The cabin was colder than usual that night. Even with the fire burning, Lira couldn't shake the chill from her body. She sat with her knees pulled to her chest, staring into the flames as they twisted and snapped.
Arlen moved around the room silently. He kept checking the windows, the door, the corners—as if expecting the shadows to seep through the cracks.
He wasn't talking, and that frightened her more than anything.
Finally, Lira broke the silence. "You're angry."
Arlen stopped in the middle of the room. "I'm not."
"You are," she insisted gently. "You haven't looked at me since we got back."
He exhaled slowly. "I'm not angry at you."
"Then at who?"
He hesitated, jaw tightening. "At myself. I shouldn't have let it get that close to you."
Lira shook her head. "You saved me."
"Barely."
His voice cracked on that single word.
She stood and walked toward him. "Arlen… I can handle danger. But I can't handle you shutting me out."
That finally made him look at her.
His eyes were filled with something heavy—fear, frustration, and something else she didn't dare name.
"You don't understand," he said. "Whatever is inside you, whatever woke up today—it reacted because it was threatened. But that means the shadows weren't wrong. You're connected to something, Lira. Something powerful. Something dangerous."
Lira swallowed. "Connected… how?"
Arlen hesitated again. Too long.
"Arlen," she whispered. "Tell me."
He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering himself. When he spoke, his voice was low.
"I think you were marked."
Lira froze. "Marked? By what?"
"The same ancient force the shadows serve."
Her stomach twisted. "No. That's impossible. Why would they mark me?"
"I don't know." Arlen stepped closer. "But the moment the shadow touched you, I felt it. Like something inside you stirred—responding to them."
Lira wrapped her arms around herself. "So you think I belong to them?"
"No." Arlen's answer was sharp, immediate. "But they believe you should."
She looked away, staring at the floorboards. The fire crackled behind her, but she felt no warmth.
"So what am I supposed to do?" she whispered. "Run forever? Hide? Pretend I'm normal?"
"Normal?" Arlen gave a humorless laugh. "Lira… normal people don't radiate light strong enough to burn shadows."
She flinched.
Seeing her expression, Arlen softened. "I'm not saying that to scare you. I just want you to understand what we're dealing with."
Lira stepped back, shaking her head. "You knew something was wrong. You knew before tonight, didn't you?"
Arlen didn't deny it.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice cracking.
"Because I didn't want to lose you," he admitted. "If I told you the truth too soon, I was afraid you'd push me away."
Lira stared at him, speechless. "Arlen… I would never—"
"You say that now." He ran a hand through his hair. "But once you realize what this power means, once you realize how dangerous it is—"
She cut him off. "I already know it's dangerous. That's why I want answers."
He hesitated again. But this time, Lira stepped forward and took his hand.
"Whatever I am," she said softly, "I want to know the truth. Even if it's dark. Even if it's something I don't want to hear. I can handle it."
Arlen looked at her, really looked at her, and something inside him seemed to break.
He squeezed her hand.
"Fine," he said. "Then I'll tell you everything."
Lira's breath held in her chest.
"But not tonight," Arlen added. "You need rest. Your power reacted for the first time—it could happen again. And next time, it might hurt you."
Lira shook her head. "I'm not going to sleep after everything that happened."
"You will," Arlen said, brushing a hand lightly along her cheek. "I'll be right here."
The gentleness in his voice made her chest ache.
She leaned into his touch—just slightly, just enough to steady herself. "Promise you won't leave?"
"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered.
Lira finally allowed herself to breathe.
Outside, the wind howled through the trees.
And far away, in the dark, something whispered her name again.
Waiting.
Hunting.
Awakening.