Shays POV
When he pulls away, there's a moment—just one—where I think he might say something else. His eyes meet mine, and for a second, I swear they soften. Like maybe there's more he wants to say. But instead, I'm met with that look. The one that always makes me feel like he's hiding something heavy behind a calm mask. Like his silence is made of storms.
"I'm sorry," he says softly. His voice is quieter now, like he's afraid of what the words might do. "I can't do this with you. Not yet anyway."
The words hit harder than I expect. I feel them settle somewhere beneath my ribs, sharp and aching. I swallow, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
I mean it. I didn't. But now I'm not even sure what I did wrong.
His expression shifts—regret, maybe. But there's something else there, too. Something deeper, something I can't quite name.
"Far from it," he murmurs. His eyes flicker, and for a brief second, I think he's about to reach for me again. But he doesn't. "I'm going to head back inside. If you need me... just shout. I'll always hear you."
And just like that, he's turning away, slipping into the shadows as if he was never there. Like he belongs to the darkness more than he ever belonged to me.
I stand still for a moment, alone in the cold. My breath fogs in the air, disappearing just as fast as it forms. I let out a quiet sigh and wrap my arms around myself, the chill creeping in under my skin. The night feels heavier now, like it's holding its breath.
Then—I hear it. A soft sound behind me. A throat clearing.
My heart leaps, and I spin around faster than I should, pulse pounding.
It's Eryx.
He's standing there like he's been part of the night all along. Calm, composed, hands folded behind his back, like none of this surprises him.
"Oh—hello, Mr. Damaris," I say quickly, trying to cover my shock.
He offers a smile that's all polished charm—too smooth, too practiced. "Please. Just call me Eryx."
I give him a polite smile, trying to find my footing again. "Shouldn't you be inside? Enjoying the party?"
He steps forward slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. "Well," he says, voice like velvet and ash, "the party is for you. And you are out here."
I glance back toward the building, then shrug. "I'm not the partying type," I admit, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "I prefer calmness."
Eryx nods like he already knew that. Like he knows more than he should. "We have an hour before Nicholas and Thomas arrive. Why don't we take a walk?"
I hesitate for a second, but then I nod. Maybe the fresh air will help clear my head.
We walk away from the lights and noise, the cool night wrapping around us like a secret. For a while, neither of us says anything. The silence isn't awkward. It feels... safe.
"So, Nicholas raised you?" Eryx asks eventually, his voice steady.
"Yeah," I say. "He's amazing. A real role model." I keep my voice even. "He's the reason I've survived all of this. Survived the chaos."
Eryx's eyes soften a little, but there's something behind them—something he's not saying. "People are wrong about him."
I glance at him and nod. "I agree. Most people don't understand him, but I do."
He pauses. His eyes sweep the night like he's reading something in the shadows. I can feel a shift, a subtle weight in the air that wasn't there before. It prickles against my skin.
Then he says it—quiet, careful, like the truth might bite. "I know you got your magic due to experiencing your best friend's death."
My chest tightens. I stiffen, just slightly. The memory of Mel is like a scar that still bleeds if I press too hard. But I don't pull away. I meet his gaze. There's curiosity in me, a cautious one, but it's there.
He doesn't look away. No pity. Just understanding. "I want to help you learn how to control it safely," he says, voice low. "Your father and Xavier... their motives aren't exactly in your best interest."
The words hit like a crack of thunder, low and sudden. I feel my breath catch. My mind races. I hadn't known what to make of Xavier's vague warnings or my father's silence—but hearing this from Eryx makes it real.
"Why can't you?" I ask. My voice comes out sharper than I mean it to. Defensive. Shaken.
Eryx sighs, and it's the sound of someone who's lived far too long and seen too much. "Because keeping my head is more important than being caught in their games. I've seen their wrath. I don't intend to meet it again." He glances at me, his expression softening slightly. "But you... you shouldn't have to pay for their sins. You're too soft, too kind for this world."
I let out a bitter little laugh before I can stop it. "I'm not soft," I mutter, though the words don't sound convincing. Even to me. I want to believe I'm strong. But everything around me feels like it's unravelling, and I can't stop it.
Eryx takes a step closer. There's something careful in his movements, like he's approaching a wounded animal. "You're stronger than you know, Shay," he says. His voice is almost a whisper. "And that's why I'm here."
I can feel the tension in the space between us. It hums like a warning, but I don't back away. For some reason, I trust him. I don't know why—but I do. Maybe it's the way he doesn't flinch at my pain. Maybe it's because I've run out of people I can trust.
"I don't know if I'm ready to hear all of this," I admit, my voice quiet. Raw. "But I need to know what I'm up against."
Eryx's gaze darkens. His expression turns serious. "I'll tell you what I can, when I can. But don't trust anyone fully, Shay—not even Xavier. Not yet. You'll learn why soon enough."
And then he turns. No goodbye, no further explanation. Just walks into the dark, like the shadows know him. Like he belongs to them.
I stay there, frozen, the weight of his words pressing down like frost. I want to stop him. I want answers. But something deep in my gut tells me not yet.
As Eryx disappears into the night, I realize something terrifying and true—I may not trust him completely... but right now, he might be the only one who can help me survive this.