The corridors of Dravenfall whispered.
Stone walls carried secrets as well as sound, and Elira felt them press against her skin as she followed Kael through torchlit halls. His strides were sharp, angry — the kind that meant something inside him was unraveling.
"You shouldn't have said that," she said finally.
He stopped so abruptly she nearly walked into him.
"I meant every word."
"You told them you'd destroy anyone who hurt me," she whispered. "That puts a target on my back."
His eyes were flint.
"You had one the moment you fell."
"That doesn't mean you had to tie yourself to it."
Silence crackled between them.
Kael turned away, jaw clenched. "You don't understand how that room works. They smell weakness and cut until it bleeds."
"And now they'll cut me to see if you scream," she shot back.
That hit home.
He faced her again, anger bleeding into something darker — fear.
"You think I don't know that?" he snarled quietly. "You think I wanted to give them leverage over me?"
"Then why did you?" Her voice shook.
Because losing you feels worse than losing the kingdom.
The truth stayed trapped behind his teeth.
Before he could answer, a soft sound echoed down the hall — too light to be a guard's step.
Kael's eyes snapped up.
"Stay behind me."
Too late.
A blade flashed from the shadows, aimed not for Kael — but for Elira's heart.
Kael moved faster than thought.
Steel rang against steel. The assassin — cloaked in council colors — staggered back, shock clear even beneath their hood.
"For the good of the realm," the assassin hissed, lunging again.
Kael didn't hold back this time.
Shadow surged. Wolves tore through darkness. The assassin screamed once — then fell silent, body crumpling to stone.
Blood spattered the walls.
Elira stood frozen, breath coming in sharp gasps.
Kael turned to her slowly.
"They've already begun," he said grimly.
Her voice was thin. "That was because of me."
"No," he said firmly. "It was because they fear what you could become."
She shook her head, tears threatening. "I don't want this. I don't want blood because of me."
Kael stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"War does not ask what we want."
"Then why did you choose me?" she demanded. "Why protect me when you knew this would happen?"
His control cracked.
"Because when you look at me," he said rawly, "you don't see a monster."
Silence fell heavy and intimate.
Elira reached out, fingers brushing his armor — tentative, grounding.
"I saw it," she admitted. "In my dream. The thing inside you."
His breath hitched.
"And?" he asked quietly.
"And it was terrifying," she whispered. "But you were still you."
Kael closed his eyes.
The serpent hissed — displeased.
"You should hate me," he said. "Fear me. Everyone else does."
She shook her head. "I don't know how."
His hand rose, stopping inches from her cheek — hovering there like a forbidden thought.
"If you stay near me," he warned, "this will only get worse."
Elira met his gaze, steady despite the fear trembling in her chest.
"Then stop pushing me away," she said softly. "Or stop pretending you want to."
For a heartbeat, he nearly kissed her.
Nearly.
Instead, he stepped back — control slamming back into place like a lock.
"Get to your chamber," he ordered. "Double the guard. Do not open the door for anyone."
"And you?" she asked.
"I'll remind the council," he said coldly, "what happens when they miss."
He turned and disappeared into shadow.
Elira watched him go, heart aching with everything unsaid.
Behind her, unseen by both of them, a thin silver sigil began to glow faintly on the stone wall — ancient, celestial, awake.
The fortress had chosen a side.