CHAPTER 9 TRAINING IN SHADOWS
378 Words
For three months, I trained.
My mother taught me magic.
Cassian taught me combat.
Lyra taught me how to listen to the ancient wolves.
Every day I became stronger.
But strength didn’t erase memories.
I still remembered Kael.
Sometimes I dreamed about him.
Sometimes I woke hearing his voice.
I love you.
I hated that those words still mattered.
One evening, Ryder found me beneath the moon.
“You’ve changed.”
“So have you.”
He smiled.
“I searched for you.”
“I heard.”
“I was worried.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
“Because you’re important to me.”
My heart skipped.
Before I could respond, Lyra growled.
Someone is coming.
I stood.
A figure emerged from the forest.
Black clothing.
Silver eyes.
Kael.
My heart stopped.
He looked exhausted.
He stopped when he saw me.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered:
“Elara.”
I folded my arms.
“What do you want?”
“You.”
My heart betrayed me.
“You rejected me.”
“I know.”
“You broke me.”
“I know.”
“You don’t get to come back because you regret it.”
“I know.”
He stepped closer.
“I’ll wait.”
“For what?”
“For you to forgive me.”
I laughed softly.
“That could take years.”
“I have years.”
I looked away.
Then an arrow flew from the darkness.
Kael moved.
He pushed me aside.
The arrow struck his shoulder.
“Kael!”
He fell.
Ryder shifted.
“Attack!”
The forest exploded with movement.
Hundreds of Council soldiers appeared.
Kael looked at me through the chaos.
“Run.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
My Lunar Mark began glowing.
Silver light erupted across the battlefield.
Every wolf stopped.
Every soldier froze.
Even Kael stared.
A voice echoed through the forest.
Lunar Command.
I raised my hand.
“Enough.”
Every enemy wolf dropped to their knees.
Silence.
Ryder stared at me.
Kael whispered:
“You’re becoming a queen.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
I looked toward the army.
“I’m becoming something they should have feared.”
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