Chapter 22

Valeria's POV

The aftermath of my power surge still pulsed faintly beneath my skin as Adrian and I made our way down from the rooftop. I could sense his questions, the burning confusion in his eyes, but he stayed silent, processing everything he'd seen. A part of me ached to explain-to make him understand this side of me-but I couldn't ignore the looming sense of dread tightening in my chest.

He was close. Too close.

The moment we hit the last step, I felt it-a ripple of energy that prickled at my senses, dark and possessive, like claws digging into my spine. Talon.

I halted, instincts bristling. Adrian noticed immediately, his brow furrowing as he turned toward me, concern flashing in his eyes. "Valeria? What's wrong?"

Before I could answer, a gust of cold wind cut through the dim corridor, sending a chill straight to my bones. And then I heard it-a low, mocking chuckle echoing down the hallway, every syllable laced with a twisted sense of familiarity.

"Did you really think you could keep hiding, my beautiful siren?"

I froze, dread clawing its way up my throat. I knew that voice. That taunting tone that was both endearing and terrifying. Talon emerged from the shadows, his tall figure leaning casually against the wall, his dark eyes trained on me with a mixture of adoration and simmering fury.

Adrian tensed beside me, glancing between us with a look of wary confusion. "Who is this?"

Talon's gaze flicked to Adrian, and the contempt there was unmistakable. He barely spared Adrian a second glance before his eyes locked onto mine again, as if Adrian's presence was a trivial annoyance.

"You didn't tell me you'd found a new toy," he said, voice dripping with venom. "I thought I was the only one you let close enough to see you like this."

"Talon," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. "This isn't the time."

"Isn't it?" He pushed off the wall, stalking toward me with a possessive gleam in his eye. "I think it's the perfect time to remind you of what we had. And to remind him," he added, gesturing to Adrian, "that you're not his to claim."

Adrian stepped forward, instinctively putting himself between us. "I don't know who you think you are, but you need to back off."

Talon's eyes narrowed, a twisted smile playing on his lips. "Oh, you must be the new one. How charming." His gaze darkened, and I felt the possessive edge of his power crackle in the air. "But you're out of your league, human."

Adrian didn't flinch, but I could feel the tension radiating off him. His fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight as he tried to piece together what was happening. I wanted to reach out, to calm him, but Talon's presence loomed too heavily.

"Talon," I warned, stepping forward, "leave him out of this. Whatever you came for, it's with me."

He tilted his head, eyes gleaming with that dangerous obsession I knew all too well. "But he's part of it now, isn't he? You let him close enough to witness your power, Valeria. Do you realize what that means?"

I met his gaze steadily, refusing to back down. "He doesn't need to understand everything. Just like you don't need to interfere."

Talon laughed, a cold, humorless sound. "Oh, but I think I do. You don't get to leave me in the shadows, only to parade around with someone else as if I don't exist." He took another step forward, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You belong to me, Valeria. You always have."

Adrian's confusion gave way to anger, and he stepped closer, his eyes blazing. "If she wanted you around, you wouldn't have to barge in like this."

Talon's expression twisted, a flicker of dark amusement crossing his face. "Careful, human. You're meddling in things far beyond your understanding." He shifted his gaze back to me, his eyes gleaming with an obsessive, nearly unhinged intensity. "Tell him, Valeria. Tell him what you are... and who you belong to."

My heart hammered as I stood between them, the tension thick enough to choke on. Adrian's gaze searched mine, waiting, but I couldn't bring myself to speak. The truth felt like a curse hanging over us.

"I don't belong to anyone," I finally whispered, my voice steady even as I felt the weight of Talon's gaze burning into me. "Not you, not anyone."

Talon's expression darkened, and for a moment, I saw a flash of raw fury beneath his composed exterior. "You can say that all you want, Valeria, but it doesn't change what we both know." He took a step back, his gaze flicking to Adrian with a mocking sneer. "You'll never truly be free of me."

With one last look, Talon vanished into the shadows, leaving the air around us heavy with his threat.