The motorcade wound its way back to Camp Ma-He-Tu, the hum of engines blending with the steady rhythm of the night.

  Rina sat in the driver’s seat this time, her hands firm on the wheel. Beside her, her mate Selene sat in quiet companionship, her presence steady. In the back, her sister occupied the rightmost seat, cradling Marta in her lap as she slept. The Gorgon’s serpents, usually so restless, had also succumbed to exhaustion, their scaled forms draped over the Moon sister’s shoulder in deep slumber.

  Across from them, Lady Allara sat with a serene, almost amused expression. Kai lay sprawled across the seat her head on the sorceress’ thighs, fast asleep.

  The woman had expended way too much energy, pushing herself past her limits. She had climbed into the jeep after Allara with all the grace of a cat and, just as unceremoniously, claimed the sorceress’s lap as her own. It had been a silent, instinctual choice—Kai had simply stretched out and settled there, her head resting against Allara’s lap as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

  Neither Allara nor anyone else had dared move her.

  As the convoy pulled into the camp, the quiet murmur of voices stirred those still awake. The team wasted no time in activating the portal back to Tennga.

  Rina hesitated before driving through, turning in her seat to Lady Allara. “Come with us.”

  The sorceress blinked.

  “I—”

  “You should be with Kai,” Rina pressed. “She needs you.”

  Allara considered arguing but found no real reason to refuse. The events of the past few hours had woven her fate with Kai’s in a way she hadn’t anticipated. To leave now, to separate after everything… it felt wrong.

  With a quiet nod, she stayed seated.

  As the portals activated, the first slivers of dawn crept into the sky. The mission had taken them days to plan, but in execution, it had lasted barely five hours. The sheer contrast of time felt surreal.

  But it had been a resounding success.

  And yet, what they had learned about Kai along the way… those revelations seemed almost unbelievable. Ironically like something out of a fairy tale.

  The moment they arrived in Tennga—a quarter to two in the morning—exhaustion hit them all at once.

  With the help of the Moon sisters, their mates, and Orlan the Troll, they managed to get Kai into the B&B and up to her room. She barely stirred as they laid her onto the bed. The moment her head hit the pillow, she was gone.

  Allara lingered in the doorway, watching the steady rise and fall of Kai’s breathing.

  She knew she should go to her own room. But after their mind-meld, after everything she had seen and felt… she was painfully aware of what Kai’s dreams might reveal.

  What their connection might continue to unravel.

  With a quiet sigh, she stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

  She crossed the room and lowered herself onto the bed beside Kai, her body just as weary.

  The moment her head touched the pillow, she too entered the realm of Morpheus.

  Kai was dreaming. She knew she was. But this dream was different—too vivid, too tangible. The cool night air pressed against her skin, carrying the stiff breeze that rustled through the empty street. Her hands were shoved deep into the pockets of her bomber jacket as she walked, her steps deliberate, heading toward the shadowed entrance of a store. A Closed sign hung in the window, but Kai knew that didn’t matter.

  Beside the door, a keypad gleamed faintly in the dim light. She watched as her dream-self punched in a series of numbers, then pressed the green button to the side. A small camera perched at the top of the door caught her gaze. She lifted her hand, formed a finger gun, and mouthed the word Bang.

  A buzzer sounded. The door unlocked.

  She stepped inside quickly. The shop was a chaotic mess, cluttered with piles of junk stacked haphazardly. She navigated through the narrow pathways with ease, her feet carrying her toward the back as if following a well-worn route. A door with a faded Restroom sign stood ahead, but when she pushed through, it revealed something else—a hidden hallway leading to a staircase that descended into darkness.

  And suddenly, Kai knew where this dream was taking her.

  A familiar dread settled in her chest. This wasn’t just a dream. It was a memory.

  It had been a nearly a year after she lost her family. After she had transformed herself—shedding the weight, training her body, sharpening her edges. And yet, even with all that discipline, she hadn’t been able to control what boiled inside her.

  At the time, she had believed that feeling nothing was better than feeling anything. She had tried to bury her emotions under layers of control, but that suppression had only made things worse. The rage festered. It became something she couldn’t hold back.

