Ellias, however, avoided her entirely. The kiss lingered in his mind like an unwelcome guest, and the sting of her slap seemed to echo every time he caught sight of her in the distance. He tried to focus on his studies, but his thoughts betrayed him. Why did she go to such lengths? Why couldn’t she leave him alone? And, most troubling of all, why couldn’t he stop thinking about her?
The twins, Dominique and Carlysle, were far from amused. They cornered Ellias in the library two days after the incident, their expressions stormy.
“You’ve got some nerve,” Dominique said, his voice cold and measured.
Ellias glanced up from his book, his gray eyes narrowing. “If you’re here to lecture me, save your breath. I don’t answer to either of you.”
“Oh, but you do,” Carlysle snapped, his tone biting. “You’re the one who’s dragged our best friend into your mess. She’s done nothing but care for you, and what do you do? Push her away like she’s nothing.”
“I didn’t ask for her attention,” Ellias replied, his tone sharp as steel.
Dominique’s jaw tightened, his heterochromatic eyes burning with anger. “You didn’t have to. She saw something in you, and she’s fighting for it. But you? You’re too much of a coward to face her. Instead, you hide and sulk.”
Ellias’s hands clenched into fists, but he kept his voice calm. “You don’t understand. My life isn’t something she can fix with bold declarations and reckless actions.”
“And yet, here she is, trying,” Carlysle shot back. “And what have you done to deserve it? Nothing. You’re nothing but an intruder in her life, Ellias. She deserves someone who values her, not someone who keeps running away.”
Ellias stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. “You think I don’t know that?” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. “You think I don’t know I’m not good enough for her? But this isn’t about what I want. It’s about what’s best for her.”
“What’s best for her,” Dominique said evenly, “is for you to stop treating her like she’s a burden. If you truly believe you’re not worthy, then prove yourself. Otherwise, leave her alone.”
Ellias glared at them both, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving the twins standing in tense silence.
“Do you think he’ll come around?” Carlysle asked, his voice quieter now.
Dominique sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. But if he hurts her again, he’ll answer to us.”
Later that day, Ellias found himself at the arena, his steps deliberate and fueled by frustration. He didn’t want to be here, but Alara had left him no choice. If she refused to back down, he would make her understand.
Inside, the twins were sparring, their movements sharp and precise. Alara stood at the sidelines, watching with a faint smile. When she spotted him, her smile faltered, replaced by cautious curiosity.
“Ellias,” she said, stepping toward him. “What are you doing here?”
“We need to talk,” he said firmly, his gray eyes colder than usual.
The twins immediately stopped their sparring, moving closer. Dominique’s gaze was sharp, and Carlysle’s smirk disappeared.
Alara held up a hand to stop them. “It’s fine. I’ll handle this.”
The twins hesitated but eventually stepped back, their protective stances unyielding.
Ellias gestured toward an empty corner of the arena. “Somewhere private.”
Alara nodded and followed him, the sound of their boots echoing in the cavernous space. Once they were far enough away, Ellias turned to face her, his jaw tight.
“Stop,” he said, his voice low but cutting.
Alara blinked. “Stop what?”
“Stop chasing me. Stop interfering in my life. I didn’t ask for your help, and I certainly didn’t ask for your feelings,” he snapped, his words laced with frustration.
Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms. “So, that’s it? You want me to just walk away?”
“Yes,” he said sharply. “Walk away and leave me alone. You don’t understand what you’re doing—what kind of trouble you’re inviting into your life by being near me.”
Alara took a step closer, her voice rising. “You think I don’t know trouble? You think I’m scared of you, or what comes with you? I’ve fought battles you can’t imagine, Ellias. You’re not some insurmountable force I can’t face.”
“This isn’t a fight, Alara,” he said, his voice breaking slightly. “This is me trying to protect you—from me.”
She scoffed. “Protect me? By pushing me away? By treating me like I’m some fragile thing that can’t make my own decisions? I don’t need your protection, Ellias. I need you to stop running.”
Ellias’s frustration boiled over. “You’re impossible! Why can’t you just let me go?”
“Because I see you,” she shot back, her voice fierce. “I see the man who’s too afraid to let anyone in, who hides behind walls so high he can’t even see the people who care about him. I see you, Ellias, and I’m not walking away.”
For a moment, silence hung between them. Ellias’s chest heaved with the weight of his emotions, his carefully constructed defenses cracking under the intensity of her words.
“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Alara stepped even closer, her emerald-green eyes blazing. “I know exactly what I’m asking for. I’m asking you to let me in. I’m asking you to stop pretending you’re better off alone.”
