Something In The Way-SYLUS X MC X ZAYNE

Chapter 23 "Under My Skin"

I woke slowly, wrapped in warmth, feeling Sylus's arm draped over me like a protective shield. Morning light spilled through the curtains, casting soft, golden rays across his relaxed face. I shifted carefully, not wanting to wake him, but his arm tightened around me, making me pause. Even in sleep, his hold felt so reassuring, like he'd protect me from anything.

Eventually, I managed to slide out of bed, wrapping a silk robe around myself as I wandered into the suite's living room. The city stretched out below, alive and humming with the morning bustle. As I took in the view, my eyes fell on my bag, where my phone peeked out. I hadn't checked it in days, and my heart dropped as I saw the missed calls and messages, Zayne. I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I read the most recent message: We need to talk. It's urgent.

Glancing over my shoulder to make sure Sylus was still asleep, I stepped out onto the balcony. The cool morning air washed over me as I dialed back, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach as the line rang.

He answered almost immediately, his voice soft but tense. "Hey."

I could feel the weight of the silence between us, stretched thin by everything that had happened. The last time we'd seen each other, I'd walked away with Sylus. Now, guilt pressed heavily on my chest, knowing I'd left him behind, unspoken words lingering in the air.

"Hi," I said quietly, unsure how to even start this conversation.

"I've been worried about you," he admitted, his voice carrying an edge of concern. "You haven't been at work... You haven't been back in the city."

I swallowed, memories flooding in. Everything that had happened, from late nights with Sylus to the danger and the kidnapping. How could I possibly explain all of it? There was a strange mix of emotions in his voice, both worry and something else, something harder, that I couldn't quite place.

Then he asked, "Are you... with him?"

The words hit me hard, and I hesitated, feeling the weight of my answer settle over me. After a long pause, I nodded, then remembered he couldn't see me. "Yes."

There was silence on the other end. I could feel his disappointment, almost as though he were standing right beside me. When he spoke again, his voice was low, pained. "It won't end well."

A pang of frustration and sadness shot through me, and I gripped the phone tighter. "How do you know that?"

"Because it will," he said quietly, as if it were a simple, unchangeable truth. "And... you know it too."

I shook my head, staring out at the city, my voice barely above a whisper. "You're wrong about him. He's... he's not what you think."

A bitter chuckle came through the line. "Just like you were wrong about me?"

I closed my eyes, feeling the sharp sting of his words. He was right, in some ways. But things between us had changed, shifted. I'd followed a path that had led me here, even if part of me still cared for him. I knew this was the point of no return.

After a long, silent moment, I ended the call, staring at my phone as tears pricked my eyes. I took a deep breath, letting the cool air clear my mind.

I turned slowly from the city skyline, clutching my phone in one hand, and nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Sylus standing behind me, watching me in that quiet, intense way of his.

"Jesus," I breathed, clutching my chest. "You scared me."

He tilted his head, eyes narrowing in that strange, curious way he sometimes had. "I'm not Jesus."

I let out a sigh, shaking my head. "Never mind." Sometimes, I couldn't tell if he was joking or genuinely lost on certain things.

Sylus stepped closer, his gaze dropping to my phone before coming back up to meet mine. "Who was on the other line?"