  Then one day, she had overheard a coworker talking about an old movie—one about a man with multiple personalities, one of whom had started a fight club.

  She had known the movie well. Before her life imploded, she had been a movie buff, and an avid reader. That passing comment had planted an idea in her mind. She begun to research, digging into the reality behind underground fighting. And in Gainesville, Georgia, she had found exactly what she was looking for.

  The first fight had been in the woods. There were only a few rules—fighters had to be over eighteen, no weapons, follow the ref’s calls, and no professionals allowed. Gender didn’t matter. The prize? Ten percent of any bets placed on the fight.

  Not that Kai had cared about the money.

  At first, she had only watched. But when the announcer called for new fighters, her legs had moved on their own, carrying her forward into the makeshift ring.

  She would never forget that night—the night she got her ass handed to her by a woman a full head shorter than her. She had been knocked down again and again, but she kept getting back up. And when the fight was finally called in favor of her opponent, she had stood there, battered, bloodied—smiling.

  It had felt good. Liberating.

  And so, she had kept coming back. Kept fighting. And with every fight, she got better. Until she started winning.

  They gave her a name. Whisper. Because she never spoke louder than that. And because she was there one moment, gone the next.

  She had never taken the winnings. At first, her opponents thought it was an insult. But then they realized—she had never taken the money, not even when she lost. It was just who she was. An oddball. A ghost.

  As time passed and fewer people wanted to fight her, she had been directed to another circuit—one with different rules. No weapons. No killing.

  Ominous, in hindsight. But at the time, she hadn’t cared.

  The first fight in that ring had been brutal. She had won—but barely. She had learned that even the smallest misstep could be dangerous. That every opponent was a threat.

  And what she hadn’t realized—what she wouldn’t realize for far too long—was that this new place didn’t lessen her anger. It made it worse.

  She had begun to crave the fights. Not for the rush, not for the skill—but for the pain she could inflict.

  That was when things changed.

  Kai’s dream-self descended the hidden staircase, and her waking mind recoiled.

  She knew what came next.

  The landing at the bottom held another door—thick metal. Her past self banged on it in a distinct pattern. A heavy clank echoed as it unlocked.

  The door swung open, and a wall of noise crashed over her.

  A cavernous room, packed with bodies. The crowd pressed in, roaring, calling out to the fighters in the center. A cage dominated the space, its metal walls shaking as two bloodied men tore into each other inside.

  A massive man stood at the entrance, his frame nearly filling the doorway. Upon recognizing her, he gave a nod and stepped aside.

  Kai—her past self—slipped through the crowd, weaving her way toward the bar at the far end of the room. She shrugged off her jacket, tossing it behind the counter. An African American man approached, clipboard in hand.

  “Whisper! You’re up in five!” he shouted over the chaos.

  Kai nodded. He handed her a black bag, and she moved to a quiet corner, pulling out fighter’s tape and methodically wrapping her hands.

  She had been angry that night.

  She remembered it clearly. The struggle to keep herself in check. The near-breaking point when Jerry, the office flirt, had made a pass at her—after ignoring her for years until she became “attractive.” He would never know how close he had come to dying that day.

  She watched her past self rocking slightly as she wrapped her hands, seething.

  A bell rang. The fight in the cage ended. One man was carried out while the other lifted his arms in victory.

  Kai—Whisper—stood and stalked toward the cage.

  The onlookers moved aside instinctively. They sensed what was coming.

  Inside, her opponent waited. A man taller than her, well-muscled. He had been doing well in the circuit. But he had let his victories go to his head.

  And he hadn’t liked fighting a woman.

  He had run his mouth. Taunted her. Called her every misogynistic insult he could think of. Described, in graphic detail, what he would do to her once he got her on the ground.

  If he had just kept his mouth shut…

  He had landed a lucky hit. His fist had knocked her mouthguard out. The crowd had gone wild, excited to see what she would do next.

  If they only knew.

  The taste of blood in her mouth had been the last thing she remembered clearly.

  The next thing—

  She had been on top of him.

  His face was a ruin. Her fists—soaked in blood.

