AFTER THE FALL
2811 Words
Aria did not sleep well.
That was an understatement.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Kael.
Not the ancient Lycan King.
Not the strange man who had appeared in a forgotten temple and somehow turned her entire life upside down.
No.
She saw him sitting beside the stream.
She saw his hands around her waist.
She saw—
Aria pulled the blanket over her face.
"No."
She refused to think about it.
It had been an accident.
A completely ridiculous accident.
She had tripped.
Then Kael had fallen.
Then—
Aria groaned into her pillow.
The problem wasn't the kiss.
Well, it was the kiss.
But the bigger problem was that she couldn't stop thinking about it.
She pulled the blanket away and stared at the ceiling.
Why hadn't she pulled away faster?
Why had the warmth of his lips remained in her mind long after she'd returned home?
And worse—
Why had she stayed?
Kael had told her she didn't have to leave.
And for one stupid moment, she had wanted to stay with him.
Aria covered her face again.
"This is ridiculous."
A soft knock sounded against her door.
Aria froze.
Another knock followed.
"Aria?"
Lena.
Aria sat up quickly.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Lena stepped inside carrying a tray.
"Breakfast."
Aria blinked.
"Why?"
Lena smiled.
"Because you didn't come downstairs."
Aria looked toward the window.
The sun was already high.
She hadn't realized how late she had slept.
"Oh."
Lena placed the tray beside her.
"You've been sleeping a lot lately."
"I've been busy."
"Doing what?"
Aria gave her a look.
Lena smiled.
"Sorry."
She sat at the edge of the bed.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lena tilted her head.
"So."
Aria immediately knew something was coming.
"What?"
Lena's smile widened.
"You and Kael."
Aria nearly choked.
"What about me and Kael?"
Lena raised an eyebrow.
"You're spending a lot of time together."
"We're friends."
"Are you?"
Aria stared at her.
Lena's eyes sparkled with amusement.
Or something that looked like amusement.
"Why wouldn't we be?"
"No reason."
Lena reached for a piece of bread from the tray.
Aria watched her carefully.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Lena."
"Aria."
Aria folded her arms.
"You're being annoying."
Lena laughed.
"And you're avoiding the question."
"What question?"
Lena leaned closer.
"Do you like him?"
Aria's heart skipped.
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Lena's smile grew.
"That was fast."
"Because it's obvious."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
Aria looked away.
Lena watched her.
For a few seconds, the room was quiet.
Then she sighed.
"Fine. Maybe you don't."
Aria relaxed.
"But he definitely likes you."
Aria's head snapped back.
"What?"
Lena laughed.
"I'm serious."
"Kael doesn't like me."
"He follows you everywhere."
"He doesn't."
"Aria, he literally chose to come to breakfast with you instead of me."
Aria felt her cheeks warm.
"That's not—"
"And he always watches you."
"Lena."
"What?"
"Stop."
Lena smiled.
"Why? Am I making you uncomfortable?"
Aria grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.
Lena laughed and caught it.
"Fine, fine."
Aria looked away.
But her heart was still beating too quickly.
Lena eventually stood.
"I should go."
"You're leaving already?"
"Yes."
Lena walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
Her hand rested on the frame.
"Just be careful, Aria."
The change in her voice made Aria look up.
"Why?"
Lena glanced back.
"Because you don't know what Kael wants."
Aria frowned.
"He hasn't done anything."
"I know."
Lena smiled again.
"I'm just worried about you."
Then she left.
Aria stared at the closed door.
Something about the conversation stayed with her.
Not because Lena had said anything unusual.
But because...
Aria couldn't shake the feeling that her friend had been watching her reaction too carefully.
---
Kael had discovered something about himself.
He could not stop thinking about Aria.
He stood beside the training field with his arms crossed, staring at nothing.
A warrior passed him.
Then passed again.
Finally, the warrior stopped.
"Are you all right?"
Kael looked at him.
"Why would I not be?"
The warrior quickly shook his head.
"No reason."
Kael watched him leave.
Then returned to his thoughts.