Ellias looked at her, his gray eyes filled with a mixture of anger, fear, and something else—something he couldn’t name. He wanted to argue, to push her away again, but the conviction in her gaze made him falter.
“I don’t deserve you,” he said finally, his voice cracking.
“That’s not your decision to make,” Alara replied, her voice softening but losing none of its strength. “I’m here, Ellias. And I’m not leaving.”
Defeated, Ellias dropped his gaze, his shoulders slumping. He didn’t know how to fight her—not when she stood before him, unyielding and resolute.
From a distance, Dominique and Carlysle watched the exchange. Carlysle muttered under his breath, “He’s losing, isn’t he?”
Dominique sighed. “He never stood a chance.”
As Alara reached out, her hand gently brushing Ellias’s arm, the fight in him ebbed away completely. For the first time, he let himself feel the weight of her presence, the undeniable pull she had on him. And though his fears remained, he couldn’t deny the truth any longer.
Ellias pulled his hood low as he slipped into the dimly lit bar just outside the Academy’s watchful gaze. The air inside was thick with smoke and laughter, a stark contrast to the pristine halls he frequented. He maneuvered through the crowded room, finding a shadowed corner where Lady Sylviane waited, her piercing blue eyes glinting in the dim light.
“Ellias,” she greeted, her voice smooth and confident. “You’re punctual, as always.” She gestured for him to sit, her lips curving into a sly smile.
“I don’t have time to waste,” he replied curtly, taking a seat across from her. “What’s the update?”
Sylviane leaned forward, her fingers toying with the edge of her cloak. “The documents you retrieved were invaluable. The guards’ schedules, the patrol routes—it’s all coming together. The network is in place, and the first wave of disruptions is set to begin within the month.”
Ellias nodded, his expression unreadable. “Good. And the palace?”
“The palace is trickier,” Sylviane admitted. “But I’ve secured an inside connection. By the time you’re ready to strike, the emperor will be at his most vulnerable.”
Her confidence was unshakable, and Ellias felt a flicker of satisfaction. He had chosen his allies wisely, though he knew better than to fully trust anyone, even Sylviane. She was brilliant, cunning, and utterly ruthless—exactly what he needed to pull off a coup of this scale.
Their conversation paused as the sound of a lute filled the room. A soft, melodic voice followed, silencing the crowd. Ellias’s attention was drawn to the stage, where a figure under the spotlight began to sing. His breath caught as he recognized the golden blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, catching the light like spun gold.
It was Alara.
She moved gracefully, her voice rich and captivating, drawing the attention of everyone in the bar. For a moment, Ellias forgot himself, his hood slipping slightly as he watched her in stunned silence. What was she doing here?
Sylviane’s sharp eyes didn’t miss his reaction. She turned her head, following his gaze, and her lips curled into a knowing smile. “She’s beautiful and talented, isn’t she?” she remarked. “I heard she’s the new hire here. I often come by to hear her sing.”
Ellias stiffened, pulling his hood tighter. “She’s… unexpected,” he said carefully, his voice betraying none of the turmoil within.
“Unexpected, indeed,” Sylviane murmured, her tone amused. “She doesn’t seem like the type to frequent a place like this, let alone perform in one. But then, appearances can be deceiving.”
Ellias forced his gaze away from Alara, focusing back on Sylviane. “Let’s stay on task,” he said coldly. “We can’t afford distractions.”
“Of course,” Sylviane replied, though her smirk suggested she wasn’t entirely convinced. “But I’d say this distraction has quite the hold on you.”
Ignoring her jibe, Ellias shifted the conversation back to their plans. They spent the next hour discussing logistics, contingency plans, and the timing of their next moves. Yet, even as Sylviane laid out the details, Ellias couldn’t shake the image of Alara on the stage, her voice and presence filling the room.
When the meeting concluded, Sylviane rose gracefully, adjusting her cloak. “Don’t lose focus, Ellias,” she said, her tone light but edged with warning. “The stakes are too high for personal entanglements.”
“I don’t need reminders,” Ellias snapped, his composure slipping for a moment.
Sylviane chuckled softly, her blue eyes gleaming. “Good. Then I’ll see you soon.” She disappeared into the crowd, leaving Ellias alone in the corner.
He lingered for a moment, his gaze drifting back to the stage where Alara was now helping tidy up. She hadn’t seen him, hadn’t known he was there, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that her presence was more than coincidence. She was a puzzle, one he hadn’t accounted for, and the realization unnerved him.
As he slipped out of the bar and into the cool night air, Ellias’s mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. Alara was a distraction—a dangerous one—but for the first time, he found himself questioning whether she might also be something more.
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