  The silence in the room was deafening. A crowd that had been screaming moments ago now stood in stunned horror.

  She looked up. The ref was also on the ground. He was crouched staring at her. He had apparently tried to stop her. She had thrown him aside without even realising it.

  And then—

  She had screamed.

  A sound ripped from the depths of her soul.

  And she had broken.

  Kai stood in the dream, frozen, watching her past self lose control in a way she had never fully remembered before. Watching the raw, unfiltered violence pour out of her like a dam finally bursting.

  She didn’t want to see this.

  Then—

  A voice.

  Soft. Smoky.

  “Oh, Kai…”

  She turned.

  Allara stood there. Watching with knowing, compassionate eyes.

  Kai’s breath hitched. Tears slipped down her face.

  Then warm hands cupped her cheeks, thumbs brushing away the tears. Allara pulled her close, pressing their foreheads together.

  “Shhh… it’s alright. Just breathe.”

  Kai obeyed. Inhale then exhale, her eyes closed.

  “Come.”

  Allara gently pulled them away from the memory.

  This time, leaving was smooth. Painless.

  Kai woke, still wrapped in Allara’s arms. They lay on the bed, fully clothed from the night before. The morning light filtered through the window as birds chirped outside.

  Allara propped herself up on one elbow, her other hand stroking Kai’s temple. “Are you alright? No aftereffects?”

  Kai swallowed. Nodded.

  “I’m fine,” she rasped.

  Her voice was still rough from sleep. Or maybe from something else.

  Kai sat up slowly with a yawn, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. It took her a moment to register her surroundings—they were in her room at the B&B. She grimaced as her fingers brushed over dried tear tracks on her face. A shower was definitely in order.

  She glanced beside her. Allara was sitting up as well, looking perfectly put together, as if she had just stepped off a runway. Her hair and clothes were pristine, untouched by the chaos of the night before. Kai let out a chuckle.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “I don’t know how you look so good after the night we had. But I need a shower,” she said, stretching.

  Allara gave her a wry smile. “It’s a gift.”

  Kai smirked and swung her legs over the bed. “How about we take a little time to get ready, then meet back here? We can talk then.”

  Allara nodded and stood gracefully. “Yes, that’s a splendid idea. I’ll check in with Agatha as well. Does half an hour sound good?”

  Kai nodded, but she was momentarily distracted—watching Allara adjust her gown as she stood. The movement of her hands on her own body made something tighten low in Kai’s stomach. She felt like a voyeur and quickly looked away before her thoughts could spiral. Clearing her throat, she forced herself to focus.

  “Sure,” she said, though her voice sounded slightly higher than usual. She winced at herself, then walked Allara to the door.

  Allara shot her a curious look before leaving for her own room. What was that about? she wondered as she stepped into the hall.

  Kai let out a heavy sigh and leaned against the closed door. “Get a grip, Kai,” she muttered to herself.

  Shaking her head, she peeled off the clothes from the night before and tossed them into the hamper by the closet. With the shower running, waiting for the water to warm, she stepped back into the room and began her morning exercises—completely nude.

  There was something about moving without the restriction of clothing, feeling every muscle contract and stretch freely, that helped clear her mind. Her body flowed through the movements effortlessly, the routine grounding her. By the time she finally stepped into the shower, the hot water soothed her muscles, and she allowed herself a moment of stillness under the spray.

  Meanwhile, in the hall, Allara was speaking with Agatha. The crone had followed her to Tennga and was also staying at the B&B.

  They were discussing closing up the manor for the time being.

  “Don’t worry, Mistress. Agatha be takin’ care of it. We be stayin’ here for now, yes?”

  Allara nodded. “Yes. I feel this is the right thing to do.”

  Agatha agreed and, with a small farewell, shadow-hopped back to the bayou to handle the manor. Allara, meanwhile, made her way back to Kai’s room.

  At the door, she knocked softly. No response.

  She knocked again, a little harder. Still nothing.

  Frowning, she tried the handle. It turned easily. Peeking inside, she saw no sign of Kai.

  The bathroom door was open, the steam from the shower long gone.

