Truth in the shadows
Truth in the shadows
Reyna’s POV
I couldn't sleep. My mind was full of confusion and worry, like a storm that wouldn’t stop. I kept turning in bed, unable to ignore the thoughts that kept circling around—Lucian’s words, the doubts he planted in me.
I quietly slipped out of bed, trying not to wake anyone. The palace felt so big and cold at night, the kind of place that felt empty when no one was around. I walked down the halls, hoping the silence would help me clear my mind. But the more I walked, the more lost I felt. The shadows seemed to stretch out in every direction, making everything feel far away.
I found myself in a long hallway I hadn’t seen before. The walls were covered in old tapestries, the colors rich and deep. The air felt thicker here, like the palace had secrets it didn’t want to share. I didn’t know where I was going, but I couldn’t stop myself from walking deeper into the hall.
Then, I heard voices. They were low, but clear enough to make me stop in my tracks. One of them was Lucian’s, the other... Draven’s.
I moved closer, not meaning to eavesdrop, but something in their voices made me pause. I hid behind one of the columns, trying to stay hidden but still hear what they were saying.
“You can’t let her in, Draven. You know what happened last time,” Lucian’s voice was harsh, cold.
“What do you mean?” Draven’s voice sounded tired, like he was carrying too much on his shoulders.
Lucian scoffed. “She’s human, Draven. Humans always leave. And when they do, they break you. She’ll break you too, just like the others.”
I felt my heart squeeze. What did Lucian mean? “The others”? What had happened before?
Draven was quiet for a moment, his voice low when he finally spoke. “I know, Lucian. But I can't shut myself off. Not with her. Not after everything...”
“She’s not like us, Draven,” Lucian cut in sharply. “You can’t trust her. You can’t let her get too close. Humans don’t belong in our world. They never stay.”
“But she’s different," Draven’s voice softened, almost like a plea. "She’s... she's different.”
Lucian sighed, his voice full of frustration. “You’re a fool. You think she’ll stay? She’s human. She won’t fit in. And when she leaves, it’ll hurt you more than you think. You’ll never be the same.”
I felt something twist inside me, like all the air had been sucked out of my lungs. Was that what Lucian thought of me? Just someone who would leave? Someone who didn’t belong?
I pressed my hand against the cold stone wall, trying to steady myself. They were talking about me. I never wanted to hurt Draven, but now I felt like I was a threat. Maybe Lucian was right. Maybe I didn’t belong in their world.
There was a long silence, and then Draven’s voice came again, quieter this time. “I’ll handle it, Lucian. But you can’t control everything. She means something to me.”
I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. I was frozen, standing there, listening to things I wasn’t supposed to hear. I felt like an intruder, but at the same time, I couldn’t pull myself away. The conversation ended, and the silence that followed was thick, like it was holding onto something dangerous.
I waited for a moment, not sure if I should go or stay. My mind was racing. Lucian’s words were still in my ears. It was clear now why he was so cold to me. He was scared. Scared that I would hurt Draven, like someone else had before. I didn’t understand everything, but I could feel the weight of that pain in his words.
Slowly, I walked away, my footsteps echoing in the quiet halls. My heart felt heavy, like it was sinking inside me. I didn’t belong here. I wasn’t part of their world, no matter how much I wished I could be.
I wandered through the gardens, hoping the cool night air would help me think. The flowers in the garden looked different now. They were still beautiful, but they seemed... dark. Like their colors had faded. Maybe it was because I was looking at them with a new sadness in my heart.
I sat on one of the stone benches, drawing my knees up to my chest. I let the quiet wash over me, but the doubts were still there. I wasn’t like them. I didn’t fit in.
Tears started to fall down my face. I didn’t try to stop them. I was scared. Scared that Lucian was right, that I would just hurt Draven in the end. He was strong, but what if he couldn’t protect his heart from someone like me? Someone who didn’t belong in his world?
I closed my eyes, feeling the tears mix with the cool air. I didn’t want to go back to a life where I didn’t feel like I fit in, where I didn’t matter. But I didn’t know how to stop feeling like I was on the outside, looking in.
Then, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. My heart skipped in my chest. I didn’t want to face anyone right now, especially not Draven. But when I opened my eyes, there he was, standing in front of me.
“Reyna,” his voice was softer than I expected, like he knew something was wrong. “We need to talk. About everything.”
I didn’t know what to say. My mouth went dry. Did he know what I overheard? Did he know the weight of his past was starting to pull me away from him?
I didn’t know what the future would hold, but I felt a knot in my stomach. Things were changing. And I didn’t know if I was ready for what was coming.
I looked up at him, his eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. There was no anger in them—only worry, and something deeper I couldn’t name. Maybe hope. Maybe fear. For a moment, I wanted to run into his arms and forget everything. But part of me still felt stuck in that hallway, hearing words that weren’t meant for me. Words that made me question if I was enough.
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