Chapter 5 KAEL

I'm not a fool.

At least, I like to believe I'm not.

But every time I train with Lyra, I feel like I'm unraveling-and not in the way a soldier does when he hits his breaking point. No, this was different.

This was like watching the edge of a knife start to whisper your name.

She wasn't normal. She never was. Not the first time she stepped into my line of sight, not the first time she looked at me like she saw the monster I hadn't even met yet.

Tonight made it worse.

We had sparred harder than before-fast, bruising blows, near-shifts, instincts on fire. She moved like something ancient. I couldn't track her half the time. Her feet never made sound, and her hands-stars above-her hands were too precise for someone who claimed to be a kitchen maid.

Then there was the flash.

Barely a flicker.

But I saw it.

A glow under her skin, right at the center of her palm. Silver, soft, flickering like moonlight on water. It was there, then gone. She tried to hide it, but I saw it.

And the worst part?

It felt familiar.

Like a word I knew but couldn't translate. Like a howl I'd heard in a dream.

"Lyra?" I asked, watching her stiffen.

She shook her head. "It's nothing."

Liar.

But I didn't push. Not yet. Not when her eyes looked like they were one breath away from falling apart.

Still, as we sat in silence again-shoulder to shoulder but not touching-I couldn't stop thinking about it.

The way she moved.

The way she fought.

The way she looked at me like she was preparing for a goodbye I hadn't seen coming.

Who are you?

I didn't ask it aloud. Not tonight.

But the question wouldn't leave my bones.

When she stood to leave, I stood too. Something about her felt heavier now, like her skin was wearing a life it didn't belong to anymore.

"Thank you," I said, unsure what I meant. For the training? For the ache in my chest?

She looked at me like she wanted to speak but didn't trust her voice.

Instead, she turned and walked into the trees.

And as she vanished, I made a quiet promise to myself.

I would find out who she truly was.

And I would protect her-even if she turned out to be something I should fear.

LYRA Pov

It took everything in me not to run.

Not because I was afraid of Him.

No. I had killed men twice his size. Outwitted generals. Survived betrayals worse than death.

But I knew what he was capable of. Not just as a killer-but as a liar.

And the moment he saw me, he'd start spinning his web again.

Of memories. Of power. Of guilt.

And I wasn't sure if the wolf inside me was ready to face him yet.

But hiding would be worse.

I stood in the west hall that morning, stone walls cold against my back. I had pulled my hair back tight, changed out of my apron, wrapped my fingers in cloth to hide the silver glow beneath my skin.

I waited until the courtyard emptied. Until I could hear the echo of his boots tapping toward the inner chambers.

Then I stepped into the corridor.

He didn't notice me at first. Too busy smoothing out his cloak, smiling like he belonged here.

But when he looked up-when his gaze locked with mine-

he stopped mid-step.

And the mask cracked.

For a moment, the years melted away. I was seventeen again. Kneeling on the floor of the Bloodfang chamber, my hands tied behind my back, my mouth full of blood and betrayal, staring into the eyes of the man who trained me, broke me, then sold me.

"Lyra," he said, almost reverently. "The moon curses me... you're alive."

"MALRIK, "you are here" I said

"Have you forgotten your master, Lyra or should I call you EIRA" MALRIK said

I didn't flinch. Didn't blink. Just stared at him like he was already dead.

"Unfortunately for you," I said coolly.

He smiled-slow, snake-slick. "Still sharp with your tongue. I missed that."

I took one step forward. "I'd ask why you're here, but I already know."

His eyes gleamed. "Still paranoid."

"Still dangerous," I replied.

That made him laugh, low and quiet. "You disappeared, Lyra. The Blood fang mourned you. Me most of all."

"Don't you dare pretend you mourned me." I said

His expression flickered, just for a second. "I did what I had to do."

"You did what you wanted ordered to do."

He didn't deny it. "And now look at you... hiding as a servant in a keep full of pups. What a waste."

I stepped even closer, voice lowering like a blade. "Say that again. I dare you."

His smile never faded. But I saw it-the tension in his jaw. He remembered what I was.

What I still could be.

He leaned in, lips near my ear. "You can't run from what you are, Lyra. You belong to us. You always have."

I let my fingers brush the hidden blade at my side.

And whispered back, "You should have killed me completely."

He pulled away slowly, grinning like a man who'd tasted war and wanted more.

"Some purposely kept you alive and I'll find out what and why, that means the pieces of my puzzle are slowly coming together, don't worry you're the major piece and you will find out why"

"This will be fun," he said.

Then he walked off like we hadn't just reignited a fire I swore I'd never light again.

But this time, I wouldn't burn alone, not anymore.