  Just as she was about to leave, her gaze landed on the walk-in closet—and then she froze.

  Kai stood inside, dressed in only a pair of jeans and boots, her top half completely bare. She was facing away, in the middle of putting on a sports bra.

  Allara couldn’t move.

  Kai’s physique was… incredible. Muscles rippled as she lifted her arms, back flexing, triceps stretching, abs contracting. Her breasts weren’t large, but they weren’t small either, perfectly proportioned to her powerful frame. And her skin—tanned and smooth—glowed under the soft lighting, highlighting faint scars that most wouldn’t notice unless they were looking for them. Thin, white lines etched her body in subtle patterns, nearly imperceptible unless the light hit just right.

  Allara sucked in a breath, her heart hammering in her chest.

  Visually, Kai was temptation incarnate. The female version of Adonis—if Adonis had been a battle-hardened gladiator.

  Kai, having spent too long in the shower, was hastily getting dressed. She had just slipped the bra into place when she heard the gasp. Adjusting her breasts so they weren’t hanging out, she turned—only to see Allara frozen in place, staring at her with wide, unblinking eyes.

  Heat flooded Kai’s skin. She hadn’t noticed Allara come in, and now the sorceress stood there, openly watching her dress.

  And all Kai could think about was how much that turned her on.

  Snapping out of it, she shook her head and quickly grabbed the shirt she had set aside, yanking it over her head as she stepped out of the closet.

  Allara, horrified at herself, pinched her own arm. Get ahold of yourself, you stupid bint! I can’t believe I just ogled her like that! She probably thinks you a perv!

  Kai cleared her throat. “Hey, I didn’t hear the knock. Sorry.” She tried to sound normal, to ignore the heat still coursing through her veins.

  Allara shook her head quickly. “No, Kai, I’m sorry. I should’ve waited outside. I don’t know what I was thinking!” She was visibly flustered, and Kai found it extremely adorable.

  Grinning, she decided to throw her a lifeline. “Why don’t we chalk it up to post-battle jitters?”

  Allara exhaled, relieved that Kai wasn’t upset. “Right. Of course.”

  Then she made the mistake of glancing downward.

  Kai’s shirt, though on, was slightly too small. The fabric stretched over her chest, outlining the shape of her muscles.

  Kai noticed the shift in Allara’s gaze and glanced down at herself as well. Grimacing, she rubbed the back of her neck, muscles flexing beneath the tight material.

  Allara’s mouth went dry.

  “Yeah… these aren’t really my clothes,” Kai admitted. “I’ll need to go shopping eventually for shirts that actually fit.” Then she frowned thoughtfully. “Though it does beg the question—how does everything else fit?”

  Allara let out a desperate laugh. “Yes, well, it’s not as if you don’t look good in them,” she blurted out.

  The moment the words left her mouth, she winced. Why did I say that?

  Kai smirked behind her, feeling unusually warm at the compliment but choosing not to tease—yet.

  Allara, determined to change the subject, turned toward the door. “How about we get some food first?” she asked quickly, her cheeks still warm.

  Kai, amused, simply replied, “Sure.”

  And with that, they left her room together.

  Kai and Allara made their way downstairs, passing a few others who were also slowly trickling down for breakfast. The recent influx of Fae into Tennga after the expansion had brought more business to the B&B, and Kai was happy to see Shae benefiting from it.

  As they entered the dining room, they spotted Shae sitting with her mate, Marta, across from her sister, Rina. The Moon Sisters were finally taking a well-deserved break, letting Hanna handle things for the morning. Given the events of the previous night, it was necessary.

  Marta was perched comfortably on Shae’s lap, snacking on fruit while the snakes on her head helped themselves to bites from Shae’s plate. When she noticed Kai and Allara approaching, she waved in greeting, her mouth too full to speak.

  Shae sighed, confiscating the rest of the fruit from her little mate’s hands with an exasperated shake of her head. “Slow down, little one! You’ll make yourself sick.” She rolled her eyes but pressed a fond kiss to Marta’s temple.

