—Alexia—
After Shade dismissed us, I couldn't face the dorm, so we ended up in the old music room with the warped piano and cracked windows. Dust swirled in fading afternoon light, Zeus curled beneath the bench, a warm guard at my feet. I hugged my knees to my chest, sleeves over my hands, breathing in the old magic clinging to the air.
"She wants me to train with her tomorrow," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"That's good, Lex," Finn said, sitting cross-legged on the floor, hands loose on his knees.
"Is it?" My voice rose. "Or is it her way of saying, 'Let's make sure you don't explode and kill everyone'?"
"Technically, that's exactly what it is," Jasper said cheerfully from where he sprawled on the piano lid, flipping his coin.
"Helpful," I muttered.
Asher huffed, pacing by the window, boots scuffing. "You think she's wrong?"
"I don't want to be dangerous," I snapped, heat prickling under my skin.
"You are," Asher said bluntly, folding his arms. "And that's not a bad thing."
I pressed my forehead to my knees, the room spinning for a second. Old magic, rain, them—it grounded me even when the fear pressed in.
Finn's hand brushed my ankle, warm. "It's not about being dangerous, Lex. It's about learning control."
"And you're not alone," Soren added, calm and steady by the window.
"You won't be alone tomorrow, either," Finn said firmly. "We'll be there. Even if we can't step in, we'll be there."
Zeus lifted his head, letting out a quiet whuff.
"I don't want to hurt any of you," I whispered, remembering the fire, the screaming, the way the air split open.
"You won't," Finn said, like it was law.
"And if you do," Jasper added, flipping his coin, "we've all been burned before."
Asher rolled his eyes. "Speak for yourself."
"Oh, right," Jasper smirked, "the wolf's never been singed."
Asher glared. "It's not about us. She needs to believe she can control it."
I looked up, meeting his eyes. The scowl slipped for a breath, and I saw the fear—not of me, but for me.
"I don't know if I can," I whispered.
"You will," Asher said, quiet and certain.
Soren shifted, arms still crossed. "Shade will push you. But we'll help you practice. We'll find somewhere safe, away from the school, and learn your limits together."
"You don't have to be afraid of yourself forever, chaos queen," Jasper said softly, flipping the coin again.
Finn squeezed my ankle. "You're not alone in this, Lex."
A tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away fast, hugging my knees tighter.
"Okay," I whispered. "Tomorrow."
Finn's eyes softened, and he leaned forward, resting his forehead against my knee. "Tomorrow."
We stayed like that as the sun sank, turning the light gold and soft. Jasper hummed under his breath, Zeus snored, and for a moment, it was quiet enough to breathe.
Almost.
Later, when the light was nearly gone, Jasper's coin stopped mid-flip. He caught it, eyes flicking to me.
"You felt it too, didn't you?" he asked.
I blinked. "Felt what?"
"In the courtyard, when your magic broke through," he said, tone light, but something sharp underneath. "It wasn't just chaos. Something... else answered you."
A chill slid down my spine.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, but the memory of that moment-the flicker in the air, the shadows pulling close, like something watching—flashed behind my eyes.
Jasper's smirk was back, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Nothing, chaos queen. Just... something to remember."
Asher shot him a look but said nothing. Finn's hand found mine, squeezing once. And I realized, even as the fear pressed in, that whatever came tomorrow with Shade, and whatever that something else was— I wouldn't face it alone.