The rain fell in relentless sheets, turning the cobblestone paths of Blackthorn College into slick, shadowed rivers. Lila pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders, her breath forming ghostly wisps in the frigid air. The campus was eerily quiet, the usual hum of student life smothered by the storm. She quickened her pace, her boots splashing through puddles as she neared the old library—the one place she knew he'd be.
The heavy oak door groaned as she pushed it open, the scent of aged parchment and damp wood enveloping her. The dim glow of a single lantern flickered in the far corner, casting long, wavering shadows. And there he was—Elias, his dark hair tousled, his fingers tracing the spine of an ancient tome. His silver eyes lifted to hers, and for a heartbeat, the storm outside ceased to exist.
"You shouldn't be here," he murmured, his voice low, rough with something unspoken.
Lila stepped closer, her pulse thrumming. "You say that every time."
A muscle in his jaw twitched. "And every time, you ignore me."
She reached out, her fingers brushing his wrist. The contact sent a jolt through her, warmth spreading despite the chill in the air. "Because I don't believe you want me to stay away."
Elias exhaled sharply, his gaze dropping to her lips. "You don't know what you're playing with, Lila."
The book slipped from his hands, hitting the floor with a thud that echoed through the empty library. The sound seemed to shatter the fragile tension between them. Elias gripped her waist, pulling her against him. His kiss was desperate, hungry, as if he were trying to memorize the taste of her. Lila melted into him, her hands tangling in his hair, the world narrowing to the heat of his mouth, the press of his body.
But then he tore away, his chest heaving. "This can't happen."
"Why?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "Because of what you are? Because of the whispers in the dark? I don't care, Elias. I've never cared."
His expression darkened. "You should."
A gust of wind rattled the windows, the storm howling like a living thing. Lila shivered, but not from the cold. The air around Elias seemed to shimmer, the shadows at his feet twisting unnaturally. She'd seen it before—the way the night clung to him, the way his eyes sometimes glowed like moonlight.
"You think I don't know?" she whispered. "That I haven't felt it? The power in your touch, the way the world bends around you. I've known since the first night we met."
Elias's hands clenched at his sides. "Then you know why this is dangerous. Why *I'm* dangerous."
Lila stepped forward again, refusing to let him retreat. "Tell me everything."
For a long moment, he was silent. Then, with a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of centuries, he spoke. "I'm not just a student, Lila. I'm a guardian. A wraith bound to this college, to the ley lines beneath it. My kind—we're meant to protect the balance between worlds. But the others... they've grown cruel. They feed on fear, on pain. And they've noticed you."
Her breath hitched. "Noticed me?"
"You're different. Your blood sings with old magic. They'll come for you, and if they do..." His voice broke. "I won't be able to stop them. Not if I'm close to you."
Lila's heart ached. "So you're pushing me away to save me."
"Yes." The word was a blade between them.
She shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. "That's not your choice to make. If there's danger, then we face it together. I'm not leaving you, Elias. Not ever."
A sound like distant thunder rolled through the library, but it wasn't the storm. The lantern flickered violently, then extinguished, plunging them into darkness. Elias's hand found hers, his grip bruising. "They're here."
The air grew thick, oppressive. Whispers slithered from the corners of the room, voices that weren't human. Lila's skin prickled with dread, but she held tight to Elias. "What do we do?"
His eyes glowed brighter, a silvery light cutting through the black. "Run."
They bolted for the door, but it slammed shut before they could reach it. The whispers grew louder, coalescing into figures—tall, gaunt, their forms shifting like smoke. Elias shoved Lila behind him, his body radiating a cold, fierce energy. "Stay back," he snarled at the wraiths.
One of them laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "You've grown attached, brother. That's against the rules."
Elias's voice was steel. "She's under my protection."
"Not anymore."
The wraiths lunged. Elias met them with a snarl, shadows erupting from his hands like living tendrils. The library became a battleground, books flying, the very air crackling with energy. Lila pressed against the wall, her heart hammering. She had to help. But how?
Then she remembered the stories—old magic in her blood. Her grandmother's tales of charms and wards. Closing her eyes, she focused, whispering the words she'd heard as a child. A warmth spread through her veins, her fingertips tingling. When she opened her eyes, a soft golden light emanated from her hands.
The wraiths hissed, recoiling. Elias glanced back, shock flashing across his face. "Lila—"
"Now!" she cried.
He didn't hesitate. With a roar, Elias unleashed a wave of power, the combined force of his shadows and her light sending the wraiths shrieking into the darkness. The library fell silent, the lantern flickering back to life.
Elias staggered, his strength spent. Lila caught him, her arms trembling as she helped him to the floor. "You're okay," she murmured, brushing the hair from his forehead.
He looked up at her, his eyes full of wonder. "You... how did you do that?"
She smiled weakly. "Turns out I've got a few secrets too."
Elias cupped her face, his thumb tracing her cheek. "They'll come back. Stronger."
"Then we'll be ready."
He kissed her again, softer this time, a promise. "Together."
Outside, the storm raged on. But for the first time, Lila wasn't afraid. Whatever lurked in the dark, they'd