  Kai found the pair fascinating. She’d always seen Marta as dominant, yet now she realized the woman was perfectly happy being taken care of. And Shae, in turn, seemed to thrive in her role as the protective, dominant one. It was empowering in a way, watching them—proof that the two were made for each other.

  Speaking of mates… Kai glanced around, frowning when she didn’t see Selene. “Rina, where’s Selene?”

  Rina looked up from her meal and nodded toward the patio. “She’s outside, having a heart-to-heart with her aunt.”

  Kai and Allara turned to see Lady Sumila and Selene sitting together on the swing bench. The two women held each other, speaking softly, their expressions weighted with emotion.

  Kai’s heart clenched. Without thinking, she closed her eyes and reached out with her mind, brushing gently against Selene’s. Just a small nudge—to let her know she was there.

  The response came instantly: a warm, comforting sensation, like an embrace wrapping around her thoughts. Kai smiled, reassured.

  When she opened her eyes, Allara was watching her curiously.

  “She’s alright,” Kai murmured.

  Allara’s eyebrows shot up. She leaned in, lowering her voice. “Kai… when we finish eating, we really must talk.”

  Kai gave her a questioning look but nodded.

  Breakfast was a relaxed affair. The conversation stayed light, full of casual chatter and laughter. When Selene and Lady Sumila joined them, Hanna handed them two closed thermoses and plates piled high with sausages and bacon. Kai chuckled at the sight, prompting Rina to ask what was so funny.

  “I just… I didn’t know you guys could eat regular food,” Kai admitted sheepishly.

  That sparked an entire discussion about human misconceptions, myths, and the truths behind them.

  By the end of breakfast, Kai had unknowingly eased Lady Sumila’s worries. The older woman had initially regarded her with a level of wariness, but when Marta offhandedly called Kai “as gentle as a teddy bear,” the entire room erupted into laughter—except for Kai, who groaned and hid behind her hands in embarrassment.

  Afterward, Rina and Selene left to talk in private, and Lady Sumila returned to New York through a portal. With the war between the covens over, she had much to do. Meanwhile, Shae and Marta stayed behind to help Hanna manage the growing number of guests at the B&B.

  Kai led Allara outside to the swing bench beneath the great oak, knowing they would need privacy for this conversation.

  Allara sat gracefully, her hair catching in the breeze as she looked up at Kai with quiet curiosity. The taller woman hesitated for a moment before finally sitting as well, angling herself so she could face the sorceress.

  “I don’t even know where to begin,” Kai admitted, rubbing a hand along her jean-clad leg.

  Allara smiled gently. “Perhaps we should start with your memory?”

  Kai winced. She really didn’t want to. But after everything, she felt she owed Allara the truth.

  “You heard about how I lost my family some years ago, right?”

  Allara nodded, her expression solemn.

  Kai exhaled slowly. “Well, what you saw last night happened not long after. I got into fighting as a way to… let it out. At first, it worked. But as time went on, I started searching for more extreme fights. That place—the one you saw? That’s where I ended up.”

  She looked away, staring at the swaying leaves overhead.

  “I thought it would help. That it would get rid of the anger. But it just made it worse. I grew more aggressive, more unstable. I started imagining doing horrible things to the people around me—my coworkers, my neighbors. I was unraveling, and I didn’t even realize it.”

  Her jaw tightened.

  “That night was the last time I ever fought. The man I was fighting… he came so close to dying by my hands. I blacked out, went into a fugue state. When I came to, I was on top of him, breaking his face, covered in his blood. And I had no memory of how it happened.”

  Kai swallowed. “Last night was the first time I remembered it all.”

  Allara listened intently, her eyes never leaving Kai’s face.

  “Quitting the fights didn’t help, either. I spiraled even harder. Until one day, a man approached me. He’d been at that fight and had recognized what was happening to me. He taught me how to regulate my emotions. How to be the calm in the storm.

  “He trained me in mixed martial arts—not just the techniques, but the discipline, the structure. And somehow… it worked. I got better.

  Kai took a deep breath before continuing.

  “I left my old job and took the delivery position in Blue Ridge. Distancing myself from the city, from everything that had shaped me into that… person, was the only way I could hold onto the calm I’d finally found. But in doing so, I lost something else—my ability to connect with people.

