~ Aria ~
The clang of steel wakes me before dawn. It reverberates through the stone walls, sinking into my bones like a command. My body aches from last night—the hunt, the shift, the war raging under my skin—but the sound drags me out of bed before I can even decide if I’m ready.
By the time I step into the courtyard, the air is already thick with sweat and iron. Warriors spar in the breaking light, their blades flashing arcs of fire as the sun catches steel. Dust rises with every strike, tinged with the sharp tang of blood.
Kael stands at the center of it all. Bare-armed, a sword resting easily in his hand. He doesn’t need to fight. His very presence shapes the chaos into order. Men adjust their stances, sharpen their movements, all for the smallest chance of catching his approval. H
