-Alexia-
The sunlight fell in soft shards through the branches lining the courtyard paths, and for the first time in what felt like ages, I let myself breathe. Really breathe. My fingers brushed over Zeus's fur as he walked beside me, his massive frame practically vibrating with contentment. He padded silently, ears flicking at the distant wind, his presence a grounding weight against the chaos that had haunted me for so long.
Finn was ahead of us, arms stretched wide, practically daring the sunlight to compete with the fire he carried in his grin. Soren walked beside him, less exuberant but undeniably relaxed, his shadow flicking playfully across the stones, teasing the light in ways only he could manage. And Jasper… Jasper had fallen into step beside me, his hand brushing mine just enough to anchor me in a quiet, steady warmth, not demanding, just present.
We didn't talk about magic, the Council, or bonds. We didn't plan wards or argue about strategy. We just walked. Just existed in a slice of normalcy I hadn't dared hope for in months. The sound of our laughter echoed softly through the courtyards, mingling with the rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds daring to reclaim the spaces that had been tense for too long.
"I can't remember the last time we did this," I said, voice low, marveling at how ordinary it felt to not be strategizing or defending. "Just… walking around campus without anyone trying to declare war on us."
Finn threw his head back and laughed, a bright, booming sound that ricocheted off the stone walls. "Yeah! I mean, I'd say it's about time we had a break from everything—me included." He shot me a mischievous grin. "Even if my definition of 'break' still involves things catching fire occasionally."
Soren rolled his eyes, but his corners twitched. "Some of us prefer peace without spontaneous combustion," he said, though the twitch made it clear he wasn't truly scolding.
Jasper's gaze softened as he looked at us, at me. "I don't know that we've ever had this," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "This… unbroken moment." His fingers brushed against mine again, light, unspoken reassurance. "And I don't intend to let it slip away quietly."
I smiled, feeling warmth spread through me, a happiness so simple and clear it almost felt fragile. Zeus nudged my hand with his muzzle, rumbling a satisfied approval, and I scratched behind his ears. The quiet, the company, the gentle teasing—it felt like the world had finally aligned, if only for a heartbeat.
We wandered through the sunlit paths, past the old stone walls and flowering gardens, letting the familiar architecture and history of the campus wrap around us. I pointed out small details—carved initials I hadn't noticed before, the way ivy twisted in unexpected patterns across the walls. Finn and Soren bickered playfully over which courtyard fountain could withstand a fire demonstration. Jasper leaned against the railing, watching all of it with that soft, quiet smile that always made my chest feel a little lighter.
For a moment, it seemed like we could just… stay here. Forever. Like the world outside couldn't reach us, and the shadows that had been waiting at every corner had finally taken a step back.
But happiness, I remembered, had a way of bending time.
The first sound was subtle, almost drowned out by the birds: the dull, metallic scrape of stone shifting, followed by a low, reverberating hum that didn't belong. I stiffened immediately, feeling the change ripple through the courtyard like a warning pulse. Zeus's ears twitched, his muscles tensing beneath my hand. The three boys froze with me, all three sensing it, though I could see the moment their relaxed stances hardened.
Then came the shout.
A distant gate—the northern one, the one flanked by the oldest towers—shook violently. A blast of magic, sharp and jagged, splintered through the air. Dust fell from the battlements, and the ivy on the walls shuddered like it had been pulled by invisible hands.
"Gate!" Finn growled, already sprinting, flames igniting at his fingertips. "Someone's coming—uninvited."
Soren moved with him, shadow coiling and stretching across the stone path as he matched Finn's pace, voice low. "We go, we hold, we don't panic."
Jasper's hand tightened around mine. "Stay close," he said. And then, just as gently, "But I'm not letting anything happen to you. Not ever again."
I nodded, heart hammering, but for the first time it wasn't fear—it was readiness. It was certainty. I could feel the magic in my veins thrumming, tethered now to my mates, to Zeus, to the stones themselves. We were strong, we were ready. And yet… there was a quiet, impossible truth whispering at the edge of our perfect morning: nothing lasts forever.
Even happiness.
Zeus barked—a low, rolling warning—and we moved as one toward the gate. The sun slanted across the courtyard, glinting off his massive, golden eyes. I clenched my fists, letting the silver coil of my magic pulse in time with the steps of the three who had become more than friends, more than allies. They were my anchors, my shields, my strength.
But the gate trembled again, louder this time. A shadow passed over the stone walls, long and menacing. And though I smiled at my mates, at the rare, fleeting joy of this moment, I knew: the world outside was still waiting. Shadows didn't disappear just because we laughed. Storms didn't pause because we had found warmth.
And the next one was coming.