Veronica.
I returned to Oberon’s camp, shrouded in darkness beneath a worn cloak, praying to slip into my tent unnoticed. After the outrageous day I had, facing Oberon was the last thing I wanted.
As I slipped into the camp undetected, a fleeting sense of relief washed over me. Perhaps, just perhaps, I could steal a moment’s reprieve before confronting Oberon. But clearly that was too much to ask.
The instant I entered my tent, Oberon’s imposing figure awaited, arms crossed and eyes narrowed as he stared at me. His presence was palpable, heavy with tension and barely controlled anger.
I stopped at the entrance, heart racing as our gazes locked. I put on an aloof expression, doing my best to act unaffected by his presence.
“Oberon, what brings you to my tent?” I asked, grateful my voice remained steady. Oberon’s anger intensified, radiating off him like heat.
“Where have you been all day, Veronica?” he growled, his voice like rough gravel. I shrugged, feigning indifference, and attempted to walk past him.
“It’s nothing you need to concern yourself about,” I muttered, reaching his side. In a flash, Oberon’s hands encircled my neck, lifting me off the ground.
“Oh, it’s definitely my concern where you’ve been,” he snarled, eyes blazing. “Now answer the damned question. Where. Did. You. Go?” His grip tightened, fingers digging into my skin.
I gasped, struggling to maintain my composure as Oberon’s grip tightened. My vision began to blur, but I forced myself to focus.
My cloak slipped off, revealing the burn marks I desperately tried to conceal Oberon’s gaze dropped to my body, and his grip on me loosened.
“Where did you get that?” he asked, releasing me.
I collapsed to the ground with a thud, coughing violently as I fought to fill my lungs with air. My body still burned, the fire raging beneath my skin. At my hesitation, Oberon’s fury intensified.
“I asked you a question, Veronica,” he growled, his eyes glistening with barely restrained rage.
“I went to catch Lienna!” I shouted, standing upright and glaring at him. Oberon’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“Lienna? Who’s that?” He asked, his voice tinged with confusion. I scoffed, readjusting the cloak.
“Just a measly human who happened to be the moon goddess vessel,” I muttered. Oberon stiffened, eyes widening in disbelief. Then, he pinned me to the tent’s edge, fury unleashed.
“You knew of a human moon goddess vessel and didn’t inform me?!” he bellowed, his voice shaking the tent. The fabric ripped, and I winced, looking away from him.
“How could you keep this from me, Veronica?!” Oberon’s anger boiled over. I pushed against him, but he held firm.
“It’s none of your business.” I spat, glaring at him. Oberon’s eyes blazed.
“None of my business? You really think so?” His voice dropped to a menacing whisper. “You’ll tell me everything, Veronica. Now.”
“I wanted to kill her before you found out!” I forced out, wincing as Oberon’s grip tightened.
“And how did that go?” he raged, veins bulging on his neck like corded rope. I flailed my legs, desperate to escape his grasp.
“Let me guess, badly?” He whispered, his voice dripping with malice.
“Don’t you dare insult me, ” I growled, glaring at him. I summoned enormous shadows, commanding them to force Oberon back. But he ignored them, leaning in, his eyes blazing.
“Insult you?” he repeated, voice laced with venom. “You’re forgetting something, Veronica. If it wasn’t for me shielding your stupid ass, you’d have been dead ages ago.”
With a sudden motion, he flung me to the ground.
I landed hard, my body exploding with pain. Oberon began pacing the tent, agitation radiating from every step.
“You may wield shadows, but you know nothing of true combat,” he spat. “You rely on brute force, shooting carelessly, hoping your attacks land.”
He spun toward me, lowering his voice to a cutting whisper.
“It may have worked on the battlefield, but not today. You faced a real opponent, and look what happened.” He let out a chuckle, sending shivers down my spine. “Guess you’re not so invincible after all, Veronica.”
Oberon’s eyes gleamed with so much contempt. “You’re fragile, and without me, you’d crumble.” His words struck like a physical blow.
“How dare you?!” I screamed, body trembling with rage. “You’d have been dead long ago if it wasn’t for me! ”
Oberon’s face twisted in merciless fury. “You gloat. I would have been perfectly fine without you. Your gratitude is staggering,” he growled, marching toward me.
He lifted me off the floor once more, and I stifled a whimper. My entire body ached, but I refused to show weakness.
“You, on the other hand,” Oberon sneered, “one day without me, and look at what happened to you.”
His words cut deep and I felt the shame I was trying hard not to feel rear it’s ugly head. “You were supposed to be on the battlefield, executing surprise attacks. Instead, you ventured off, and have the nerve to return like this!”
Tears threatened to spill, but I blinked them back. I took shuddering breaths, steeling myself. I wouldn’t cry in front of him. nI wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.
A thought crossed Oberon’s mind, and his glare intensified. “The woman you went off to kill… is she dead?”nMy head hung low. I uttered the words I dreaded.
“No.” The admission felt like defeat. nOberon’s eyes blazed. “You failed,” he spat and I swallowed the lump in my throat. His contempt stung.
“It was a mistake. One that would not repeat itself.” I said but it felt like a promise I was making to myself. Oberon’s laughter was cold.
“We’ll see about that.” He murmured. “You’re going to go again and it’s going to happen very soon.” He said and I snapped my head to look at him.
“What!?” I said but he continued speaking like he didn’t hear me.
“So recover from this and kill this time or so help me Hades, I will kill you with my bare hands. Do you understand?”
When I didn’t answer, he rested his forehead on mine, boring straight you eyes. “I asked you a question, Veronica. Do. You. Understand?”
“Y-yes.”
“Good.”