Dominic noticed them the moment they stepped through the arch, Sera and the newcomer, moving as if they had already decided the world would make space for them.
Raeth lifted his head inside his mind, the low hum of a wolf sniffing the air. Interesting.
Dom's mouth curved faintly. “That is interesting,” he said aloud, just enough for Kai and Galen to hear over the echo of steel targets resetting into the wall.
The training cavern smelled like metallic tang of mechanics warming alive. Light fell through channels cut into the ceiling, bright as late afternoon though stone sat heavy above them. Across the wide ring, students gathered by twos and threes, shaking out nerves and stretching through old routines.
Kai didn’t look up right away. He tugged the wraps tighter around his wrists, effi
