My Alphas' Dark Desires

Chapter 372 372: Show, Not Tell

***************

~Valerie's POV~

"Oh, shit," I hissed, scrambling to my feet.

Dristan.

I stuffed the envelope into my hoodie pocket, grabbed the photo that had fallen halfway out, and took off running. The courtyard lights blurred as I moved, boots thudding against the stone path. Every part of me screamed to move faster.

By the time I reached the inner grounds, my lungs burned. I slowed only when I got to the hostel, careful enough to remain stealthy as I dropped off the envelope and made a beeline for the Alphas' lodge.

I checked my time, and it was already 10:21 PM.

"Great. Just great," I muttered, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

I could already picture Dristan's expression with his arms crossed and his jaw tight, showing a mix of anger and restraint that he had mastered perfectly.

I stopped just short of the door, pressing a hand against my chest to steady my breathing.

Three days to kill someone, and twenty-one minutes late to face someone who could mess my mind up in ways no test ever could.

I wasn't sure which scared me more.

Taking one last breath, I pushed open the door.

As the door open, my heart skipped a beat as my eyes landed on Dristan.

He stood there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, almost like he had been waiting for me.

His blonde hair was slightly messy, like he'd been running his fingers through it, and he wore a simple black t-shirt and grey sweatpants. His eyes swept over me, taking in my flushed face and disheveled appearance.

"You came," he said quietly.

"Of course I came," I replied, still slightly breathless. "You said we needed to talk."

He pushed himself from the wall and gestured for me to come in. "I wasn't sure you would. It's past ten."

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I got held up."

Dristan studied me for a moment, his gaze lingering on my face. "Are you okay? You look…"

"I'm fine," I cut him off quickly. "Just had to deal with something."

He didn't look convinced, but he didn't push. Instead, he moved past me toward the living area, gesturing for me to follow.

I sat down on the edge of the couch, my hands clasped in my lap. The nervous energy from running was starting to fade, replaced by a different kind of tension.

"So," I said, trying to sound casual. "What did you want to tell me?"

Dristan sat down across from me, his elbows resting on his knees as he leaned forward. His expression was unreadable, that same controlled intensity I'd seen before.

"Show," he said simply. "Not tell."

I blinked. "What?"

He stood up suddenly, holding out his hand. "Come with me."

I hesitated, staring at his outstretched hand. "Dristan, what are you…"

"Trust me," he interrupted, his voice softer now. "Please."

Against my better judgment, I took his hand.

He pulled me to my feet and led me through the apartment and into his room.

When we entered his room, I paused near the door, waiting to see if there was something else other than what I knew that he wanted to show me.

Dristan turned toward me. "Come on in. Lie down on the bed."

I blinked. "Uhnn?"

"Lie down," he repeated in a calm but firm tone.

"Okay…" I said slowly, raising a brow. "You're not about to murder me in my sleep, right? Or… you know…"

One corner of his mouth lifted. "Not tonight."

That didn't sound reassuring.

Still, I moved toward the bed and sat on the edge. "You know, this sounds a lot like one of those bad horror setups."

"Just trust me."

"Those words have gotten me in more trouble than anything else lately," I muttered, lying back anyway.

"Close your eyes."

I frowned. "That doesn't sound ominous at all."

"Valerie," he said, quieter now. "Will you just trust me?"

I hesitated, studying his face. There was no mockery, no game this time; just a deep, serious look in his eyes. I sighed and nodded. "Fine. But is closing my eyes really necessary? You said you wanted to show me something. How do I see anything if my eyes are closed?"

He didn't answer. Just gave me that look again.

"Okay, okay," I said quickly. "I'll shut up."

I closed my eyes.

The next sound I heard was the quiet click of the door lock.

Astra's voice purred in my head. "You do realize this could go in about six very different directions, right?"

"Shut up, Astra," I thought back. "Let me concentrate."

The air shifted. I could feel Dristan move closer. Then came the faintest touch on my forehead, just his fingertip pressing lightly against my skin.

My breath hitched.