He had been in battles.
He had commanded armies.
He had faced enemies who wanted him dead.
Yet somehow, none of those things had prepared him for accidentally placing his mouth against another person's mouth.
Kael frowned.
He understood what a kiss was.
At least, he thought he did.
But this had been different.
Perhaps because it had been Aria.
His mark warmed.
Kael looked toward the village.
He could feel her.
Not clearly.
Just enough to know she was awake.
His attention immediately shifted toward her.
That was becoming a problem.
Kael pushed himself away from the fence.
He needed to stop thinking about her.
He had more important matters.
His power.
The Crimson Eye.
The reason he had survived.
But his feet carried him toward Aria's home anyway.
Kael stopped halfway there.
He stared ahead.
Then sighed.
"This is inefficient."
---
Aria left her room shortly afterward.
She had spent far too long inside thinking about things she had no intention of understanding.
She walked toward the village center.
And immediately saw Kael.
He stood beside a tree.
Doing absolutely nothing.
Aria stopped.
Kael looked at her.
Neither spoke.
Aria considered turning around.
Kael spoke first.
"Hello."
Aria nodded.
"Hello."
Silence.
Kael shifted slightly.
Aria looked around.
"Are you waiting for someone?"
"No."
"Then why are you standing outside my house?"
Kael paused.
Aria stared.
His expression became strangely serious.
"I do not know."
Aria blinked.
"What?"
"I was walking."
"To my house?"
"I did not intend to."
Aria fought the urge to smile.
"And yet, here you are."
"Yes."
She crossed her arms.
"That is suspicious."
Kael looked at her.
"I agree."
Aria laughed.
Then immediately stopped.
The laughter felt too easy.
Too familiar.
Kael watched her.
Aria suddenly remembered yesterday.
Her smile disappeared.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"You were laughing."
"I know."
"Then you stopped."
Aria looked away.
"I just remembered something."
Kael was quiet.
Aria waited for him to ask.
He didn't.
For some reason, that was worse.
"So," she said quickly, "what are you doing today?"
"I do not know."
"That's helpful."
"I am still learning how your people spend their days."
Aria nodded.
"Well, I have things to do."
Kael stepped closer.
"I can assist."
Aria looked at him.
"You want to help me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Kael's expression was completely serious.
"Because I would like to spend time with you."
Aria froze.
Kael seemed to realize what he'd said.
His expression changed slightly.
"I mean—"
Aria's heart began pounding.
Kael frowned.
"That sounded different than I intended."
Aria couldn't help it.
She laughed.
Kael looked offended.
"I do not understand why that is amusing."
"I'm sorry."
"You are not."
"No. I'm not."
Kael shook his head.
But Aria saw the faintest smile on his face.
She hesitated.
Then nodded toward the path.
"Come on, then."
Kael followed.
And neither of them noticed Damon standing outside the Alpha Hall.
Watching them leave together.
His expression remained perfectly calm.
But his hand tightened slowly at his side.
He still didn't know what the feeling was.
He wasn't ready to call it jealousy.
But whatever it was...
He was beginning to hate Kael.
"Come on, then."
Kael looked at Aria for a moment before falling into step beside her.
Neither of them mentioned what had just happened.
Which was probably for the best.
Aria kept her eyes ahead as they walked through the village, pretending she hadn't heard the exact words Kael had used.
"I would like to spend time with you."
It was a perfectly innocent sentence.
Probably.
Kael had made it sound innocent.
That didn't stop her heart from doing something incredibly stupid when he said it.
"So," she began quickly, "you're helping me."
Kael glanced at her.
"Yes."
"Good."
Aria nodded to herself.
"You can carry things."
Kael frowned.
"Things?"
"You'll find out."
They reached the market a few minutes later.
Kael slowed as his eyes moved across the crowded stalls.
Aria smiled.
"Still observing?"
"I am learning."
"That's what you said yesterday."
"And yet there is still much I do not know."
Aria pointed toward a nearby stall.
"Good. Then let's begin with food."
Kael followed her.
