THE ASYLUM HOSTEL

Shifting Ground

Nyxara didn’t speak on the walk back.

The forest behind her felt heavier now, no longer just a quiet border to the academy but something alive with hidden threats.

Beside her, Prince Cassian Valerius moved in silence, his presence steady, controlled—as if the encounter with the rogues had meant nothing.

But Nyxara knew better.

Everything had changed.

“They said they were looking for me,” she said finally, her voice quiet but firm.

Cassian didn’t slow.

“Yes.”

“Then why now?” she pressed. “Why here?”

Cassian’s gaze remained forward.

“Because you ran,” he said. “And when something powerful disappears… people notice.”

Nyxara clenched her jaw slightly.

“So I’m just a target now?”

Cassian stopped walking.

Nyxara took one more step before realizing he had stopped. She turned to face him.

His golden eyes met hers.

“You were always a target,” he said calmly. “You just weren’t aware of it.”

The truth of that settled uncomfortably in her chest.

Nyxara looked away first.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Cassian stepped closer—just enough to draw her attention back to him.

“You handled yourself well,” he added.

Nyxara blinked, slightly thrown off.

“That didn’t look like a compliment.”

“It wasn’t meant to be one,” he replied. “It was an observation.”

A faint irritation sparked in her.

“You have a strange way of talking.”

“And you have a habit of walking into danger,” Cassian returned.

Nyxara almost smiled despite herself.

Almost.

But the tension between them remained.

Unspoken.

Unresolved.

“You should stay closer to the main grounds,” Cassian continued. “At least until we understand how far the rogues have spread.”

Nyxara crossed her arms slightly.

“We?” she asked.

Cassian didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

Something in her chest shifted at that.

A small, unexpected sense of… alignment.

Dangerous.

She exhaled slowly.

“I’m not used to working with vampires,” she said.

Cassian’s expression didn’t change.

“And I’m not used to protecting werewolves,” he replied.

Their eyes met again.

And this time—

There was something else there.

Not just tension.

Something quieter.

Something forming.

Nyxara looked away first.

“I should get back,” she said.

Cassian nodded once.

“Go.”

But as she turned to leave, his voice stopped her.

“Nyxara.”

She paused.

He rarely used her name.

“You won’t be able to hide much longer,” he said.

Nyxara didn’t turn around.

“I know.”

Then she walked away.

—

By the time Nyxara reached the Asylum Hostel, the familiar noise of students had returned.

It felt strange.

Normal life continuing as if nothing had happened.

As if she hadn’t just been attacked.

As if she hadn’t just learned she was at the center of something far bigger than herself.

“Nyxara!”

She looked up.

Lena Hale was hurrying toward her, concern written across her face.

“Where were you?” Lena asked. “You just disappeared after classes.”

Nyxara forced her expression to soften.

“I just needed some air.”

Lena frowned.

“You missed dinner.”

“I wasn’t hungry.”

Another lie.

But this one felt heavier.

Lena studied her for a moment longer, then sighed.

“You’re starting to worry me.”

Nyxara hesitated.

For a brief moment, she almost told her the truth.

But she couldn’t.

Not yet.

“I’m okay,” she said quietly.

Lena didn’t look convinced.

But she nodded anyway.

“Come on. Everyone’s in the common room.”

Nyxara followed her inside.

—

The moment she entered, she felt it.

Eyes on her.

Kaelen Ward, Mira Solenne, and Rowan Dacre were all there.

Waiting.

Kaelen leaned forward slightly.

“You disappeared,” he said.

Nyxara sighed internally.

“I went for a walk.”

“In the outer grounds?” Mira asked immediately.

Nyxara stilled.

“You’ve been reading too many of those old books,” Kaelen muttered.

Mira ignored him, her gaze fixed on Nyxara.

“You shouldn’t go there alone,” she said.

Nyxara gave a small shrug.

“I didn’t know it was forbidden.”

“It’s not forbidden,” Rowan said quietly.

“It’s just…” he paused, choosing his words carefully, “not safe.”

Nyxara held his gaze for a moment.

Then nodded once.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The conversation shifted after that, but the tension didn’t fully disappear.

They knew something was off.

They just didn’t know what.

—

Later that night, as Nyxara sat by the window in her room, her thoughts drifted.

To the attack.

To the rogues.

To Cassian.

And then—

To Adrian.

As if summoned by the thought, a soft knock sounded at the door.

Nyxara tensed slightly before opening it.

Adrian stood there, his expression calm—but his eyes searching.

“I heard you missed dinner,” he said.

Nyxara leaned lightly against the doorframe.

“I wasn’t hungry.”

Adrian studied her for a moment.

Then—

“You were outside the grounds, weren’t you?”

Nyxara’s breath caught slightly.

She didn’t answer.

But she didn’t deny it either.

Adrian exhaled slowly.

“That’s not a safe place to be right now,” he said.

Nyxara’s gaze sharpened.

“You sound like you know something.”

A faint pause.

Then Adrian gave a small, almost reluctant smile.

“Let’s just say… I pay attention.”

Nyxara crossed her arms slightly.

“So do I.”

Their eyes met.

A silent understanding passing between them.

Different from the one she shared with Cassian.

But just as real.

“You should be careful,” Adrian added quietly.

Nyxara tilted her head slightly.

“Why does everyone keep telling me that?”

Adrian’s smile faded just a little.

“Because not everyone here is what they seem.”

Nyxara felt a chill run through her.

The same words.

Different voice.

Different meaning.

And somewhere deep inside—

She realized something terrifying.

She was standing between two truths.

Cassian.

Adrian.

Both watching her.

Both warning her.

But only one of them…

Was telling the full truth.

And she didn’t yet know which one.