Page 53 of Cursed Dreams (Shadow and Dreams #1)

Vaelith’s laugh was cold, humourless, sharp as a blade. “You think you know what evil looks like? You think you’d feel it if it were near?”

“I do. ” Her voice wavered. “I feel it whenever I'm around you.”

He flinched at her words, she couldn't understand why part of her hated that she had hurt him. What was going on . The burning pain in her chest flared stronger than it had ever before. She doubled over chest heaving , lungs desperately dragging air like she’d just run a mile.

Her skin was damp, her thoughts a mess. She was furious.

Scared. Betrayed. Confused. Every emotion bleeding into the next, thick as honey in her chest. She had to get out of here.

“Thalia” she could hear concern in his voice, he tried to step closer to her.

“ NO “ She glared up at him, forcing her self upright again. “You can’t stop me.”

“I will, ” he hissed but his voice and lost it’s lethal tone. “Thalia, what's wrong?”

“YOU!” “You are everything that’s wrong” she barley recognised her own voice as she screamed at him.

He stared at her. She noted just how exhausted, he looked Like holding himself together was costing him everything.

“Stay away from him, Thalia,” he whispered, voice shaking. “Stay away from all of this, you, don’t understand what he’s doing to you”.

Her chest heaved, fists curled tightly at her sides her anger burning her from the inside, she had never felt rage like this before, it was consuming her.

He stepped forward, reaching for her Thalia’s feet shifted instinctively, trying to get away from him but not fast enough.

His fingers wrapped around her wrist holding and stroking it gently, totally at odds from the anger and fury still burning in his eyes.

She followed his gaze as it lowered to her throat.

There was a faint glow beneath her collar where her necklace rested, hidden thankfully by her robes .

His nostrils flared. Thalia’s body stood rigid.

His silver eyes widened, as though he had just seen something that shocked him.

For one terrible heartbeat, he just stared at her, his grip on her wrist tightened ever so slightly.

She needed to move, to pull her arm away but she couldn’t.

It was as though she was frozen. Something deep inside her stirred, calling to her begging her to feel it.

She closed her eyes trying to shake the sensation building in her.

That same pressure, heat beginning to coil low in her spine, rippling outward through her chest like light trying to break free.

She knew that sensation. The last time she’d felt this, it had been in his rooms, in the dark, when his mouth was on her skin, and her light, her magic, had exploded from her like a dam breaking.

Her heart pounded, NO, not here, not in front of everyone.

Her magic was stirring, her pulse picking up, and she could feel the hum of energy awakening beneath her skin.

Vaelith felt it too, she saw it in the way his body tensed, in the flicker of unease in his eyes.

Thalia panicked. She had to stop this now!

Fighting every muscle in her body she raised her hand and slapped him.

He stumbled back half a step , dropping his hold on her . Slowly he raised one hand to his cheek, and laughed. There was no humour in it though.

“Well,” he muttered. “That’s one way to stop it.”

“Don’t touch me,” she snapped, trying to steady her breath, her limbs, her magic.

He watched her, something unreadable flickering behind those silver eyes. Silver, they were silver again. He straightened, rolled his shoulders, and the coldness returned to his voice.

“You really don’t know what you’re doing.”

“Neither do you,” she said, voice shaking. “You think you can terrify me into abandoning this? You think you can control everything around you and people will just fall in line? You’re wrong, Vaelith. I’m not scared of you.”

He stepped forward, but she moved quicker this time.

“It’s not me you should be scared of little healer”, his mouth twisted into a smile, slow and sharp.

“You go chasing that forest, Thalia. You keep believing in your pretty prince and his pretty lies.” His eyes sparked with flickers of gold, like fire behind silver.

“But know this, I will go to war. Even if that means going to war with you . ”

Then his gaze dipped again, toward the place where her necklace hid beneath her robes. He looked... haunted.

“Light always forgets what shadows remember,” he murmured.

Before she could demand what he meant, he turned on his heel and walked away, his boots silent on the stone, his presence finally retreating like the thunder after a storm.

Thalia stood frozen, heart in her throat, her magic still humming like a live wire beneath her skin.

She wrapped her arms around herself and stumbled down the corridor, aware of the hushed silence as she walked past , a feeling of numbness spreading through her.

Instead of turning toward the infirmary, she veered sharply down a quieter corridor that led to the dormitories.

Her hands shook. Her heart felt as though it might crack open

Her body moved on instinct, unlocking the door without a single conscious thought.

The heavy click of the lock and the welcome silence that followed wrapped around her as she slipped inside and let the door shut behind her.

She collapsed onto the bed, folding in on herself, too exhausted to hold anything together anymore.

Her mind wouldn’t stop spinning replaying images of golden eyes, furious snarls, and that moment…

that terrifying, strange moment where Vaelith had leaned in and inhaled at her neck and the sudden calm that has washed over her.

