Shadow Bound Fate

Secrets In The Open

**Lira's POV**

The tension in the room lingered like the embers of an argument not fully extinguished. After Thalia and Kieran left, a heavy silence settled over the space, broken only by the soft crackle of the dying fire in the hearth. My emotions were a storm—exhaustion, anger, and frustration swirling together—and Caius was at the center of it. The secrets he had kept, the truths he had withheld, burned hotter than the flames I could conjure.

I slipped off my heels, their presence suddenly unbearable, and began ascending the stairs. My steps were quiet, but my anger was loud in my chest, pounding with every beat of my heart. Just as I reached the first step, his voice cut through the silence.

"Lira, wait."

I froze, my back to him. His tone wasn't commanding or sharp, but there was something in it—a vulnerability that gave me pause. Slowly, I turned to face him, raising a brow in irritation. "Caius, I'm really not in the mood for this shit," I said, shaking my head and clutching my heels tighter.

He stood a few steps away, his hand running through his dark hair, tousling it in a way that might have been endearing if I weren't so furious. He looked down at the floor, his jaw tight as though grappling with words he didn't want to say. The sight made my frustration spike. "If you're going to waste my time - " I scoffed, turning back toward the stairs.

"Shadow," he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. Before I could take another step, his hand gently wrapped around my arm, stopping me in my tracks. I turned again, meeting his gaze.

His dark eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to fade. The usual intensity in his expression was replaced by something raw, unguarded, and achingly vulnerable. My heart betrayed me, quickening against my will.

"I want to explain something," he said, his voice low but steady.

I hesitated, the weight of his stare holding me in place. The fire inside me, the anger and hurt, flickered uncertainly under the earnestness in his gaze. Finally, I sighed, letting my shoulders relax slightly. "Okay," I said, my voice resigned.

He released my arm, stepping back to give me space, and gestured toward the couch. I followed and settled into the seat opposite him. The room felt colder now, the embers in the hearth doing little to warm it. With a flick of my wrist, I summoned a flame into my palm, tossing it into the fireplace. The fire roared to life, bathing the room in a golden glow that danced across Caius' face as he sat down.

I placed my heels on the floor, crossing my arms as I waited. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his fingers threading together as he stared at the flames. For a long moment, he said nothing, the silence stretching thin between us.

My patience wore thin. "Caius," I prompted, my tone sharper than I intended.

He sighed, a sound heavy with exhaustion and something deeper—regret, maybe. "I know you're angry," he began, his voice quiet. His hands clenched and unclenched as if trying to ground himself. "You have every right to be. I kept things from you, and I don't expect you to forgive me for that." He lifted his eyes to mine, the firelight reflecting in their depths. "But I need you to understand why."

I stayed silent, letting him speak, though my arms remained crossed, my guard still up.

"I didn't want to burden you with my past or my choices," he admitted. "I thought keeping you in the dark would protect you, keep you focused on the mission, on your power." He leaned back, running a hand down his face. "But I was wrong. Keeping you in the dark only pushed you away, and that's the last thing I want."