  “When I came to Tennga, it was like… breathing for the first time. Like I had been holding my breath for years and didn’t even realize it. I’ll never be who I was before, and honestly? I wouldn’t want to be. But because of everything I went through… I know that the person I am now is better for having survived that darkness.”

  A quiet breeze rustled the leaves above them. Allara hadn’t spoken yet, but Kai could feel her presence—solid, grounding.

  When Kai finally turned to look at her, she found the sorceress watching her with something like awe.

  Kai huffed out a soft laugh and let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “I didn’t realize I needed to let all that out.”

  Allara smiled, and Kai swore she had never looked more beautiful.

  Still grinning, Kai reached out and covered Allara’s hand with her own. “Thank you.”

  Allara tilted her head, a teasing smile curling at the corner of her lips. “What on earth for?”

  “For listening.”

  Allara chuckled. “That’s all it takes to earn your gratitude?”

  Kai smirked but didn’t answer. Instead, she turned forward and gave the swing a gentle push with her foot, rocking them both in a slow, soothing motion.

  For a while, they just sat there in companionable silence.

  Then, after a few minutes, Kai broke it with a playful lilt to her voice. “So… what else should we talk about?”

  Allara sighed dramatically. “I suppose it’s my turn, hmm?”

  Kai turned to her with a gentle smile. “Only if you want to. No pressure.”

  Allara met her gaze, something unreadable in her expression. Then, she nodded.

  “Alright.”

  “When we first met, and I touched you—do you remember my words?” Allara asked, her gaze steady on Kai.

  Kai nodded. “You’re back… and even more powerful,” she quoted verbatim. Allara chuckled, surprised. “Didn’t think you’d remember exactly what I said.”

  Kai gave her a strange look, something unreadable flickering in her dark eyes. “I remember everything you say,” she said solemnly.

  The weight of that statement made Allara swallow thickly. There was something unfathomable in Kai’s gaze, something that made her chest tighten. She cleared her throat and looked away. “Yes, right… Well, I meant it, though I’m sure it made little sense to you. I probably sounded like a crazy woman.”

  Kai shook her head. “No. You just seemed to recognize me. Though for the life of me, I don’t know why.”

  Allara huffed, marveling at Kai’s perceptiveness. Lean had been the same. Always able to see beyond the words spoken.

  “I did,” she admitted. “You are very much alike—you and Lean.”

  Kai blinked, her eyes widening in comprehension.

  Allara watched her closely, suddenly worried. But when Kai turned to face her directly, what Allara saw in her expression wasn’t shock or confusion. Those big brown eyes held understanding—something soft. Gentle.

  “Tell me about her,” Kai said quietly, her leg still rocking the swing gently.

  Allara exhaled, surprised by how natural the request felt. Then the words came—flooding out of her as if she had no control over them. As she spoke, her eyes never strayed from Kai’s. And Kai listened—not just with her ears, but with her whole being. She felt the story. Allara could see it in the way her expression shifted: interest, mirth, sadness, grief. She never looked away. Never wavered. Never had Allara seen such wholehearted honesty in another’s gaze before.

  “When I met her, I was quite young—early thirties at most. It was during that memory I showed you.” Allara smiled at the thought. “I was so distracted by all the amazing wares in that market, but when we ran into each other, I completely forgot why I was even there. One thing led to another, and our conversation became an invitation.” She chuckled. “I’d never done that before. My Master was shocked, to say the least. I never really got along with others—Agatha being an exception. But Lean was different.“Yes, she was beautiful—classic blonde hair and blue eyes, statuesque—but that wasn’t what set her apart. She had a wicked sense of humour. And she was brilliant. She took an interest in things that others dismissed, and it wasn’t just for show—she made the effort to learn. Back then, learning wasn’t considered women’s work, especially among sorcerers. I’ve only ever met one other sorceress, and for good reason. The community of sorcery was a tight-knit bunch of old men with even older ideas.”

