Chapter One Hundred & Eighteen

Chapter One Hundred & Eighteen
Nora's P.O.V

Leo stepped closer behind me, not touching—but close enough that I could feel the bond hum in response to the power.

Killian didn’t speak.

But his eyes were locked on it.

On me.

Nick’s gaze flicked from the flame back to my face.

“How much control do you actually have?” he asked.

I closed my hand.

The flame disappeared instantly.

Like it had never been there.

“Enough,” I said.

That wasn’t a lie.

But it wasn’t the full truth either.

Amelia let out a slow breath. “Yeah… we’re definitely not dealing with normal problems anymore.”

“No,” I agreed.

His eyes locked onto mine.

“Because whatever they’re coming for,” he said, “they’re going to find out real quick they picked the wrong person.”

A small smile pulled at my mouth.

Then he said, “What’s the plan?”

I didn’t hesitate.

“We hit them before they come back.”

Amelia blinked.

“…We?”

I looked between all of them.

“Me, Leo, Killian—and our team,” I said, steady, holding Nick’s gaze. “I called you here to let you know.”

A beat.

“But… that’s not all.”

Something in my chest tightened, but I didn’t look away.

“After this,” I said, quieter now, “I have to leave.”

Nick’s expression sharpened instantly.

“Leave where?” he asked.

“I don’t know exactly where,” I said.

“But I have to go alone.”

“No,” he snapped.

The room shifted.

Amelia went still. Jenna’s brows lifted. Leo didn’t move, but I felt him—tense, ready. Killian’s attention locked in, silent and calculating.

Nick took a step toward me, anger cutting through everything else.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “You don’t just drop that and expect me to stand here like it’s fine.”

“It’s not fine,” I replied, calm, even. “But it’s necessary.”

“For who?” he shot back. “Because from where I’m standing, it sounds like you’re volunteering to walk straight into something we know is targeting you.”

“I’m not volunteering,” I said. “I’m choosing it.”

“That’s worse.”

His hands dragged through his hair, frustration spilling over. “Why alone? We’ve got people. We’ve got him”—he jerked his chin toward Leo—“and him.” Another nod at Killian. “You don’t go anywhere alone.”

I spoke before he could "I know who I’m going with.”

That made him go still.

“Who?” he pressed.

“Rael. He’s tied to whatever I am—to the seal, to the power. He can move in ways we can’t track. He said when I’m ready, I say his name and he comes.”

Nick’s jaw clenched. “So you’re just going to trust that?”

“I’m going to use it,” I corrected. “He’s the only one who’s been straight with me about what this is becoming.”

“Where are you going?” he asked again, stepping closer now. “And why can’t we go with you?”

His voice rose just enough to cut through the room.

“Why alone?”

Leo didn’t move.

Killian didn’t interrupt.

They already knew.

This was for Nick.

“For answers,” I said. “For control. For whatever this is becoming.”

I lifted my hand slightly, not summoning the fire—just enough to remind him.

“This doesn’t stop,” I continued. “It’s growing. Changing. And Rael is the only one who’s been able to explain what’s happening without trying to control it or weaponize it.”

Nick shook his head, pacing once like he needed to burn off the reaction.

“So we go with you,” he said. “Simple.”

“It’s not,” I replied.

He stopped, turning back to me.

“Then make it make sense.”

I held his gaze.

“Where he goes,” I said carefully, “you don’t just walk in with a group. You don’t bring backup. You don’t force your way through it.”

“Why?” he demanded.

“Because it won’t let you,” I said. “Or worse—it will, and it won’t end well.”

Silence.

Leo’s voice came low behind me. “It’s not a physical place in the way you’re thinking.”

Nick glanced at him. “Then what is it?”

“A threshold,” Leo said. “Something tied to her. To what she is.”

Nick looked back at me, searching.

“And you trust this guy?” he asked.

“I trust what I felt,” I said. “And I trust that avoiding it isn’t an option anymore.”

“That’s not the same thing,” he said.

“No,” I agreed. “It’s not.”

He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.

“So you’re just going to walk into something we don’t understand with someone we don’t know?”

“Yes.”

“That’s insane.”

“Maybe,” I said. “But staying here and pretending I can control this without understanding it is worse.”

Amelia leaned forward slightly, more serious now.

“How long?” she asked.

“Not long,” I said.

Nick scoffed. “That’s not comforting.”

“It’s not supposed to be,” I replied.

“Why can’t I go with you?” he asked, quieter now, but heavier. “I’m your brother.”

I softened just slightly.

“Because this isn’t something you can fight,” I said. “And it’s not something you can protect me from.”

His jaw clenched.

“I don’t like that answer.”

“I know.”

Leo stepped forward slightly, his presence settling behind me again.

“She won’t be unprepared,” he said. “And she won’t be unaccounted for.”

Nick looked between both of them, then back to me.

“You’re all just… okay with this?” he asked.

“No,” Leo said.

Killian’s voice followed. “Not even close.”

“But you’re letting her do it anyway,” Nick pushed.

I answered that one.

“They’re not letting me,” I said. “They’re respecting that it’s my decision.”

That shut him up for half a second.

He stared at me, really stared this time.

Then exhaled hard.

“I hate this,” he muttered.

“I know.”

Silence settled again.

“I want to meet him,” Nick said, stepping forward, voice tight with something he wasn’t bothering to hide. “If he’s taking my sister to some place that doesn’t even exist—”

“Nick—” I started.

The air changed.

And then—

“Well,” a voice said, smooth and almost amused, “I suppose you get your wish.”

The space behind me moved.

I turned.

Rael stood a few feet back, like he’d always been there and we’d simply failed to notice. Dark coat, still as shadow, eyes fixed on me like nothing else in the room mattered.

“Hello, Nora.”

“Rael,” I said.

Nick moved instantly, stepping closer to me, placing himself half between us without even thinking.

“That’s him?” he asked, low.

Rael’s gaze flicked to him briefly, assessing, then back to me.

“Your brother,” he said. “Persistent.”

“Protective,” Nick corrected.

Rael’s mouth curved faintly.

“Of course.”

Amelia didn’t speak, but I could feel her shift, taking in everything—the way he appeared, the way the room reacted to him, the way none of us were surprised.

Jenna leaned forward slightly, eyes wide but focused.

Killian finally spoke, voice calm but edged.

“You don’t walk into my house unannounced.”

Rael didn’t look at him.

“I don’t walk,” he replied simply.

“You have a habit of showing up when it’s inconvenient,” Leo said.

Rael’s eyes flicked to him.

“Inconvenience is usually where truth sits,” he answered.

Nick didn’t like that.

“I asked to meet you,” he said, voice firm. “So here you are. Explain why my sister has to go with you alone.”

Rael finally gave him more than a glance.

He studied him.

Measured.

Then looked back at me.