CHAPTER 9 — THEY WERE NEVER FAR
(Lira's POV)
There's a very specific kind of silence that happens after something tries to kill you. It's not peaceful. It's not calm. It's… wrong.
Like the world is holding its breath, waiting to see if you're actually going to survive what just happened. I didn't like that silence. Not even a little.
"…so," I said slowly, staring at the empty space where the creature had disappeared, "we're just going to ignore that?" Kael didn't answer.
Of course he didn't. He was standing completely still, his gaze fixed on the shadows like they might move again at any second. Which was not comforting.
At all. "Because I feel like we shouldn't ignore that," I continued. "That feels like something we should definitely talk about."
Still nothing. "Kael." Silence. "KAEL." "Yes." Finally. Progress.
"Are you going to explain what that was?" "No." … I blinked. "You're joking." "I'm not."
"That's not an answer!" "It's the only one you're getting right now." I stared at him. Hard. "You are incredibly frustrating." "I'm aware."
"Good. At least we agree on something." I crossed my arms, pacing again. Because apparently that was just my thing now.
"Okay," I said. "Let's review what just happened." He didn't stop me. Which was suspicious. Very suspicious.
"Something terrifying showed up," I continued, counting on my fingers, "tried to kill us, I almost died—again—then I somehow used my unstable, possibly destructive power, and now we're just… standing here like that's normal?"
"It is normal." I stopped pacing. Turned slowly. "No." "Yes." "No." "Yes."
I narrowed my eyes. "You're lucky you're useful." "That's not luck." "Don't ruin my insult."
I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. "Who sent that thing?" I asked. Kael didn't hesitate this time.
"Something that shouldn't have found you." My stomach dropped slightly. "That is not comforting." "It's not meant to be."
"Starting to notice a pattern." I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "You said they're hunting me." "Yes."
"That thing didn't look like it was here to talk." "No." "So what happens next?" A pause. Then—"They try again."
… "Oh, great," I said flatly. "Love that for me." The air still felt wrong. Heavy. Like something was watching.
Waiting. I didn't like it. I really didn't like it. "They can't reach you easily here," Kael added. "That's supposed to make me feel better?" "Yes."
"It doesn't." "It should." "Well it doesn't!" I turned away again, hugging my arms slightly. Not cold. Just… unsettled.
"Why me?" I asked quietly. The words came out softer than I intended. Less sarcastic. More real. Kael didn't answer immediately.
"Because you're a threat," he said finally. "To who?" "Everyone." … I let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Wow. That's comforting." "You're not meant to be comfortable." "I've noticed." Silence fell again. But this time—It pressed in. Heavier. Closer.
"Say something reassuring," I muttered. "No." "Try." "No." "Just once." "No." I sighed. "Worth a shot." I glanced at him again. "You said they fear me," I said. "But that thing didn't look afraid."
"It wasn't." "Then why send it?" "To test you." … I froze. "Test me?" "Yes." "For what?" "To see if you're worth the risk." My chest tightened.
"And am I?" I asked. He looked at me. Long. Careful. And that hesitation? That single second of silence? Yeah. I didn't like that. "…Kael." "Yes."
"That pause was not reassuring." "It wasn't meant to be." "Of course it wasn't." I turned away again, trying to ignore the way my heart was starting to race.
"Okay," I said. "New plan." He waited. "I get stronger." "Yes." "I learn control." "Yes." "I don't die." "Yes." I nodded. "Great. Solid plan."
A pause. Then—"You're still in danger." I stopped. "Wow," I said slowly. "You really know how to ruin a moment." Before he could respond—The bond snapped. Hard. Sharp. Painful.
I gasped, clutching my chest. "Okay—no—no, that's new—" Kael moved instantly. "What is it?" "I don't—" I sucked in a breath. "It hurts—" The connection between us twisted. Not like before.
Not steady. Not controlled. Wild. Chaotic. Wrong. Something was interfering. Something powerful. Something close. "They're pushing through," Kael said, his voice dropping dangerously. "Who?!" I snapped. No answer. Of course.
The pain spiked. Sharp enough to make my knees buckle. "Okay—definitely don't like this—" Kael caught my arm before I could fall. "Stay with me." "I'm trying!" "Focus." "I am focusing!"
"Not on the pain." "That's very hard to do when the pain is happening!" The shadows around us began to shift again. But this time—They weren't responding to him. They were reacting to me. To the bond. To whatever was trying to reach through it.
"I can't control it—" I gasped. "You have to." "That's not helpful!" "Do it." "I don't know how!" "Then learn." "NOW?!" I nearly shouted. "Yes." "Great timing!" The pressure built. Stronger. Stronger. Too strong.
Something was coming through. Not physically. But through the connection. Through me. And suddenly—I wasn't just standing there anymore. I was somewhere else. Darkness. Cold. Endless. And eyes. Watching. So many eyes. Not human. Not anything I could understand. "You shouldn't exist." The voice wasn't a voice. It was everywhere. Inside my head. Around me.
Through me. "I DIDN'T ASK TO EXIST!" I snapped back. Silence. Then—Interest. Sharp. Focused. Dangerous. "Interesting." Oh no. No, no, no. That was not a good tone. Something moved closer. I couldn't see it. But I could feel it. And whatever it was—It was powerful.
Far more powerful than anything I'd faced so far. "You belong to no side." "Yeah, I've heard that one already," I muttered. A pause. Then—"You will break." "I really don't plan to," I said. "Everything breaks." "Not me." Silence again. Then—"We will see." The pressure snapped. Hard. And just like that—
I was back. Gasping. Breathing hard. My vision spinning. Kael was in front of me, his grip tight on my arm. "You left," he said. "I noticed," I managed. "What did you see?" I hesitated. "…something that definitely doesn't like me."
"That narrows it down." "Very funny." I steadied myself, forcing my breathing to slow. "That wasn't normal," I said. "No." "That was one of them, wasn't it?" A pause. Then—"Yes." My chest tightened again. "And they can reach me through the bond?" "Yes." I swallowed. Hard. "That's… not ideal." "No." I looked up at him. "Tell me the truth," I said. "How bad is this?" Silence. Then
—"Worse than you think." … I let out a breath. "Of course it is." But this time—I didn't joke. Didn't deflect. Didn't pretend. Because for the first time—I understood something clearly. This wasn't just about survival anymore. This wasn't just about learning. This wasn't just about Kael.
This was bigger. Darker. More dangerous than anything I had imagined. And whatever was coming—It wasn't going to stop. "…okay," I said quietly. Kael watched me. Waiting. Careful. "What now?" I asked. A pause. Then—
We prepare." I nodded slowly. "Yeah," I said. "I figured." Because one thing was certain now. They weren't far. They were already here.