Foxfire and The Demon's Heart

Zane's POV

The night air was thick with tension, carrying the scent of rain yet to fall. From my perch on the rooftop, I let my gaze drift to the empty street below—the same street Selene had walked down minutes ago, completely unaware of the silent battle waging in the shadows.

I wasn't alone.

I had known for a while now that someone was watching. Observing. Guarding.

Orion.

A celestial.

Her guardian.

I smirked not bothering to turn around. "You might as well come out. No point in hiding when I already know you're there."

Silence.

Then, from the shadows across the rooftop, a figure stepped forward.

He stood tall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. His white shirt was crisp despite the late hour, his presence as composed as ever. But I could feel it—the burning restraint in his stance, the tension in his jaw. He wanted to rip me apart.

Good.

That made two of us.

"You shouldn't be near her," Orion said, his voice steady but laced with quiet warning.

I tilted my head, a smirk playing on my lips. "And yet, here I am."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Stay away from her, shadow."

I let out a chuckle, slow and amused. "Ah, there it is. The classic celestial arrogance. Tell me, does watching from the shadows make you feel important?" I took a step closer, eyes gleaming. "Or just powerless?"

His eyes darkened, but he didn't rise to the bait.

Interesting.

"She doesn't belong in your world," Orion stated, ignoring my taunt.

I smirked. "That's the thing, though, isn't it? I don't think she belongs in yours either."

His eyes darkened at the title.

I chuckled. "I'm guessing she doesn't know about you yet?"

Orion didn't answer.

Which meant no, she didn't.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

You plan on keeping her in the dark forever?" I mused. "Let her live her little human life, oblivious to what's really out there?"

I took a slow step forward. "Tell me, Orion… does she feel normal to you?"

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

I smirked. "Ah. You have noticed it, haven't you? The way she moves, the way she feels—there's something different about her. Something even you don't fully understand."

His eyes flickered—just for a second.

He had noticed.

Good.

That meant I wasn't imagining it.

"She's not just human," I continued, my voice dropping slightly. "She's something more. The real question is—does she know?"

For a brief second, Orion hesitated. It was small, almost imperceptible.

But I caught it.

I grinned. "She doesn't, does she?"

Still, no response.

Interesting.

"She doesn't know what she is," I continued, voice laced with mock sympathy. "And you plan to keep it that way?"

"It's for her protection."

I scoffed. "Protection? Or control?"

His eyes burned, but his voice remained even. "You think I'm the one deceiving her?"

I lifted a brow. "Aren't you?"

Orion exhaled sharply, his patience visibly thinning.

His lips pressed into a thin line. "She deserves a normal life."

I chuckled. "Normal? With someone like you hovering over her like a shadow? With dreams she can't explain and instincts she doesn't understand?" I leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a near whisper. "Tell me, lightbringer… how long do you think you can hide the truth from her?"

His jaw tightened. "As long as I have to."

I hummed. "Interesting approach. But what happens when she starts asking the right questions? When she remembers?"

His entire body went still.

Ah. So that struck a nerve.

I took another step forward, closing the distance. "You hide in the shadows, watching over her like some guardian angel, but you won't even tell her the truth. Why?"

His silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"Because she's not ready."

I scoffed. "Or because you're not?"

A gust of wind stirred between us, charged with unspoken tension.

Then, Orion's voice dropped lower.

"You're dangerous, Zane."

I smirked. "I never said I wasn't."

A gust of wind passed between us, the tension crackling like a storm on the verge of breaking.

He didn't flinch, instead, he simply exhaled, his voice dangerously calm. "I don't care what game you're playing, shadow. But if you hurt her....."

I chuckled. "You'll what? Smite me? Drag me back to whatever holy prison you crawled out of?"

His expression remained unreadable. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe."

That made me pause.

Because for the first time, I heard it—the desperation beneath his threat. The fear.

Orion wasn't just her guardian.

He cared for her.

More than he should.

I grinned. "Ah. Now it makes sense."

Orion's eyes narrowed. "What?"

"You're not just her protector," I said smoothly. "You love her."

His body tensed, but he didn't deny it.

Oh, this was too good.

"How tragic," I sighed mockingly. "A celestial in love with a mortal. And yet, you can't even tell her the truth, can you? Must be painful watching her get closer to someone like me."

Orion's lips pressed into a thin line. "She's not yours, shadow."

"Not yet."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

A flicker of something dark passed through Orion's eyes. "You won't have her."

I chuckled. "Oh, but I already do, don't I?"

Orion's expression hardened.

"You feel it," I said softly. "The shift. The way she's drawn to me."

He said nothing.

Because he knew I was right.

She wasn't running from me.

She was curious.

And curiosity?

That was the first step toward something far more dangerous.

We stood there, locked in silent battle, neither of us willing to break first.

But we both knew the truth.

Selene was changing.

And neither of us had control over what would happen next.

Without another word, Orion turned and disappeared into the shadows, his presence fading into the night.

I stayed a moment longer, letting the weight of our conversation settle.

Then, with a smirk, I vanished as well.

Because Orion was right about one thing.

Selene wasn't ready.

But soon enough… she would be.

And when that time came, I intended to be the first person she turned to.