Riley's mind raced as she stood there, trying to comprehend the words that Zayden had just thrown at her. The world around her seemed to blur, the sounds of the school fading into the background as she tried to make sense of his revelation.
"Zayden, what are you saying?" she finally asked, her voice trembling slightly despite her attempts to remain calm.
Zayden's eyes softened, and he reached out as if to comfort her, but Riley took a step back, her confusion and fear overwhelming her.
"You're not just some ordinary girl," he repeated. "You're connected to something bigger, something dangerous. And I've been trying to protect you from it, but it's all catching up to us now. We can't outrun it anymore."
Riley shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest. "I don't understand. What does this have to do with me? Why would anyone want to hurt me? I don't even know what this legacy is that you're talking about."
Zayden ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated with himself. "I didn't want to bring you into this. I didn't want you to know, but there's no way to protect you from it anymore. The people who know about you... they've been watching you for a long time. They've been waiting for you to come into your own, to realize who you really are."
Riley took another step back, feeling the weight of his words settling on her shoulders. "No. This... this can't be real. I'm just a girl. I don't have any kind of legacy. I don't even know what you're talking about."
Zayden's expression hardened, and he stepped forward, closing the space between them. His eyes locked onto hers, and for the first time, Riley saw the raw intensity in them—like a man caught between protecting her and the undeniable truth that was threatening to shatter everything.
"You're more than just a girl, Riley. You come from a family that's connected to some of the most powerful people in the world. I know you've heard the rumors about Crestwood's elite, about the families that run this city. But your family—your bloodline—it's part of that world, too. And they're not going to let you walk away from it. Not without a fight."
The Storm Inside Her
Riley felt her stomach churn, a mixture of disbelief and fear swirling inside her. She had always known that her life was different from the others, but this? This was beyond anything she had ever imagined.
"I... I don't know if I can believe you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Zayden's jaw clenched. "I wish I didn't have to tell you, but you have to understand. You're in danger, Riley. And it's not just because of your family's legacy. It's because of me, too. I've tried to keep you away from all of this, but now that you know, there's no going back."
Riley felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, and she stumbled slightly. Zayden caught her arm, steadying her, his touch sending a jolt of warmth through her, even though everything inside her felt like it was unraveling.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked, her voice breaking. "Why didn't you warn me about this? Why did you keep me in the dark?"
"I thought I could protect you without you ever knowing," Zayden admitted, his voice thick with regret. "I thought I could keep you away from the danger, away from the world I come from. But I was wrong. I should've told you from the beginning."
Riley closed her eyes, trying to steady her breath as the weight of his words pressed down on her. "But why me? Why do they care about me? What does all of this have to do with me?"
Zayden hesitated before answering. "Your bloodline is tied to this world. You're the heir to a legacy that's been hidden for generations. And now that it's come to light, there are people—dangerous people—who will stop at nothing to claim you, to use you for their own power."
Riley felt her heart drop into her stomach. "And you? What about you? Where do you fit into all of this?"
Zayden took a deep breath, his eyes darkening. "I'm part of it, too. I've known about your family's legacy for a long time, and I've been trying to keep you safe. But I'm not going to lie to you, Riley. The closer we get, the more dangerous it becomes. And now that you know, you're in this whether you want to be or not."
A Choice
Riley stepped back, her mind spinning with the implications of what Zayden had just told her. Her life—everything she had known—felt like it was crumbling beneath her feet.
"I don't know if I can handle this," she whispered, more to herself than to Zayden. "I'm just... just a girl. I don't know how to fight this kind of battle."
Zayden's eyes softened, and he reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek. "You don't have to fight it alone, Riley. I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."
But even as he spoke, Riley could see the uncertainty in his eyes, the same fear that she felt in her own heart. The danger wasn't just real—it was closing in on them, and no matter how much Zayden tried to protect her, there was no escaping the storm that was coming.
Riley took a deep breath, her hand trembling as she gripped his. "I don't know if I can trust you anymore, Zayden. But... I need to know what to do. I can't keep living in the dark."
Zayden nodded, his face hardening with resolve. "Then we fight. Together. You don't have to face this alone, Riley. We're in this, no matter what happens."
Riley looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there, but also the fear. He wasn't just protecting her—he was protecting both of them. And now, there was no turning back.