CHAPTER 33: WHAT DOES HE DESIRE?

Theodora’s first awareness was warmth.

Heavy, consuming warmth, the kind that clung to her skin despite the cold marble beneath her.

Her lashes fluttered open.

The ceiling was so high above she couldn’t see it, with a bit of blurriness around her. Once it cleared, she glanced to her side and caught sight of...mirrors. Broken mirrors.

That instantly jolted her memories of everything that happened. The images, the reflections, the horrors in them.

And then she realised she wasn’t lying on the floor.

A strong arm was hooked beneath her knees, another braced across her back, holding her upright against a chest that felt very solid.

She looked up and caught blue eyes fixed on her, searching her features with something she’d never seen before.

Sylas.

Her body tensed, and she shifted a bit and felt her weight on his lap.

His coat was thrown over her shoulders, and there was this... unguarded corner in his eyes.

"Professor...," Her voice came out hoarse.

"You’re awake," His tone was low and roughed at the edges. The kind of voice that sounded like they’ve been held back for a while now.

She blinked, still disoriented, "What... happened?"

Did she pass out? She probably did.

"You tell me," He shifted slightly, easing her upright but not letting go, "The mirrors reacted to you, more than they should and eventually shattered. Not only did it shatter, but the reaction disrupted a lot of wards around the school." His gaze flicked toward the ground, where broken glass shimmered faintly. "They’ve never done that before," he added.

She gently rubbed her temples, trying to steady herself, "My head hurts," She murmured.

"I need you to tell me exactly what you saw,"

Her brows furrowed like she was thinking, but she didn’t need to think. She already remembered everything, but was cautious not to speak and was searching for a believable lie instead.

"Try," He pushed, his expression telling her it was something very serious, "You need to remember,"

She looked up at him, meeting that cold gaze, "I can’t remember anything,"

He let out an exhale, but it sounded more like it was a restrained growl, "You’re lying,"

She pushed off his chest, and he let her go. But when she stood, her head swayed a bit but she managed to steady herself, "I told you, Professor. I don’t remember anything. You can’t just accuse me of..."

"I can when your power nearly tore a hole through the Veil!" he cut in sharply, making her pause.

What Veil was he talking about?

Then, he stood up. And with that, his tall, immovable presence was everywhere again, "Whatever you are, you’re not just a wolf!"

She knew that. She knew that very much. And her heart thundered to hear him say it, but she wasn’t going to stand there and be caught red-handed, "What do you mean by that? You don’t know me, Professor,"

"I know what I felt when the air split in two," His gaze darkened, "It wasn’t natural,"

"I don’t know what you want from me!" She snapped back angrily, "You put me through that... mental torture of a punishment and as if it wasn’t enough, you want me to remember and tell you? I can’t do that. I won’t. Whatever issue it caused, you figure it out yourself. I’m only here to receive punishment, which I just did." Her heart wouldn’t stop pounding, and it got worse with every word she said.

His eyes were darkly unreadable for a moment, but his breath was coming out in faster gasps, and his voice softened when he spoke, "You think I haven’t noticed? Since the first day I saw you, there’s been something about you that doesn’t... fit. The way the room bends around your presence. You make everything feel unstable. One look from you and the balance I’ve built for years starts to slip,"

Her stomach flipped, "That’s ridiculous—"

"Is it?" He moved again, and this time he walked toward her deliberately. Every step forward had her taking two steps back, till her back hit the wall leaving her with nowhere else to run.

"You’ve been in my thoughts more times than I care to admit," he continued, his voice even lower than before, even more heated, "You’re a distraction I shouldn’t have. I’ve tried to ignore it, and I’ve tried to control it but then you just keep..."

He stopped mid-sentence, and his jaw locked. She’s never seen this side of him before, like he was mentally struggling even more than her at the moment. Like he was the one who had gone through real torture.

Theodora’s breath caught, and she whispered, "Professor..."

She didn’t know what to say. She’s never seen nor imagined this mysterious man in this... Vulnerable position.

Sylas stared at her for a long, dangerous moment, and she was conflicted on whether to say something soothing or just run and leave him there.

"What did you see in the mirrors, Thaddeus?" he asked again.

A second passed before she replied, "I said it doesn’t matter,"

"It does,"

"It doesn’t!" she snapped this time, the panic threading through her voice, "Why can’t you just let it go?"

He slammed a hand against the wall beside her head. She flinched at the suddenness, then he leaned in, close enough that the cold heat of him soaked through the thin barrier of air between them. She didn’t even realise she was now holding her breath.

"Because I can’t," he said, each word edged with quiet fury and something else that sounded even deeper than fury, "I’ve tried. Gods, I’ve tried. But every time I think I’ve got you figured out, you do something that makes me...,"

His breath hitched even more and he stopped himself again. His palm against the wall turned into fists and he clutched them so hard his Knuckles cracked and turned white.

"Makes you what?" she whispered, unable to look away.

He looked at her, like he was really looking at her for the first time and for what seemed like a heartbeat, his control cracked.

The hunger there wasn’t just curiosity or anger. It was a deep desire, buried under layers and layers of cold, enforced restraint.

Now, the question was: What did he desire that much?

"Forget what I am," he said finally, looking away.

Her pulse jumped painfully, and a lump formed in her throat.

His face was so close, she could feel his breath on her face and was sure it was the same for him. She could feel the tremor in his control, the dangerous heat of him holding back from doing something.

"You’re standing too close," she said quietly.

His eyes dropped to her mouth, and his knuckles tightened even more, before flicking back to her eyes, "Then, move,"

She swallowed hard. She didn’t want to, "I... can’t. You have me pinned,"

He smirked faintly, the kind that made her heart skip a beat, "If I had you pinned, Venom, you’d know you’re pinned because I won’t just be here. You’d feel me... everywhere,"