ALEX’s POV
I was in a void.
In a disembodied space.
Horror prickled my skin, taking possession of the blood running through my veins.
No, it became the blood within my veins.
"Do you know who I am?"
The voice came from afar.
"Do you know who you are?"
It was only when I clutched my chest that I realized this was more than a dream. My eyes widened as realization dawned on me.
I’ve been here before.
Once, at the time Nathan’s influence had nearly destroyed me. It happened then, and now it was happening again.
Fear. That must have been it. I felt the same fear of losing myself.
But every time, Kai had been the one to save me.
"Who’s there?"
The ignition of a twinkle of light before me captured my undivided attention. The only light in this darkness. It floated midair, burning without any source. It changed color... then it began to change form.
"Do you know you have never touched anything?" the voice began. "Do you know you have never seen anything?" it continued, growing closer. Chills crawled behind my ears. "Do you know you have never tasted anything?"
The light blew out, only to ignite behind me. Sharply, I turned around. This time, it resembled a glowing rock covered in spikes.
"Nothing ever truly exists. Anything can be reformed. Everything is everywhere."
The darkness folded around itself into the image of a night sky.
"Mom... Dad!" The cries of a little boy seized my attention.
My stomach turned as comprehension settled within me.
The crackling of fire as it consumed the vehicle into nothing but flakes and ash brimmed my eyes with tears. They streamed heavily down my cheeks.
"No, please, no. I can’t be here."
"You. Are. Chosen." A hand gripped my neck, holding me in place as I watched my parents burn while the younger version of me cried for help in the middle of an empty highway. "Open your inner eyes and become Aetherblood."
Soaked in sweat, the bed was drenched with cold caught in the fibers of my shirt. I rolled out of bed and hurried toward the balcony, gasping for air.
That had been too long to be a dream. It felt real, as though I had been forced to witness it all in actuality.
Muffled sounds reached me, undoubtedly coming from downstairs. I changed into different clothes and hurried down the stairs.
"Don’t start with that. You left without any reason and gave no apology either. I’m so done with you treating me like garbage. In fact, fuck you, and fuck off."
I had to pause just before stepping into view, heart thumping wildly. Whatever was happening between Leo and Kai?
Though I had not seen them yet, the fight sounded far too heated for my involvement. Perhaps I should head back to my room and let them settle it themselves.
"I can smell you, Alex," Kai called out.
Shit...
I stepped into the living room where the couple stood, fire blazing in their gazes. Leo’s arms were perched on his hips, balanced on the tips of his toes in open irritation. And there was Kai, looking drained from the argument, his eyes almost begging to be freed from it.
"Hi, guys."
"Did you realize this..."
"What? Say it," Kai dared.
"Oh, yeah?" Leo fed into it. "Alex, can you believe this uncaring piece of shit left me with the Jury yesterday without any explanation whatsoever?"
"That doesn’t sound like the only thing you’re pissed off about."
Leo stepped forward, and I feared he might actually raise a hand at Kai, even though it was absurd for an Omega to hit his Alpha. It was vice versa anyway.. Abuse was something never tolerated in SilverFang.
Abuse of any kind at all.
"And dare I say it again, fuck off."
"Yeah? Well, you know what? I’m done with your crap and bullshit. Take that fucking anger and shove it up your ass."
My eyes darted between Kai and Leo with no idea how to intervene. I didn’t even know what had caused the argument in the first place.
Then I stepped toward Leo, seizing his arm and pulling him toward the kitchen. "I’m sure Leo doesn’t mean any of what he’s saying, Kai. Please."
After successfully dragging Leo into the kitchen with me, I slammed the door shut behind us and turned to him.
"I’ve never seen you guys fight. What’s changed?"
"He’s cheating on me."
Taken aback, I blinked at Leo. "Wh... what is that supposed to mean? Kai would never do that."
Leo wanted to respond, but then he paused. He recoiled slightly before pointing a finger at me. "You... are you saying you know more about him than I do?"
"No, Leo. No, that’s not..."
"Well, you’ve been spending more time with him recently. I don’t even know if I should trust you."
"Leo, stop..." My voice faltered.
"Tell me, Alex. Is Kai cheating on me or not?"
Leo took a step forward, and I took one back until my spine hit the worktop. His eyes burned into mine, and everything froze in that moment, including time itself.
The way he had suddenly shifted, turning the blame onto me, made it seem as though he had been waiting for this opportunity. And now that I had fallen into his trap, he was not going to let me escape.
Fear lunged at my heart as Leo closed in on me with such intensity in his gaze that I believed I might have already given myself away. The guilt devoured me alive, and soon, Leo would feast on whatever remained.
"Damn it, Alex. I asked a simple question. Answer me!" he pressed, and my lips trembled. Chills seized hold of me instantly.
If anything, Leo meant business.