-Soren-
I shouldn't have let her walk away.
Even now, her words echo in my head-the hurt, the doubt. The way she looked at me when she asked, "Maybe I'm the one who's broken."
No. She's not.
But I saw it - that spark of belief when that man whispered she was meant for more. She didn't say his name, but I knew. And when I said it out loud, the way she looked at me…like I'd just torn something sacred between us.
And I didn't explain.
Now I have to.
I push open the music room door, shadows curling at my heels, tension clenching in my chest.
Inside, the pressure is already thick.
Asher paces by the window, fists tight. Jasper sits on the piano bench, flipping his coin with nervous fingers. Finn leans against the wall, his eyes sharp, shoulders tight.
They look up the second I enter.
"She saw him again."
All three go still.
"Saw who?" Finn asks, voice clipped.
"The blue-eyed man. In the garden. Today."
Asher stops pacing. Jasper stiffens. Finn's jaw tightens, the air around him warming subtly with rising magic.
"What did he say?" Finn asks, more controlled now.
"That she's meant for more. That we're pulling away. That she doesn't belong." I pause, shadows gathering at my back. "And the worst part? She's starting to believe it- which I don't blame her."
I look between them, sharp. " Asher, you have been a dick to her since she arrived. Jasper, you were the first to befriend her, and now you barely look her in the eye. Finn and I are the only ones who've stayed."
Asher's jaw clenches. "You think I like what's happening? You think I want this?"
"You act like she's a threat," I say, sharp. "Like you're waiting for her to explode."
"She already has," Jasper mutters, voice rough. "You weren't there when the training dummy went up in flames. Her chaos flared - out of nowhere."
"And in the courtyard?" Asher adds. "She lost control."
Finn's head snaps up. "Because someone attacked Zeus. That wasn't chaos lashing out-it was her protecting him."
"She still could've hurt people-"
"Wouldn't you do the same if someone attacked your bonded familiar?" Finn fires back.
Jasper's expression flickers, shame brushing his features.
"She didn't start that," Finn continues, stepping forward. "But she did finish it. You weren't there in the aftermath, you took Alexia somewhere safe. Everyone just started, whispered, and backed away."
"I stayed," I said quietly. "But even I…didn't tell her or you everything. I know who the blue-eyed man is. And she caught that."
Asher stiffens. "Who is he?"
"His name is Gideon," I say. "He's a chaos warlock. And he's also her father."
The shadows at my feet curl and rise, flickering like smoke.
Finn stiffens. "You're serious."
"I knew him before Whisperwind. Before she was even born. He was banished for a reason. Dangerous, manipulative, powerful beyond measure. And now he's whispering in her head."
"We go to the Council," Asher says, standing straighter.
"No," Finn snaps. "We don't."
"If she's being manipulated-"
"She knows," I cut in. "She told me. She's scared and confused. But she's not out of control."
Jasper swallows. "She's still unstable."
"All the more reason to go to the Council. If she loses it in the middle of the school-" Asher starts.
"She won't!" Finn yells, fire licking under his voice. "Not if we stop treating her like she's broken."
"She's unraveling, Finn!"
"Then we help her hold on," he growls, storming toward the door. "Because I swear to the gods, if either of you even thinks about betraying her-"
The door slams behind him before he can finish.
Silence stretches in the room, heavy as lead.
Jasper's shoulders lump. "This is spiraling fast."
I look down at the curling shadows around my feet. "We're running out of time."
Jasper exhales shakily. "I don't want to turn her in. I just want to help her, keep her safe. But I don't know how anymore."
"So do I." Asher's voice is low but certain. "The only option is to go to the Council-to have them bind her powers. She can stay here with us, but she'll be protected. And she won't be able to hurt anyone."
"No." I shake my head, though my heart aches at the truth in his words. "She just needs to learn control."
Asher just paces, silent and frustrated. Jasper stares at his tightly folded hands. I look out the window, the weight of the unknown settling over me like a storm yet to break.