Darkness faded slowly.
Nyra's eyes opened to silence.
Not the peaceful kind—
The tense kind.
Heavy.
Waiting.
She blinked once, then again, her vision clearing to reveal a stone ceiling above her.
The same room.
Ronan's territory.
Her body felt… different.
Stronger.
Lighter.
Alive.
Then—
Voices.
"You should have left when I told you to."
Kael.
Cold. Controlled. Angry.
Nyra's heart skipped.
"I don't take orders from you," Ronan replied smoothly.
Of course.
They were both here.
Her eyes shifted slightly—
And there they were.
Standing on opposite sides of the room like two storms ready to collide.
Kael.
Ronan.
Watching each other.
Waiting.
Nyra slowly pushed herself up.
"I'm not unconscious anymore," she said.
Both of them turned instantly.
Silence.
Then—
They moved.
At the same time.
And stopped.
At the same time.
Tension snapped tight again.
Nyra exhaled softly.
"This is exhausting."
Neither of them found that amusing.
"Are you hurt?" Kael asked.
"Did he do anything to you?" Ronan added at the same time.
Nyra stared at them.
Then—
She laughed.
Soft.
Tired.
Unimpressed.
"That's funny," she said.
They frowned.
Nyra stood fully now, steady on her feet.
"Because neither of you asked that before," she continued.
Silence.
Kael's jaw tightened.
Ronan's expression darkened slightly.
Nyra crossed her arms.
"I'm fine," she said. "In case either of you actually cares."
Kael stepped forward slightly.
"I do."
Ronan scoffed.
"Now you do."
Nyra raised a hand.
"Stop."
Both of them froze.
Not from power this time—
From her tone.
Firm.
Certain.
Different.
Nyra looked at Kael first.
"You rejected me," she said calmly.
No emotion.
No hesitation.
Just truth.
Kael didn't look away.
"I had my reasons."
Nyra shook her head slightly.
"I don't care."
That hit harder than anything.
Then she turned to Ronan.
"And you," she said.
His brow lifted slightly.
"You don't own me."
His smirk returned faintly.
"Didn't say I did."
"You implied it," she replied.
Silence.
Nyra took a step back.
Putting space between both of them.
For the first time—
She stood alone.
Not behind Ronan.
Not pulled toward Kael.
Just… herself.
"I'm done being controlled," she said quietly.
The room felt still.
Like even the air was listening.
"I'm not weak," she continued. "And I'm not something either of you gets to fight over."
Her eyes flickered faintly.
Power humming beneath the surface.
"I decide where I go."
Kael's gaze darkened.
Ronan's sharpened.
Neither interrupted.
Because something had changed.
She wasn't the same girl anymore.
Nyra lifted her chin slightly.
"And right now?"
She turned toward the door.
"I choose me."