chapter four

AURORA

---

"Hey darling, ignore her," Indigo said, trying to diffuse the tension.

"'I honestly lost here'" I said in a blur.

"Listen, she has a history with Thane, and she's great trouble."

"I see, but why's she coming at me?"

"Well, you're very beautiful. Rory like a goddess!" Kaia said.

"So you're automatically a rival because (she thinks Thane likes you)."

"Hell no," I said and face palmed.

"I really didn't bargain for all this," I said then walked off.

Thane

I shut the door behind me with a sharp click, blocking out the hum of students inside.

Eva stood beneath the shadows, looking,

arms crossed, smug like she hadn't just tried to start a war in broad daylight.

I stepped forward, eyes dark as storm clouds.

"You need to back off."

Eva tilted her head, smug, and hissed, "Still playing protector, Thane."

"I'm not playing anything," I snapped. "Stay away from Aurora. My friends. Damn Eva, stay away from us. You don't belong in this life anymore."

Her smirk faltered just for a second.

"Still holding a grudge?"

I laughed at her statement. "I should. After everything, but I didn't, I loved you, Eva."

Her gaze flickered. But I wasn't done.

"You lied. You cheated with that —do you even remember his name?" The man who laughed behind my back, while I was risking my life just so I could be with you?"

She looked away.

"And your father…" My voice dropped, rage leaking through every syllable.

"He betrayed everyone. He set us up. Got my father killed. And I still didn't blame you. I stayed."

FLASHBACK

Thane stood at the edge of a shallow grave, his father's body cold and unfeeling, lying beneath the dirt. The man who had once taught him how to fight, how to protect.

The man who trusted his best friend—Eva's father—only to be betrayed in the worst way. They were supposed to be like brothers. They had been brothers. Now he was gone, a victim of treachery.

Beside him were his friends, the remnant of the lineage They had all lost all that immense power and strength.

They had all lost so much Not just the battle, but themselves.

Thane wiped the sweat and tears from his face as he poured the last sand to cover up his father's grave.

And just when he thought he was finished the FAE in him awakened as he glowed. It was a gift, but it had come too late. His friends were so broken and so was he

[It wasn't just the betrayal of this father

It was the betrayal of love.

"Thane, we need to leave," Jul said, breaking The silence

of his friend's face, pale his once strong hands were trembling. The enemy

had already sent people after them. There

was no time, no mourning, no time for anything

but escape.

Thane gave one last look at the

grave his father would never know what had happened. Neither would everyone who

has burnt & died in their entire lineage

presents

"I gave you a thousand chances," Thane

said, voice trembling with restraint.

"But if you come near us again,

I won't be the boy who loved you.

I'll be the man who survived you."

Eva opened her mouth but he

was already turning, leaving her

in silence where she'd belong

His friends were waiting and gave him a warm hug

AURORA.

The day for the group assignment finally came. I had actually been ignoring everyone since what happened with Eva

I stood in front of the mirror, trying on different outfits but nothing felt right. I kept staring at my reflection wishing I could feel more excited about meeting with the group

Honestly, I hadn't talked to them all week, especially Indigo. I had been talking to Kaia because she was the nonchalant one.

She hardly shows what she really feels and she doesn't really pressure to talk about it

I finally settled for a pink dress and was wearing it when my phone buzzed and I glanced down. It was a message from Kace: "I'm on my way to get you"

I sighed trying to push the uneasy feeling in my stomach down. "I guess I have to go," I muttered to myself as I dropped the phone.

And finished dressing, I heard a knock on the door just as I was about to leave. I opened it and it was to find Kaia standing with her usual bright smile lighting up her face.

"Ready?" she asked, and I replied affirmative, and we went to the bus station.

The drive to Thane's place was quiet until Kaia broke the silence

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I said and looked at her.

"You can always talk to me," she said, and her expression softened as she reached up to pat my head. A gesture that felt warm and comforting.

"Thank you," I said.

