-Finn-
The air hummed in the Focus & Flow room, thick with incense, energy, and unspoken fears. I sat cross-legged, pretending calm, but every sense was locked on Alexia. She was lightning trapped in human skin, and her magic sparked like a distant storm on the horizon.
Idris's voice cut through the quiet. "Breathe. Feel. Do not name it."
Around us, students closed their eyes, sinking into the rune's gentle glow. But Alexia's magic didn't sink—it flared, crackling silver and green, the rune's lines pulsing beneath her like a heartbeat. She was holding back, I could tell. Holding everything in until it either shattered her or set her free.
Come on, Storm Girl, I thought. Let it out.
I felt the moment she cracked, a ripple of power brushing over my skin, tugging at something deep inside my chest. It wasn't just her magic. It was her. A faint, magnetic pull that made me want to cross the floor and anchor her to the here and now.
Idris's cold gaze was on her, but he didn't interfere. "Emotion is not the enemy. Fear of it is."
I'd learned that lesson the hard way, wrestling down my own fire and rage until I nearly burned myself hollow. Watching Alexia now, struggling and refusing to break, I felt... something. Protective, yeah, but it was deeper. Like something ancient inside me had woken up, seeing her own chaos. The rune under her feet flared, and her breath evened out. For a second, she glowed. Not just with magic, but with this alive light that made her seem untouchable, unbreakable. And it called to me.
When Idris finally ended the session, the silence felt different. Raw, cleared out, like we'd all shed something heavy.
"Time's up," he said, voice echoing in the stone room. "Remember: this is only the beginning."
Students stirred. I stood, stretching, but my eyes stayed on Alexia as she opened hers, blinking like she'd just stepped through a storm. Zeus pressed close to her leg, tail wagging softly, grounding her.
"Survived the void, huh?" I said, stepping into her space without thinking.
"Barely," she exhaled, a small, shaky laugh escaping. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes too bright.
"You did better than most," I said honestly.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, avoiding my gaze for a heartbeat. "It was... intense."
"Intense means you're alive," I grinned. "Ready for round two next week?"
She smirked, rolling her eyes. "You say that like I have a choice."
"Not here, you don't." I winked, and she actually laughed, the tension easing.
As we left, students parted, glancing our way. A few whispers. I felt a flicker of protectiveness, stepping closer to her so they'd know she wasn't alone.
"Let them look," I muttered. "They're just surprised."
"Surprised I survived a class with you?" she teased.
"Surprised you're sitting with us. Walking with us." My tone was casual, but inside, the truth burned hotter. She wasn't just another student, not to us, and definitely not to me.
Outside, the courtyard sunlight felt like a blessing after the heavy air inside. Zeus trotted ahead, sniffing flowers as we fell into step, the path dappled with light.
"So, what now?" she asked, brushing a hand along a hedge.
"Food. Real food," I said. "Better than sludge, I promise."
She gave me a suspicious look, but her smile said she was ready for a break. We ended up at the campus food truck—grilled meats, spices, and fresh bread that made my mouth water. I ordered tacos for us, and we found a quiet bench under a tree.
"See?" I said, taking a bite. "Better than sludge."
She took a cautious bite, then her eyes lit up, and she let out a soft mmm that went straight to my chest. "Okay, you win."
We ate in companionable silence, Zeus settling at her feet. Every so often, she'd catch me watching her, and I'd look away, trying to get my head straight. Because that tug in my chest? It was still there, steady, warm, pulling. I'd heard about this. My family whispered about dragon bonds, about how you'd just know when you met your mate. How it felt like a thread tying you to them, like you'd never really breathe the same way again. I hadn't believed it. Until now.
She caught me staring again, a soft frown between her brows. "Finn? You okay?"
"Yeah." My voice cracked, so I cleared my throat. "Just... thinking."
"About what?" she pressed, eyes sharp but kind.
"About this place. Us. You." The last word slipped out, and I bit my tongue, but I didn't take it back.
Her lips parted, but she didn't speak, a faint pink brushing her cheeks. And that thread pulled tight, like the universe holding its breath. She's mine, something inside me whispered. She just doesn't know it yet. I wasn't ready to tell her. Not yet. But I would be. I'd show her, protect her, and stand by her side as she faced whatever storm was coming. Because I'd found something I didn't even know I was searching for. And I wasn't letting go.