21. Laia

21

LAIA

T halos’s back is to me, his broad shoulders hunched over his work. He sharpens his axe with methodical precision, the rhythmic scrape of stone against metal grating on my nerves. For two days, he’s kept his distance, that kiss lingering like a ghost between us. I’ve had enough of his cold indifference.

My hands clench into fists as I watch him from across the lair. Each scrape of the whetstone against the blade is a taunt, reminding me of the fire that burned so briefly and then was snuffed out. My heart pounds in my chest, anger and frustration mixing into a volatile cocktail.

I storm over to him, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls. “Thalos,” I snap, my voice cutting through the steady rasp of the whetstone. “What the hell was that the other night?”

He doesn’t look up; he doesn’t even pause in his task. “It was nothing,” he says, his voice as cold as ever.

“Nothing?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. The memory of his lips on mine still sends shivers down my spine, yet he dismisses it as if it were an inconsequential event. “You kissed me like you meant it.”

His hands are still for a moment, but he doesn’t turn around. “I told you,” he repeats, “it was nothing.”

“Liar.” The word slips out before I can stop it. “You don’t get to decide what it meant for me.”

Thalos finally looks up, his dark eyes meeting mine with a mix of irritation and something else—something softer that he quickly masks. “Laia, we have bigger problems than your feelings,” he growls.

I step closer, refusing to back down. “My feelings aren’t the problem here,” I say, my voice trembling with pent-up emotion. “You’re afraid to let anyone in because you think it makes you weak.”

His jaw clenches, his eyes still fixed on the blade in his hands. “You’re here because you’re useful, Laia. Don’t make it more than it is.”

The words hit like a slap in the face. My heart sinks, but I refuse to let him shut me out. “I’m tired of being treated like a pawn,” I snap back. “I’m tired of you treating me and making me feel like I have value when you don’t say anything!”

Thalos stands abruptly, towering over me, his eyes blazing with anger. “You think you understand what this is? What am I? You don’t know anything, Laia. Don’t push me.”

“Then tell me. Show me something real for once,” I demand, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and desperation.

Thalos says nothing. His fists tighten at his sides, knuckles whitening. For a moment, I think he might explode, but then he just turns and walks away, his broad shoulders tense with frustration.

I’m not done. I follow him into the forest, my feet light on the mossy ground as I track his heavy footsteps. The dense foliage swallows us both, the silence only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Thalos doesn’t glance back, but I know he senses me trailing him.

We reach the waterfall, its steady roar filling the air. He often comes here to bathe, to wash away the grime and blood of battle. Tonight is no different. He stops at the water’s edge and begins to strip off his armor with deliberate movements.

I hide behind a cluster of trees, watching as each piece of armor falls away. The moonlight casts a glow on his dark skin, highlighting the scars that crisscross his massive frame. He’s even bigger than his brothers—muscle upon muscle rippling beneath taut skin and fur. My breath catches in my throat as he steps into the water, his body glistening in the moonlight.

His horn is even sharper than his brothers.

He wades deeper into the pool, the water lapping at his thighs before he submerges himself completely. I can’t tear my eyes away from him—the raw power and grace in every movement, the evidence of countless battles etched into his flesh.

For a moment, I forget my anger and my frustration. All I can see is Thalos—the leader who carries the life of his brothers on his shoulders and who fights to keep us all alive in this unforgiving world. My heart aches with longing and confusion.

The water cascades over him as he tilts his head back, eyes closed. The sight stirs something deep within me—a yearning for connection, for understanding.

I stay hidden for a while more, my heart pounding in rhythm with the waterfall's roar, waiting for a sign that this man might finally let me in.

My pulse quickens, but it’s not just desire that pulls me forward—it’s the need for answers. I step out from the shadows, my voice steady despite the nerves twisting in my stomach. “You can’t keep running from me, Thalos.”

Thalos’s eyes flash with surprise and something darker as he turns to face me. “You shouldn’t be here.”

I step closer, my heart pounding in my ears. “I deserve an answer.”

Thalos moves suddenly, grabbing my wrist and pulling me into him. His lips crash against mine, but this kiss is punishing, fierce, like he’s trying to push me away with the force of it. But I don’t flinch. I meet his intensity with my own, refusing to let him hide behind the kiss. His teeth sink into my lip, and I taste blood.

His hands feel like a brand on my skin, hodling me like chains. He’s so strong, he might just break my arm if he exerts more force. It somehow made me feel… excited. There’s really something wrong with me.

When he pulls back, his breathing ragged, his eyes are filled with conflict. “This is why you shouldn’t get close,” he growls, pushing me away. “I’ll only hurt you.”

I watch as he gets up out of the water and disappears into the darkness, my lips still tingling from the kiss, my heart torn between anger and longing.