When we finally arrived, I couldn't help but feel my breath catch. The house was stunning. It was huge, with elegant stone walls and tall windows that shimmered in the sunlight. It looked like something out of a movie.

As we walked up to the front door I felt a pang of envy, this was my literal dream house

When we entered the house, the group was gathered in the living room laughing and talking. The house. Just caught my attention. It was so pretty.

"Hey guys we're here " Kaia announced as they turned towards me

____________________________

Thane leaned against the wall watching the others. They focused on Aurora when Kaia spoke. He wasn't one for grand gestures or over-the-top displays of emotion, but something in him stirred as she walked despite everything, her being distant and ignoring everyone

Thane—

She was here.

She looked beautiful, almost like a vision in that pink dress. The soft color made her look like she was glowing, her face brighter She

somehow as she entered the room. There was something about the way she carried herself, the quiet confidence in her steps even though I could tell she was Unsure, a little nervous. But that's the little thing with her, she had this way of pulling people in even when she wasn't trying. Even when she was distant like she had been all week.

I had honestly thought she wouldn't show. She's been avoiding everyone. Her absence was so noticeable even if we'd known each other for a little while. The whole tension after what Eva did...

I figured it was too much for her but here She was...

I could feel the shift in the room the moment she stepped in. I noticed the way Indigo tensed just when she saw her

The girl had been complaining all week about how Aurora had been avoiding everyone

I couldn't really blame Indigo for being upset and I knew the situation was awkward and it was because of me. It wasn't like I wanted her to pull away, but the things were complicated. I couldn't shake

The feeling that Aurora's behavior had something to do with me...

Indigi didn't waste any time.

She walked right up to her and before I could even think to stop her, she confronted her

. The words exchanged were quiet, but the tension was thick, and I could see Aurora's discomfort.

The girls stepped away from Jul and me. I was going to look away like I didn't see but the truth is, I was already too invested. I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking, what she'd say to them I shrugged my shoulders and went to sit

Aurora

This conversation was one of those things I knew had to come up, but I didn't expect it to feel as heavy as it did.

We found a quiet spot in the house to talk I could cut through the tension in the air. I could feel the weight of their eyes on me as I sat there trying to figure out how to start

Indigo was the first to speak, her voice laced with frustration but worry.

"Aurora what's been going on with you? You've been ignoring every one of us except Kaia. And that is still defined as ignoring to me.."

She said her words a little sharper than I was used to. I could tell she was upset and worried about me which made it harder to answer

I closed my eyes for a moment and just spilled everything. I told them I thought I shouldn't be friends with them because I felt so low. I was assured, and I feel better now, even if I cried for a while.

After a few moments, we made our way back to the living room where the boys were. I felt a knot in my stomach tighten again especially when I saw Thane, his intense gaze never leaving me. I didn't know how to approach him not after everything that happened. Julian was the first to break the silence.

"Hey Aurora, glad you made it!"

I took a deep breath and walked over to him guilt creeping in as I apologized. Luckily, he wasn't offended. He waved it off, with a smile. I appreciated his understanding but my eyes couldn't help but drift to Thane I averted my gaze

My words were stuck in my throat "Guys it's time," Indigo, said and every one of us sat together

Soft amber light glowed from the big chandelier. The scent of cinnamon and something ancient was in the air. Everyone's lounging around the coffee table with notebooks, half-drunk mugs of tea, and a half-eaten box of cookies.

"I'll go first being the only boring human here!" Aurora said, flipping her pen in her fingers.

"Being is a matter of perspective, Aurora Humans are spicy – unpredictable. You keep things 'interesting,'" Kaia said as she laughed.

Julian, grinning, looks to lean back in his chair.

"Says the demon who set fire to her own shadow in act class"

"she was trying to make it wink," she said without looking up from her phone

Aurora laughed softly, as she looked at Thane

"What about you?" she said.

Thane was finally going to tell what he was

The others glance at each other, but no one says anything.