Aria picked up several vegetables while Kael watched closely.
"You choose these based on appearance?"
"Sometimes."
"That seems inefficient."
Aria laughed.
"Not everything has to be efficient."
Kael stared at her.
"I am beginning to understand that."
She smiled.
At least, she was smiling until he reached for the same item she did.
Their fingers brushed.
Aria immediately pulled her hand away.
Kael did the same.
For one awkward second, they stared at each other.
Neither said anything.
Aria cleared her throat.
"Can you carry that?"
Kael looked at the basket.
"Yes."
"Great."
He picked it up.
They continued through the market.
The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable.
Not exactly.
But Aria could feel it.
Something had changed since the kiss.
Neither of them knew what to call it.
And apparently, neither of them was brave enough to ask.
"Aria."
She looked at him.
"Yes?"
Kael hesitated.
Then shook his head.
"Nothing."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"That's suspicious."
"I have learned that saying things incorrectly can cause problems."
Aria stared at him.
Then laughed.
"That might be the smartest thing you've said since I met you."
Kael looked mildly offended.
"I have said many intelligent things."
"Of course you have."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Aria smiled.
And for a while, they simply walked.
---
They were leaving the market when Aria felt someone watching them.
She looked up.
Damon stood near the entrance to the Alpha Hall.
His eyes were fixed on them.
More specifically...
On Kael.
Aria's smile faded.
Kael noticed immediately.
"What?"
Aria looked toward Damon.
Kael followed her gaze.
"Oh."
Aria glanced at him.
"That's all you have to say?"
"I understand now."
"You understand what?"
"Why you suddenly became uncomfortable."
Aria sighed.
Damon began walking toward them.
She almost considered turning around.
Almost.
But she was tired of avoiding him.
He stopped in front of them.
His eyes went first to Aria.
Then to the basket in Kael's hands.
Then back to Aria.
"You two are together again."
Aria folded her arms.
"Is that a problem?"
Damon's expression remained calm.
But Aria knew him well enough to notice the tension in his jaw.
"I thought I told you to stay away from him."
Aria blinked.
"You told me."
Damon's gaze hardened slightly.
"And?"
"And I didn't agree."
Kael remained beside her.
Silent.
Damon looked at him.
"You're very quiet today."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"I have been advised to choose my words carefully."
Aria covered her mouth.
Damon's eyes narrowed.
Kael looked completely serious.
"I wonder why."
Aria's shoulders shook with silent laughter.
Damon looked between them.
Something in his expression darkened.
Aria noticed.
"Did you want something, Damon?"
He returned his attention to her.
"Yes."
"What?"
"To speak with you."
"No."
The answer came so quickly that Damon blinked.
Aria didn't regret it.
He had already made his feelings about her clear.
She wasn't going to keep allowing him to decide when she deserved his attention.
Damon's expression tightened.
"Aria."
"What?"
"Alone."
She shook her head.
"Whatever you want to say, you can say here."
Damon glanced at Kael.
"Can I?"
Kael met his gaze.
"If she wishes."
Aria looked at Damon.
"Well?"
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then his eyes returned to her.
"I don't trust him."
Aria's face hardened.
"That isn't my problem."
"He appeared out of nowhere."
"He didn't appear out of nowhere."
"You found him in an abandoned temple, Aria."
"And?"
"And you know nothing about him."
Aria took a step closer.
"Neither do you."
Damon's eyes flickered.
"That's exactly my point."
"Then why are you acting like you get to decide what I do?"
"I'm not."
Aria laughed without humor.
"Really?"
Damon's expression hardened.
"You're twisting my words."
"No. I'm finally listening to them."
Silence.
Kael's attention shifted briefly to Aria.
She could feel his concern through the mark.
A faint warmth beneath her skin.
Damon noticed her touch the mark.
His eyes narrowed.
"What is that?"
Aria immediately lowered her hand.
"Nothing."
Damon stepped closer.
"Aria."
"It's none of your business."
His gaze remained on her arm.
Then shifted to Kael.
Something about his expression changed.
Not understanding.
