18. Thalos

18

THALOS

I stand at the entrance to the cave, my arms crossed, watching Irix and Kael move about the camp. Laia is with them, a soft smile on her face as she helps prepare the meal. It’s been days since our last encounter, and yet, I can’t stop thinking about her.

Kael hands her a bowl, their fingers brushing. His touch lingers a second too long. Her laughter fills the air, light and free—a stark contrast to the constant tension of our world. I clench my jaw, my thoughts racing.

Laia should be nothing more than a tool, an asset to be used. I’ve always kept my distance from her and reminded myself of this fact. But now, watching my brothers grow closer to her, I feel something gnawing at me. Something dangerous.

Kael’s laughter echoes across the camp, pulling my attention back. My eyes narrow as I watch him. Kael has always been the soft one, the thoughtful one. But now, with Laia, I see a different side of him—a side that makes me uneasy. He’s acting like they’re lovers.

She turns to Irix next, offering him a piece of fruit. He grins at her in that predatory way of his, but there’s a warmth there too—something almost tender. It’s not like him to be gentle. Not like any of us.

My grip tightens on my forearms as I fight the urge to intervene. What am I doing? What are my brothers doing? Forming an emotional bond with her would make us vulnerable—a weakness we can’t afford in our world.

She’s here as a tool. Someone that we’re using. And definitely one that they paid a high price for so she can stay.

But it’s more than that. Watching Laia with my brothers stirs something deep within me—a possessiveness I can’t ignore. She’s changing us, breaking down walls we’ve built over years of blood and battle.

I force myself to look away, trying to quell the storm inside me. Laia is nothing but trouble—a distraction we don’t need. Yet, despite all my efforts to keep my distance, I find myself drawn to her more and more each day.

And that... that terrifies me more than any enemy ever could.

I force myself to turn away, to focus on anything else. But even as I try to push those thoughts aside, they creep back in like shadows in the night.

Laia glances up and catches my eye. For a moment, our gazes lock. There’s something in her eyes—a challenge? A plea? I don’t know.

I’ve always kept my distance from her for a reason. But now... now it feels like I’m losing control.

I take a deep breath and step back into the cave’s shadows, forcing myself to break eye contact with Laia. I need to stay focused. We have enemies out there—dark elves who would love nothing more than to find us vulnerable.

And yet, as Kael's laughter fills the air once more and Laia’s smile brightens our dark world just a bit, I can't help but wonder if this vulnerability might be worth it.

But that thought... It's best left buried deep within where no one can see it—least of all me.

I walk away, but hers and Irix’s loud laughter grabs my attention.

Laia laughs at something Irix says, and he grins back at her, that predatory smile that sends a chill down my spine. He’s always been wild, always taking what he wants without a second thought. And now he wants Laia.

Why do I feel this twinge of emotion that makes me want her to be mine alone?

My grip tightens further, knuckles turning white as I fight the urge to step in and pull her away from him. But what right do I have? She’s not mine. She’s supposed to be nothing more than an asset. Yet the thought of Irix touching her, claiming her... It makes the fire in my chest burn brighter.

I know what I need to do. I need to fuck her and get her out of my system. Maybe then I can think clearly again. Maybe then this maddening desire will finally be sated.

But even as the thought crosses my mind, it only makes the fire burn hotter. The idea of taking her, of making her mine in every way possible... it’s intoxicating. Dangerous.

I push away from the cave entrance and stride toward them, my heart racing. Frustration is pounding at me, and I don’t even know how to handle all of this. Laia glances up at me as I approach, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

“Thalos,” she says softly, her voice like a balm on my raw nerves.

“Laia, Irix, Kael!” I bark, my voice cutting through the camp like a whip. “We’re training. Now.”

Laia’s eyes widen in surprise, but she quickly stands, brushing off her hands. Irix and Kael exchange glances but follow without question. They know better than to challenge me when I’m like this.

We make our way to the clearing where we train, the tension thick in the air. I turn to face them, my gaze hard and unyielding. “Laia,” I begin, my tone cold and unforgiving, “you’ve become a distraction. Your place here is not to appeal emotionally to my brothers.”

Her eyes flash with defiance, but she remains silent.

“I’m the decision maker here,” I continue, stepping closer to her. “Whatever I say goes. If I want you gone, you’ll disappear for good. Understand?”

She nods, her jaw clenched tight.

I turn away from them, grinding my teeth in frustration. Why does their closeness irritate me so much? I can’t afford to lose control now. Not when the dark elves are closing in and danger lurks around every corner.

“Laia,” I call out again without turning back. “You’re a weakness. And in this world, weakness gets you killed.”

She doesn’t respond, but I can feel her eyes on me, burning with that same defiance that both infuriates and intrigues me.

No matter how hard I try to push the thoughts away, I can’t shake the image of her from my mind. The way she looked under the firelight, her body trembling with need. What if fucking her only makes me want her more?

The thought gnaws at me, unsettling in its intensity. I’ve always prided myself on my control and my ability to keep emotions at bay. But Laia... she’s different. She’s slipping through the cracks of my defenses.

“Pair up,” I command curtly, trying to refocus on the task at hand. “We train until sunset.”

As they move into position, my eyes linger on Laia for just a moment too long before I force myself to look away.

I need to get a grip. For all our sakes.