The memory of his wide eyes and stunned expression haunted her. His final words repeated over and over

"I will go to war. Even if that means going to war with you."

Thalia buried her face in her arms. Her heart pounded as if it were trying to claw its way out of her chest.

She woke to the sound of her door creaking open.

“Thalia?” Nyla’s voice was gentle.

She looked up, startled, as her friends filtered into the room, Nyla first, then Marand behind her, and finally Cellen, carefully closing the door behind . His eyes swept the room before they landed on her with an intensity that was rare for him.

“You weren’t in rotation,” Nyla said, crossing the room in three strides. “I told Master Elric you were ill. I thought maybe… maybe you were in the library.”

“I looked there,” Marand added, her brows tight with worry. “Then your hiding spot in the south garden. When we couldn’t find you, I started to panic.”

“I’m fine,” Thalia said quickly, her voice raw. “Just… needed air. Space. I couldn’t face classes. Not after—” she stopped.

“You mean after the very public spat that has the entire temple talking?” Cellen dropped onto the edge of the bed beside her with an uncharacteristically grim expression. “Thalia, people are saying, you attacked him? What the hell happened?”

She hesitated, then sat up, rubbing her hands over her face. “He knows. About the map.”

Marand gasped. “How?”

“I don’t know!” Thalia snapped, then immediately winced at the sharpness in her tone. “I’m sorry. I just… he was waiting for me. He confronted me between classes. I tried to keep my cool, but the way he roared at me, I lost it and then he, he grabbed me and—”

“ Grabbed you?” Nyla’s eyes flashed, already halfway to standing.

“No, not like that. I mean he… he didn't hurt me in. Then we were too close, he was next to my neck and I felt my magic building ..” Thalia shivered. “I slapped him. It was the only thing I could think to do.”

“Gods,” Marand breathed.

“He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Nyla asked, her voice soft but full of steel.

“No,” Thalia whispered. “But he could have. And I think… I think he wanted to. Just for a moment. But then he looked worried? I ... I don’t know I'm so confused”

There was a long silence.

Then Cellen leaned back with a sigh. “Well, that explains the rumours. ‘Thalia and Lord Smolder-Eyes’ apparently had lovers spat in the corridor. ““They are saying you’ve been cheating on him with another professor, and that your also betrothed back home?”

Thalia groaned and buried her face in her hands again.

“Shut up Cellen, you're not helping” Marand clipped the back of his head.

“I can’t believe I’m temple gossip.”

“Temple legend ,” Cellen corrected with a half-smile, though the concern never quite left his eyes. “But for what it’s worth… I stashed the map. Deep under the eastern archives. I even charmed the tile so only I can lift it.”

A wave of relief passed through her like a breath of wind. “Thank the gods.”

“We’ve got your back,” Nyla said fiercely, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “Whatever he does next, we’ll be ready.”

“Even if he tries to set the map on fire with his smouldering glare, ” Cellen added. “Which, to be fair, is a very real possibility. "That earned him a weak laugh

Thalia felt her shoulders drop, surrounded by the people who made her feel just a little bit safer in the chaos unravelling around her.

Her thoughts churned like a river in flood.

There was a feeling inside her like something was dangerously close to breaking, and she wasn’t sure how much more she could take.

She lead her head on Nyla's shoulder and let her friend comfort her as gentle sobs escaped her.

A sharp knock shattered the moment. Everyone froze staring at the door.

Cellen was on his feet in an instant, muttering a curse as he darted to the wardrobe and squeezed himself inside with surprising grace for someone so tall.

Nyla cast Thalia a panicked look before crossing the room and slowly opening the door.

Standing in the hallway was Priestess Miryanne.

Her expression was cold. Her sharp green eyes flicked past Nyla and landed directly on Thalia, and something in them twisted, an expression of thinly veiled disgust that made Thalia's stomach sink.

“The High Priestess has requested your presence,” Miryanne said, her tone clipped and formal. “Immediately.”

Thalia stood on shaky legs, and quickly wiped her cheeks, every inch of her prickling with dread.

“Now?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

Miryenne's mouth twisted slightly, sarcasm dripping into her voice. “Yes, now . Is that not what the word immediately means.”

Behind her, Cellen creaked inside the wardrobe.

Nyla stood taller, chin lifting, trying to appear calm. “Of course,” she said smoothly. “Thalia was just resting. We’ll walk with her—”

“No,” Miryanne interrupted with a tight unfriendly smile. “The High Priestess asked for her. Only her.”

Thalia's heart beat faster. Every nerve in her body buzzed with unease. There was something about the way Miryanne was looking at her… like she already knew exactly what was about to happen. She was enjoying this far too much. Thalia swallowed hard, gave a subtle nod to her friends, and stepped toward the door. Nyla reached out, brushing her fingers against Thalia’s wrist in a brief, grounding touch.

We’re here, that touch said. Thalia squared her shoulders. “Lead the way.”