The quiet of the dorm room was broken only by the soft creak of the door opening. Rian looked up from where she sat cross-legged on her bed, her fingers idly tracing the frayed edge of her training shirt.
Kael stood in the doorway, a faint shadow in the dim light filtering through the curtains. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something softer than usual in his eyes.
“I want to spar,” he said bluntly.
Rian blinked, caught off guard. “You... want to spar? Here?”
Kael stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a deliberate click. “Not here. Out on the training grounds. Thought it might help. You need practice. And I want to see how much you’ve really got.”
Rian rose, tension tightening her shoulders. She nodded, knowing she couldn’t refuse. An elite heir l
