-Alexia-
The tension is getting harder to ignore.
It's in the way Finn's smile feels tight when he kisses my forehead, the way Soren's shadows hover near him when he thinks I'm not looking, the way Jasper's eyes flick away when I catch him watching me.
And Asher…
Asher barely looks at me at all.
When he does, it's sharp, like he's trying to see something he can't, like he's waiting for something to break.
The bond I have with Finn glows warm under my skin, a steady hum that usually comforts me, but even that feels strained, like a string pulled too tight.
The others—I don't have marks with them, but I feel them, threads tugging softly in my chest, alive but edged with static, like the air before a storm.
Kaia corners me outside Magical Theory, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
"Lex, we need to talk."
I blink, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "What's up?"
She glances around before pulling me into an empty classroom, shutting the door firmly. Zeus slips in before it closes, circling and settling at my feet, watchful.
Kaia's hands go to her hips, jaw set. "Something's going on. And I am starting to worry about you and the dynamics here at Whisperwind."
"I know," I say softly. "I thank you for worrying, but I—"
"No, I don't think you do." She starts pacing, running a hand through her hair. "They're acting weird. Finn's snapping at people. Jasper's avoiding you. Soren's quiet in that scary way. And Asher—"
"Kaia." I hug myself. "I know."
She stops, turning, her expression softening. "Then what are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know," I whisper. "I've talked to the three who will actually talk to me, and they all said I have nothing to worry about."
Kaia steps closer, gripping my arm. "Lex, they're planning something. I don't know what it is, but it's about you. I can feel it."
The vines in the floor shift restlessly under us.
"They wouldn't—" My voice cracks.
"I want to say they wouldn't, but they're the royals," she whispers.
Zeus whines, pressing against my leg, grounding me.
That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, moonlight painting pale lines across the floor. The bond with Finn is warm but heavy, like even it is holding its breath. The threads I feel with the others hum quietly, cautious, distant.
Kaia's words echo in the dark.
They're planning something. It's about you.
Zeus lifts his head, resting it on my knee, eyes glowing softly.
"I can't lose them," I whisper, tears stinging. "I won't."
Zeus huffs, pressing closer.
I sit up, wiping tears from my cheeks.
If they're planning something—
I need to know.
I find Jasper near the training field the next morning, flipping his coin, eyes distant.
"Jasper."
His head jerks up, the coin dropping into his palm. "Lex—hey."
"Don't 'hey' me." My voice is too calm. "What's going on?"
His eyes flick away. "Nothing you need to worry about."
I step closer, the vines under the dirt shifting, the air tightening around us. "Don't lie to me."
He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Lex, you don't understand—"
"Then make me understand." My voice rises, sharp with fear and anger. "You've all been acting strange. I deserve to know."
The coin clinks softly in his hand, his jaw tight.
"Jasper."
The thread between us thrums, alive but tense.
"It's complicated," he says finally, voice rough.
"Try me."
He looks like he might. His mouth opens, then closes, his eyes shadowed, torn.
"I'm sorry," he whispers.
Something in me snaps.
The vines at my feet lash outward, the air crackling. Chaos flares under my skin, sharp, hot, impossible to contain. A training dummy across the field explodes, shards of wood and straw scattering, the blast echoing across the grounds. Jasper flinches, shadows whipping around him, his eyes wide as they snap to me.
I'm breathing hard, chaos pulsing around me, the vines quivering before sinking back into the soil. My hands shake as I clutch them to my chest, trying to pull it all back in.
"Lex—" Jasper breathes, voice unsteady.
"I didn't—" My voice cracks, tears burning in my eyes. "I didn't mean to."
He takes a step back, the coin clenched in his fist.
"Jasper, please—" I whisper.
But he turns, walking away quickly, leaving me alone in the torn-up grass, the smell of burnt straw in the air, fear and hurt ringing in my ears.
They think they can decide for me. They think they can protect me by hiding the truth. They're wrong.
If they're planning something— I know Finn and Soren wouldn't plan something to hurt me. But the other two? Absolutely.
I will find out what they're planning.
And I will fight for them.
For us.
Even if they don't believe I can.