Warmth spread from that single point, gentle at first, then expanding through my body like a pulse. My heart began to race, and a strange pull formed beneath me, like gravity itself was changing.

"Dristan?" I whispered, eyes still closed.

"Stay still."

Then I felt it… like falling. My stomach flipped as the sensation deepened. I gasped and opened my eyes just a little.

And froze.

Dristan's eyes were glowing… one bright gold, the other a deep, electric blue.

"What the…" I breathed.

"Valerie," his voice echoed. "I asked you to close your eyes."

"Yeah, I know, but… Dristan, your hands… wait… you have… magic?" I asked in shock. "I didn't… you didn't tell me you had magic."

"I didn't tell anyone," he said quietly.

"Why?"

He didn't answer. Just looked at me, the blue light in his left eye flickering faintly. "Now will you relax and let me show you what I meant to?"

"Promise you'll explain after?"

He nodded once. "Promise. Trust me."

"You really like saying that, huh?" I muttered.

"Only when I mean it."

That was enough. I took a breath and lay back again, eyes closed. My pulse thudded in my ears.

His voice dropped lower, almost a whisper. I couldn't make out the words, but it sure as hell wasn't English.

I could feel each syllable buzzing softly in the air around us. Then, he pressed his finger against my forehead again.

This time, the warmth transformed into a bright light that surged through me. In an instant, I wasn't lying in bed anymore.

I was falling.

Through nothing.

I found myself in a vast, endless void, surrounded by darkness and feeling weightless. For a moment, panic gripped my throat, and I felt a surge of fear.

Then I heard his voice, closer than before, but not with my ears.

"Valerie. Listen to the sound of my voice."

I took a deep breath to calm myself and turned toward the sound. And he was, Dristan, standing right in front of me. His glow was dim, but it was steady enough to give me comfort.

"Where are we?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

His reply came directly to my mind. "My mind."

That didn't make sense, but before I could ask more, I noticed the space around us wasn't entirely empty.

Images floated in the dark, like moving glass panels… memories suspended in the air.

I turned slowly. One showed me, us, at the academy courtyard, laughing about something. Another flickered to when he'd pulled me out of danger during the last mission.

"Are these… your memories?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah… but these are not why we're here. Come on."

He reached for my hand, and I hesitated before taking it. His grip was warm, grounding.

As soon as our fingers touched, the scene shifted. A rush of emotion slammed into me: anger, pride, exhaustion. I gasped.

"You'll feel what I felt," Dristan warned. "It's part of the spell."

We moved again. I blinked, and suddenly we were somewhere else… an open field at dusk.

A young Dristan, around ten years old, was swinging a wooden sword, with sparks of lightning flickering at its edge. His movements were clumsy, but you could see his determination.

A tall man stood nearby, arms crossed, his father. "More power," his father barked. "Again!"

The boy tried, lightning flickering weakly from his palm.

Then another voice came, softer. "That's enough, dear."

A woman stepped forward, and I just knew that was his mother. Gentle eyes, long pale hair. She knelt beside the young Dristan, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Magic isn't about force," she said. "It's about control."

Her husband grunted but said nothing.

The scene shifted again, fast. A car was speeding through a forest road with Dristan and his mother inside.

"This was the day it happened," Dristan's voice said beside me.

"What happened?"

He didn't answer. The car stopped near a cabin hidden deep in the woods. The boy stepped out, clutching a small satchel.

Inside the cabin, his mother drew symbols in the air, showing him how to focus energy through his breath. He watched carefully, repeating every motion. She smiled when he got it right.

"That's it," she whispered. "You've got it, my boy."

The warmth of that moment wrapped around me like sunlight.

But it didn't last.

The memory jumped again. Night had settled in, and the cabin lights were flickering. Young Dristan was peacefully sleeping on a small cot, breathing evenly, when suddenly he felt a weight pressing down on his chest.

He jerked awake.

"Mom?"

His mother was standing over him. But her eyes were dark, hollow, almost black, but didn't look human.

"Mom?" he repeated, fear cracking in his voice.