I stepped into Sylas's dorm room, taking in the familiar modern vibe I'd come to expect from these student apartments. The room smelled faintly of vanilla and lavender, an odd yet comforting mix. It felt warmer than I had anticipated, considering the cold exterior Sylas had always given off. The exposed brick walls, sleek furniture, and soft lighting created an atmosphere that was both inviting and intimate. It almost felt like the kind of space you could lose yourself in, hiding away from the rest of the world.
Sylas was standing by his desk, his usual aloof demeanor softened by something I couldn't quite place. He glanced up from the open book in front of him and gave a small, almost imperceptible nod toward the bed.
"Sit," he said, his voice low but not unkind.
I hesitated for a moment, then slid onto the edge of the bed, keeping my distance. My hands were shaking slightly, my mind still reeling from everything that had happened. The mark on my wrist itched and tingled, like it had a life of its own, and I could feel it pulsing in time with my heartbeat. I wasn't sure I was ready for what was coming, but I didn't have a choice now. I needed answers.
Sylas sighed, his silver eyes narrowing as he looked at me. "I didn't want it to be this way," he muttered under his breath before continuing more deliberately. "But you need to understand what you're dealing with."
I met his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest. "I'm listening."
He took a breath, clearly collecting his thoughts. "All your theories about the kiss are true," he began slowly, "it wasn't supposed to happen. But it did. And now... you're bound to me."
I frowned. "Bound? What does that even mean?"
Sylas's gaze flickered to my wrist, the mark still burning faintly beneath my skin. "The mark on your wrist is a sign of the bond that was forged between us. When two beings, human and fae, are connected by such a kiss, it creates a tie. A bond of power, of magic. It links us in ways you can't fully understand yet."
I swallowed hard, trying to process the weight of his words. "So, what? I'm stuck with you now?"
He shook his head, a look of frustration flashing across his face. "Not stuck, Jade. But... yes. Whether you like it or not, you're connected to me now. And because of that, you're in danger. Both of us are."
I leaned forward, the confusion in my chest growing. "Danger? From what? From you?"
"No," he replied, his voice cutting through the air with a sharp edge. "From the fae. From the world you don't understand. The kiss—your bloodline—there's so much more to it than you realize. That mark on your wrist? It's not just a symbol. It's a signal. And now, others will come looking for you."
My heart skipped a beat. "Others?"
Sylas nodded grimly. "The fae world is... not like the human one. There are courts, and powers, and a whole set of politics that you'll never understand unless you're part of it. You've been pulled into something much bigger than you, Jade. And I—I didn't want you to be part of it."
I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off with a raised hand. "No. You need to understand that this was never supposed to happen. You're not supposed to be involved in this. You're human, Jade. And the moment you're tied to me... things change."
I could feel the weight of his words settling around me, suffocating me. "So, you want me to just walk away? To forget all of this? Pretend like nothing happened?"
Sylas's expression softened just slightly, his silver eyes flickering with something akin to regret. "That's exactly what I want, Jade. I want you to stay away from me. It's dangerous for you. You don't know what kind of trouble you're in."
"No." I stood up, suddenly feeling an overwhelming rush of defiance. "No, I'm not going to just walk away. Not when I've been thrown into this mess. Not when you're the one who—" I cut myself off, shaking my head.
Sylas took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "Jade, you don't understand. The fae are coming for you. They'll see you as a threat, as something they can control. You're not safe anymore."
"Then it's already settled!" I snapped. " I'm not leaving. Not now. Not after everything. I don't care about your warnings or your world. I'm staying until I get to the bottom of this, Sylas."
He stared at me, his jaw tightening, and for a moment, I thought he might argue, but he didn't. Instead, he let out a slow breath, a deep sigh that seemed to carry all the weight of his world.
"You're making a mistake," he said quietly. "But if you're going to do this, if you're going to stay... then you need to be ready. There's no turning back from this."
I held his gaze, my chest tightening with the weight of the decision I had just made. "I'm ready."
Sylas didn't respond. He simply turned and walked toward the window, staring out into the night. The silence hung between us, thick with the unspoken tension of everything we were both now involved in. But I couldn't back down—not now, not when I was finally on the verge of understanding what all of this meant.
"I don't care what happens," I said, my voice quiet but firm. "I'm not leaving. Not without answers."
Sylas didn't look at me, but I could see the tension in his posture, the way his shoulders seemed to draw tighter the longer I stood there. Finally, he nodded once, a single, reluctant gesture. "You're going to regret this."
"Maybe," I replied, my heart thudding in my chest. "But I need to know the truth."