Ariana paced Kael’s quarters like a caged wolf, her steps sharp against the polished stone floor. The chamber smelled of smoke and leather, heavy with his presence even when he wasn’t in the room. Every shadow seemed to whisper of what she had learned—his confession, his sin.
The door creaked, and Kael entered, shoulders broad, chest still streaked with sweat from training. His golden eyes locked instantly on her. The bond thrummed, restless, warning him of the storm brewing in her.
“You ran,” he said flatly, closing the door behind him.
Her fists clenched. “What did you expect me to do? Stay and kiss the hands that killed my father?”
The words struck like daggers, but Kael didn’t flinch. He stalked toward her with measured steps, each one heavy with restrained fury. “I told you the tr
