Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Liora’s POV

After almost two weeks of constant practice with Kysen, and actually going to classes at Velaryth, I started to feel like a completely different person.

I could finally control my strength powers. Well, to some extent at least.

And along the line, one more power emerged. Randomly, while getting on Vyrmoth's last nerve at the lake, I somehow turned the entire lake into ice. So, I was working on my four powers now, one by one.

Strength, water, speed, and …the one I despised most, being able to hear lies. As much as I hated the power, I was finally getting better at it, and I was finally embracing it.

My mother found out I turned the whole lake into ice. Well, basically, the whole of Mythgaard found out about it. Mother was not moved in the slightest. Nothing new there. But she did seem less tense about me training with Kysen, since she could see improvements. That however, did not stop her from watching us. I could feel a third presence with us almost every time. Except when we were in the cave and the library. Those two places had become our secret spots.

I bit my bottom lip lightly as I hurriedly made my way to the library. I was almost late. Great! He was definitely going to talk my ears off.

I was supposed to meet Kysen there to work on my observation skills. He was strongly of the opinion that I had to refine my observation skills first before I would finally get the hang of it. According to him, I was a very bad liar, and as if that wasn’t bad enough, he said I couldn't spot a liar, not even a bad one. Rude.

I was flying at top speed, to save time because of the distance of the classes to the library.

Finally, I landed right in front of the library door, a little out of breath.

I took a second to gather myself before pushing the door open.

Almost immediately, I spotted Joan, but not Kysen. A small frown settled between my brows, as my eyes darted left and right, in search of him. I did not want to talk to Joan at all.

She hadn't noticed me yet. Her eyes were trained on some book as I made my way to her desk.

When she wasn’t talking, she actually looked kind of pretty, and seemed like a decent person.

I finally reached her desk, and knocked on it to get her attention.

She barely glanced at me.

“How may I help you?” She asked, a scowl now gracing her features, as she went back to what she was reading.

I ignored her attitude, “Yeah, is Kysen here yet?”

“What’s it to you?” She asked without looking at me, and I visibly had to hold myself back from losing my shit.

“I’m supposed to meet with him. Is he here?” I asked, as I stared at her, my arms now crossed over my chest.

“Look around. Does it look like he's here?” she asked, and my composure was finally slipping.

“You know exactly what I mean? Is he in?” I asked, and she finally looked up at me, before slamming the book she was reading through shut.

Here we go.

She had clearly been holding back for the past two weeks because of Kysen. But now that he wasn’t here, it was finally her chance.

“What do you want with him, you witch?” She said and I raised a solid brow.

“In case you didn't know, witches don't have wings. And what I have to do with him is really none of your business.” I said, surprisingly calmly.

“It is my business!” She said, her voice rising.

“This is a library, you should know better than to raise your voice here,” My tone shifted, “And enlighten me, exactly how is it your business what I do with him?”

She scoffed, “I’m the closest person to him, so I deserve to know,”

I laughed.

It was funny. Her desperation was so funny.

I unfolded my arms and placed them on the table, as I leaned in, “If you are that close to him, then why don’t you just ask him?”

Her face fell, and I continued, “But then again, something tells me he just won’t tell you. Maybe you are just not as close as you think”

I watched as her face slowly turned red, likely from embarrassment and anger.

“Now, are you going to tell me if he’s here or do I have to find out for myself?” I asked, and I could have sworn she was about to burst open right there.

I rolled my eyes, “I’m going in myself, and don't you dare try to follow me. If you do, I’m going to scream about the little secret you’ve got going under here. I am a very crazy person,”

She froze, and I watched as her hands balled into fists.

I smiled again, before walking away from her, and aiming straight for the back shelves.

How I managed to have that conversation with her without losing my shit was surprising to me.

I tried to be as careful as possible, making sure no one was following me or around that place. It was supposed to be a secret, and I wasn't about to give it away.

When I was sure I was alone, I looked for the book, and pulled on it. The book only allows those it allows, to see it. So, even if someone picks it, it’ll have no effect. It'll only change to some other book.

I hurriedly entered and the door slammed shut behind me. A small smile graced my lips as I saw the lit torches at the top of the staircase. He lit them for me?

At least, now I was sure he was here.

I grabbed a torch and slowly made my way down the narrow staircase, carefully watching my steps to avoid tripping.

I finally made it into the chamber, and I frowned when I couldn’t see him. My eyes trained on the curtain that covered the bed and I slowly made my way, gently pulling the curtain aside.

And there he was. My eyes were graced by the view in front of me, freezing me right to my toes.

Kysen lay on his back, one arm bent beneath his head, the other resting loosely over his stomach as if he’d simply fallen into sleep without meaning to.

His dark hair spilled over the pillow in slow, careless waves, a few strands brushing his forehead and lashes. His chest rose and fell in an even, steady rhythm, calm and unguarded, nothing like the sharp, controlled version of him I knew.

The fire from the torch I held traced him gently. It caught the sharp line of his jaw, softened the scar near his collarbone, and lingered just long enough on his lips for my throat to go dry. His face, usually carved from discipline and attitude, looked… peaceful. And so beautiful.

I was so entranced by the view and somehow, that was worse. I hated how stuck I was.

I stood there far too long, breathing him in, letting the quiet stretch between us until my pulse forgot how to behave.

Then his lips moved, “How long are you going to stand there drooling over me?”

I couldn’t help the gasp that left my lips as the torch slipped out of my hands and clattered on the stone floor.