Shadow Bound Fate

Family Shadows

***Caius' POV***

Ayla worked her magic—literally—to mend Lira's wounds. The damage to her side had been extensive, but Ayla had seen worse. At least, that's what she told me.

"Can you stop hovering?" she muttered, glancing up at me as she secured a fresh bandage over Lira's side.

I ignored her, my gaze fixed on Lira's face. She was too pale, too still. The slow, rhythmic rise and fall of her chest was the only thing keeping me grounded.

Ayla sighed, exasperated. "Why don't you go check on Kieran and Thalia?"

I didn't respond. I just stood there, unmoving.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm done here. Just have to wrap her side. Go on."

I hesitated, but then exhaled sharply and turned out of the room. I needed to move. Needed to do something other than just watch.

The moment I pushed open the door to the other room, I was bombarded with questions.

"How's Lira?"

They spoke in unison, voices laced with concern.

"She's stable for now," I said, my voice rough. "Ayla's finishing up. She'll be alright."

Thalia and Kieran exchanged a glance, tension still lining their expressions.

"How are you two holding up?" I asked, crossing my arms.

Kieran ran a hand over the back of his neck. "Bit of a headache, but I'll live."

Thalia gave a nonchalant shrug. "I'm fine. Just can't figure out how that bastard got around both of us." She frowned, turning to Kieran.

I paced the length of the room, my thoughts spiraling, replaying every second of the fight.

"Morven had something to do with it," I muttered. "He got inside your heads somehow. Messed with your focus, made you hesitate just long enough to give him an opening."

Thalia nodded slowly. "That would make sense. Something felt off. Almost like—" She paused, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Like I knew what I needed to do, but my body wouldn't move in time. Like a fog in my mind."

I clenched my jaw. Morven's magic had reached farther than I'd thought.

Thalia exhaled sharply. "We need to find that little shit Lira calls a brother."

A cold, violent anger coiled in my gut at the reminder. Ronan.

Shadows skittered across the floor in response to my rising fury.

Lira was hurt because of him.

And her father, Soren—the man who should have protected her—ran like a coward.

My fingers curled into fists. Both of them needed a visit.

I turned to Kieran. "Find Lira's father."

He nodded once before leaving the room.

I glanced at Thalia, my expression dark. "We'll find Ronan."

***

We found Ronan holed up in a dimly lit bar on the outskirts of town, nursing a half-empty tankard with a nonchalance that only deepened my irritation. He looked nothing like Lira—where she carried fire in her eyes, he was dull embers, smoldering but weak. The two of them couldn't have been more different.

I dropped onto the stool beside him, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make him uncomfortable. "You're a very easy person to find," I finally said, my voice edged with contempt.