24. Thalos

24

THALOS

I stand at the edge of the camp, my eyes fixed on the scene before me. Irix hands Laia the best cut of meat, his gaze lingering on her longer than it should. My fingers twitch with irritation. Beside them, Kael hovers close, his posture protective, almost possessive. The firelight casts long shadows across their faces, making their closeness seem even more pronounced.

A growl builds in my throat, low and dangerous. Frustration burns in my chest, hotter than the flames crackling between us. I’ve always been the leader—the one who makes decisions, the one who ensures our survival. Yet here they are, acting like Laia is more than just a survivor, more than just a tool in our fight.

Irix’s laugh rings out, a sharp contrast to the tension twisting inside me. He leans in closer to Laia, saying something that makes her smile—a real smile that I haven’t seen on her face since she arrived. It’s unsettling how easily she has integrated herself into our lives. How easily my brothers have allowed it.

Kael’s hand brushes against hers as he hands her a cup of water, his touch lingering just a fraction too long. His eyes are soft when he looks at her, filled with something I can’t quite name but recognize all too well.

Possession? Affection? Whatever it is, it’s dangerous.

I shift my weight, my muscles coiled tight with a mix of anger and something else—something I refuse to name. Laia is supposed to be an asset, a means to an end. But every time I see her with my brothers, every time I catch her scent or hear her laugh, that resolve wavers.

Why does this human girl evoke such strong emotions in me? She’s fragile, vulnerable—everything I’ve learned to despise in this brutal world. Yet she fights with fierceness that rivals even the strongest warriors. She looks at me with those defiant eyes, challenging me without words.

And it’s working.

I grind my teeth and turn away from the firelight, retreating into the shadows where I can wrestle with these unwanted feelings in peace. My brothers may be falling under her spell, but I cannot afford such weakness.

From the shadows, I watch Laia. She moves with a quiet grace, her fingers deftly working to tend to Irix’s wounds. Her touch is gentle, almost tender, and for a moment, Irix’s usual bravado softens. He winces but doesn’t pull away, and I see the gratitude in his eyes. It’s a small moment, but it speaks volumes.

Kael approaches her next, holding out a handful of herbs he gathered from the forest. She looks up at him, her face breaking into a soft smile that lights up the darkening camp. He sits beside her, explaining the uses of each plant, and she listens intently, nodding along with genuine interest. It’s clear she values his knowledge and his presence. She’s weaving herself into their lives, bit by bit.

I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a dangerous distraction.

__

In the afternoon, Kael approaches me, an unusual look of determination on his face. “Thalos,” he starts, his voice calm but insistent. “We need to talk.”

I raise an eyebrow but say nothing, waiting for him to continue.

“It’s about Laia,” he says, meeting my gaze head-on. “You need to treat her better.”

I snort in disbelief. “Since when do you tell me how to run things?”

Kael doesn’t back down. “She’s for the three of us,” he says firmly. “If you can’t see that—if you keep pushing her away—she’ll never feel welcome here.”

His words hit harder than any blow. The idea of having her integrate fully with us sounds good and scary at the same time. But admitting that means admitting weakness.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady the storm inside me. "Kael, she's human. You both are being controlled by a human. It's my duty as the oldest to protect you from this." My voice is low but firm, leaving no room for argument.

Kael's eyes narrow, but there's a softness in his gaze. "Thalos, she's been through more than we can imagine. From the first moment I saw her, I wanted to protect her." He steps closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Don't you see? She's not just a human. She's one of us now."

My jaw tightens. His words hit harder than I want to admit. "She’s not of our race, Kael. You’re forgetting that."

He doesn’t flinch. "Maybe you're forgetting what it means to be more than our race." His words linger in the air like a challenge.

"Leave," I command, my tone final.

Kael gives me one last look before turning and walking away. I watch him go, wrestling with the turmoil inside me.

That night, I sit in my lair, the flickering fire casting long shadows on the walls. Kael's words presses on me. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I need to see why my brothers are so taken with her.

“Laia,” I call out, my voice gruff and unyielding. “Come here.”

She hesitates at the entrance, her eyes searching my face for any sign of what’s to come. The tension between us is palpable, thick enough to cut through.

After what feels like an eternity, she steps inside, her heart pounding loud enough that I can almost hear it over the crackling fire.

The air grows heavy as she approaches me, every step echoing in the silence between us.

And deep down, beneath all my rationalizations and duties, there’s a part of me that has wanted this all along.

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, we just stand there, caught in the gravity of everything unspoken.

The night stretches before us, filled with possibilities neither of us are ready to face but can no longer ignore. I fight this obsessive feeling of wanting her, but it takes all of me.

Right now, I don’t think I can handle it.

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