting in ways I didn't expect. His hips were locked against mine, and despite the pain of the fall, I couldn't help but feel the flush creeping up my cheeks, my thoughts scattering in all directions.

For a moment, neither of us moved. His face, so close to mine, was a study in contradiction—his eyes hard, yet something vulnerable flickered there, buried deep beneath his usual tough exterior.

"Are you okay?" I finally asked, my voice softer than I intended.

Caius' expression faltered, his brows lifting slightly, and the harshness in his gaze melted away. He looked down at me for a long moment, as though struggling to find the right words.

"What's wrong, Caius?" I pressed, searching his face for any sign of what was really bothering him.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he shifted, sitting back on his knees, creating a small distance between us. I propped myself up on my elbows, watching him, waiting for him to say something—anything. But when he stood and turned to leave, I felt a sharp spike of anger.