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Chapter 9 - Chapter 9

Watchers and Warnings

The next night, after Elira had returned to the village to check on her mother and prepare for what came next, Rian found Kael alone—sharpening his blade near the encampment's edge, where the firelight didn't quite reach.

Kael didn't look up. "I know you're there, Halven."

"Then you know why I'm here," Rian said, stepping into the flickering circle of shadow and steel.

Kael set the blade down. "You followed her."

"She's my friend. And your prisoner. Or have we forgotten that part?"

Kael stood slowly. Taller than Rian. Heavier with years of command and battle. But Rian didn't flinch.

"She's never been my prisoner," Kael said. "Not truly."

Rian scoffed. "That's easy to say now, isn't it? Now that she's lighting up the woods and looking at you like maybe she doesn't hate you anymore."

Kael's jaw tightened. "She has every reason to hate me."

"But she doesn't know," Rian pressed, eyes hard, voice rising. "Does she? That you've been watching her for years. Tracking her. Studying her. Waiting."

Kael didn't answer right away.

Then: "I wasn't waiting to strike, Rian. I was keeping her safe."

Rian barked a bitter laugh. "That's rich, coming from the Commander of the Blackguard."

Kael's voice dropped—cold and sharp as a blade drawn in silence. "Do you know how many bounty orders I tore up before they reached the captains? How many anonymous tips I buried?"

Rian faltered.

Kael stepped closer. "They've been hunting Ember blood since before she was born. I saw the signs early—flickers of power in the woods near Eldhollow, scorched leaves where no fire had touched. I knew. And I made damn sure no one else did."

"Why?" Rian's voice cracked with frustration. "Why would you protect her?"

Kael met his eyes, steady and unwavering. "Because I've seen what they do to mages like her. And because the first time I saw that power, I didn't see a weapon. I saw a little girl trying to bring a bird back to life."

Rian froze.

"You saw her?"

Kael nodded once. "She was seven. Kneeling in the woods over a broken-winged sparrow. Her magic flared—and it almost worked. Then she panicked and ran. I never forgot the look in her eyes."

Rian stared at him, all his certainty fracturing.

"You've been protecting her… this whole time?"

Kael's expression softened—but didn't lose its edge. "Until I couldn't anymore."

Rian turned away, fists clenched.

"And now what?" he asked quietly. "You're going to fall for her? Is that the plan?"

Kael didn't answer.

Because he didn't know.

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