Page 30 of A Fate in Flames

“I’m going beyond the Veil,” he said, matter-of-factly.

No one crossed the Veil.Not unless they had a death wish.

Theo, ever the reckless one, responded before I had the chance to stop him.“Us too.”

I turned to Theo so fast my neck almost snapped, my eyes wide in warning.Shut.Up.

The stranger didn’t react much to the revelation.

“Look, I was just passing through,” he said.“I needed a place to rest for the night.That’s all.”

I studied him closely, unable to help myself.He was built like a solider, muscular though lean.His posture rigid.Disciplined.He was older than us, his skin lightly bronzed from years beneath the sun and a jagged scar cutting across his right cheek.His hair was dark, cropped short and his hazel eyes held something heavy in them.

I should’ve been wary, should’ve sent him on his way.Instead, it was my turn to do something reckless.

“You can stay with us,” I said, motioning to a spot near the fire.

Theo’s hand clamped onto my shoulder, yanking me back a step.“Are you out of your mind?”he whispered furiously.“He couldkillus in our sleep!”

A small chuckle broke the tense air.“You know I can hear you right?”the man said, raising an amused brow.

Theo and I turned back to him, our faces burning with embarrassment.I forced a tight smile.

“I think we’ll be okay,” I muttered, ignoring Theo’s exasperated sigh.

I sank onto the ground near the fire, motioning again for the stranger to join us.“What’s your name?”

“Tavrik,” he answered, taking a seat.

“I’m Elira, and this—” I grabbed Theo’s arm and yanked him down beside me, “is Theo.”

Theo glared at Tavrik like he was a wild animal that had wandered too close.“So, why areyougoing beyond the Veil?”

Tavrik’s jaw tightened, the question clearly unwelcome.He hesitated before speaking, his fingers drumming rhythmically on his knee.

“Let’s just say I’ve worn out my welcome on this side.”His eyes darted to the shadows, as if expecting someone to leap out at any moment.“The ‘why’ isn’t important.”

He poked at the fire with a stick, sending sparks flying into the air.One landed on Theo’s sleeve.He slapped at it frantically while Tavrik and I pretended not to notice.

“The Veil is my destination.That’s all you need to know.”

I studied him again, searching for any sign of deceit.His face revealed noting, which somehow made me trust him more,ormaybe I was just terrible at reading people.

The fire cast flickering shadows across his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the tension in his brow.He looked… tired.

Tavrik stared into the flames as though he had long ago accepted his fate.

“Are you two… together?”he asked, his eyes darting between us.

“No,” I said firmly.

“Yes,” Theo replied at the exact same time.I elbowed him hard in the ribs, making him grunt.

Tavrik bit back a smile.

We spoke for hours after that, sharing bits of our lives and our villages.

Tavrik—despite his closed-off demeanour—spoke of the Veil, and how he’d seen it once before.He described the pull of its strange allure but quickly changed the subject when I pressed for more details.Every time the conversation veered towards his reasons for crossing, he’d redirect with surprising skill or suddenly become fascinated with the fire.