But suspicion.
Aria moved her arm behind her back.
"Why are you looking at him?"
Damon looked at her.
"Because you are."
Aria froze.
For one second, she wondered if he knew.
Then Damon continued.
"You barely looked at him before. Now you can't seem to stay away from him."
The words struck harder than she expected.
Kael's grip tightened slightly around the basket.
Aria lifted her chin.
"And what does that have to do with you?"
Damon didn't answer.
His silence was enough.
Aria's anger faded into something colder.
"You rejected me."
Damon's jaw tightened.
"You keep saying that."
"Because you keep acting like it didn't happen."
His gaze finally dropped.
Only for a second.
But Aria saw it.
Then his pride returned.
"I rejected you because I believed it was the right decision."
Aria stared at him.
The words hurt.
Even now.
Perhaps they always would.
"Then live with it."
Damon's eyes returned to hers.
"Aria—"
"No."
Her voice remained calm.
But her hands had started trembling.
She curled them into fists.
"You don't get to decide I'm not good enough for you and then turn around and question every person I speak to afterward."
Damon looked toward Kael again.
"This isn't about that."
"Then what is it about?"
He didn't answer.
Aria waited.
Still nothing.
She laughed quietly.
"Exactly."
She turned toward Kael.
"Let's go."
Kael hesitated for a moment.
Then followed her.
They walked away.
Damon didn't stop them.
But Aria could feel his eyes on her back until they disappeared around the corner.
---
For a while, Aria said nothing.
Kael didn't push her.
They continued walking through the village, the sounds of the market slowly fading behind them.
Eventually, Kael spoke.
"Why does he continue to upset you?"
Aria sighed.
"I don't know."
"You care for him."
She stopped.
Kael stopped beside her.
Aria stared at the ground.
The question was simple.
The answer wasn't.
"I don't know," she finally said.
Kael was quiet.
Aria looked up at him.
"Why do you care?"
He blinked.
"About what?"
"Whether I care about Damon."
Kael's expression became unreadable.
"I do not know."
Aria stared.
Then shook her head.
"Of course."
"What?"
"Nothing."
She started walking again.
Kael followed.
After a few steps, he spoke.
"I would prefer if he did not upset you."
Aria looked at him.
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard.
"Why?"
Kael hesitated.
"I do not know."
Aria smiled despite herself.
"You're hopeless."
"I am learning."
She looked away before he could see her smile grow.
They had only walked a few more steps when Aria suddenly stopped.
Kael noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Aria grabbed her arm.
The mark was burning.
Hard.
Kael's expression changed.
His own body went rigid.
"You feel something."
It wasn't a question.
Aria looked at him.
"So do you."
The warmth beneath her skin intensified.
But this wasn't the same feeling she experienced whenever Kael was near.
This was deeper.
Older.
Like something was calling to them both.
Kael slowly turned.
His eyes fixed on the Alpha Hall.
Aria followed his gaze.
"What is it?"
Kael's face had gone completely still.
For the first time since she met him...
He looked afraid.
"There is something here."
Aria's breathing slowed.
The mark pulsed again.
And suddenly—
The world disappeared.
Darkness swallowed her.
Stone walls.
Ancient symbols.
A chamber hidden beneath the ground.
Then she saw it.
A pedestal.
And resting at its center was a crystal that glowed like blood beneath the moonlight.
Aria gasped.
Kael caught her before she fell.
"What did you see?"
She looked at him.
Her heart hammered against her chest.
"A crystal."
Kael went still.
Aria swallowed.
"It was red."
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Kael whispered a name.
"The Crimson Eye."
Aria stared at him.
"You know what it is."
His expression hardened.
"I can feel it."
She followed his gaze toward the Alpha Hall.
Suddenly, Aria remembered the strange feeling Kael had experienced when they first entered Silverfang.
The way he had stopped at the gates.
As though something inside the village had recognized him.
"What is it doing here?"
Kael's eyes remained fixed on the Hall.
"I do not know."
But something in his voice told her that whatever the answer was...
They were about to find out.
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