"I'm not fully demon, I'm... half-demon, half-fae," he says gently

"wow I'm obsessed with faes," Aurora said quietly.

"Really," Indigo said, eyebrows raised, and they both laughed.

"Can you make the air hum too?" Aurora asked.

"Well, I don't know," Thane replied

"Thane makes plants bloom when he's nervous," Julian said, grinning and nudging a cookie toward Aurora

"Julian, stop bullying the fae boy. He's starting to glow," Kaia said, laughing.

"I like it… You don't have to hide… You're cute with the shimmer," Aurora said and smiled softly.

"Thanks, "Thane said

The house was quieter now—papers still strewn across the table inside, messy with scribbles and spells and doodles that didn't belong in any school project. Julian had disappeared first, slipping into the shadows with a wink. Kaia vanished in a blur of wind and trailing laughter. Indigo had lingered just long enough to give him a look—something between teasing and curious—before stepping through the shimmering ripple of a portal that closed with a sigh.

Now, only she remained.

Aurora stood near the porch steps, her scarf wrapped tight around her neck, hair catching moonlight like it wanted to hold on to her just a little longer.

Thane shoved his hands into his coat pockets, more to keep them busy than to keep them warm.

"Hey… want me to walk you home?"

She smiled, just a little, her breath fogging in the cool air.

"You don't have to. I'm used to walking alone."

He looked at her, soft and steady.

"I know. But I'd like to."

She hesitated. Just a breath. Then she nodded.

They walked in silence for a while, the path lit by the moon and the occasional flicker of firelight clinging to the trees. The scent of pine and distant night-blooming flowers threaded the air, subtle and familiar. He loved this part of town after dark—when the world felt thinner like it could stretch open at any second and let the magic bleed through.

Aurora broke the silence with a smile in her voice.

"So… demi fae walks a human girl home under a silver moon. Sounds like the start of a poem. Or a trap."

He smirked.

"Only a very charming one."

But as the laughter quieted, something else took its place. That low tug in his chest. The one that had been there ever since Eva. Ever since her sharp words aimed at Aurora, and his silence felt heavier than he'd meant it to.

He swallowed, voice softer now.

"Aurora… I've been meaning to say something. About Eva."

She glanced at him, her tone careful.

"You don't have to—"

"I do." He stopped her gently, the words finally uncoiling. "What she did… the things she said to you. They weren't okay. You didn't deserve any of that."

A pause. Then she spoke, voice like a note played quietly in a vast hall.

"She was hurting. And I guess I was an easy target."

"She took it too far." His jaw tightened. "I should've stepped in sooner."

Aurora looked up at him, the warmth in her eyes undoing something tight inside his chest.

"You're not responsible for her, Thane. And I never blamed you. Honestly… I admire how calm you were through it."

He blinked.

"You do?"

She nodded.

"Yeah. You didn't let her bitterness turn you cold. That says a lot about who you are."

That stopped him more than anything else had. Her words—simple, honest—echoed louder than any praise he'd gotten from his own kind.

By the time they reached her gate, the porch light had clicked on, casting a glow over her face that made her look… otherworldly. Not in the way he was. In the way that mattered.

He hesitated, not wanting to let the moment end.

"Thanks for tonight. Not just the project… but for listening."

She smiled—soft and open in a way that made something flutter against his ribs.

"Thanks for trusting me. About being demi fae, I mean."

He looked at her, and his voice barely made it past his throat.

"I think I trust you more than I meant to."

Her cheeks flushed, and the sight of it made him want to reach out and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Good," she whispered.

The silence that followed wasn't awkward. It was full. Full of everything unsaid and almost said and too soon to say.

Then—her voice again, quieter this time:

"Thane?"

He met her gaze, heart in his throat.

"Yeah?"

She smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners.

"You're glowing again."

He chuckled, and sure enough, a faint shimmer hovered around his skin. He looked down, just in time to see a small wildflower sprouting beside the gate—petals unfolding like it had been waiting for this exact moment.

And maybe… so had he.