  She shook her head. “But it’s not entirely their fault. When you live as long as we do, everything moves slower. Why rush when you’ve got all the time in the world? Even so, I was the youngest to make it through my Mastery. Lean was so proud of me. But I wanted more. I wanted to grow in my knowledge. I loved my Master—he taught me well—but I realised along the way that I was different. They all sought, in their own ways, more power. I didn’t.

  “So I learned from Lean instead. And in turn, she confided in me—told me who and what she really was.” Allara’s voice softened. “The oldest being alive. She had been apart of history. She was history! Seen kingdoms rise and fall countless times. She told me that once, long ago, there had been more of her kind, but that they had left. She didn’t know where. Only when. She chose to stay—to bear witness to the world.”

  Kai remained silent, but Allara could feel her listening. Hanging on every word.

  “She was, for lack of a better term, immortal. And she told me this in confidence. But we didn’t realize that we weren’t alone.” Allara’s expression darkened. “Another had heard. And that was the beginning of the end.

  “I didn’t see the trap until it was too late. I was so caught up in my feelings, in her, that I didn’t notice the change in Master Selios. I didn’t see how Chaos Magic had begun twisting him. I didn’t see the way he looked at her—how he coveted her power. How he used me to get to her. Then he convinced the Council that Lean was dangerous. All so he could take what she had.

  “The night of the Conclave, he sent me away on some trumped-up errand—I don’t even remember what. But I came back sooner than he expected. Because I felt her pain.”

  Allara’s voice broke, and she let the tears fall. Kai’s hand found hers, steady and grounding, as she pushed forward.

  “Lean and I had a connection that went beyond the physical. I had planned to confess my love to her that night. But as I rushed back, I felt dread. I followed it to the Council chambers. The doors were locked—multiple runes and wards. So I destroyed the wall instead.”

  Her breath hitched. “She was still standing. Still standing, despite the blood loss. Selios stood before her, a black book in his hands, channeling Chaos Magic while the Council shouted at him to stop. I had never let my emotions take control before. But that night, I did. I attacked Selios with everything I had.”

  Allara’s voice hardened. “His last words were, If only you’d stayed away longer, it would have worked.” She spat the words out, disgusted. “So I struck him down—lightning through his black heart. Then I ran to Lean, collapsed beside her as her life faded.

  “She brushed my cheek.” Allara’s voice was barely a whisper. “Told me not to cry. That I would see her again. But I couldn’t stop. The tears just kept falling.”

  Her chest heaved with silent sobs, and Kai shifted closer, still holding her hand.

  “I felt her go cold,” Allara whispered. “And the sorcerers—they just stood there. Smug. She was dangerous. It’s probably for the best, they said. Then they had the audacity to admonish me—for killing a renowned sorcerer.”

  Kai remained silent, but Allara felt her anger. The tension in her grip.

  “My rage knew no bounds. That night, I earned my first title as a sorceress: Lady Blood. Kin Slayer. I left no one alive in that room and I was not merciful.” Allara’s voice turned hollow. “I buried her in her favorite place.”

  Silence stretched between them. Allara looked away, unable to bear the compassion in Kai’s eyes.

  Then, a gentle touch. Kai cupped her cheek and guided her gaze back. “You are a brave and kind soul,” she said firmly. “You didn’t deserve such betrayal. I am truly sorry that happened to you. You deserve happiness.”

  Allara exhaled shakily, her emotions finally settling. She leaned forward, pressing her forehead to Kai’s, grounding herself in the quiet strength the woman radiated.

  Oh, this woman.

  After a while, they simply sat together. Allara rested her head on Kai’s strong shoulder, letting the rhythmic motion of the swing soothe her. Neither spoke, watching as fairies chased birds through the trees.

  Then, Kai spoke. Soft but sure.

  “She was a Gatekeeper, wasn’t she?”

  Allara sighed. Relieved. “Yes. She was.”

  Kai nodded, accepting the truth without hesitation. “My ability to connect mentally… that wasn’t one of her gifts.”

  “No, it wasn’t,” Allara confirmed.

  Kai hummed thoughtfully. Allara smiled at the noncommittal sound. That was so Kai. So accepting, just going with the flow, as Marta liked to say.

  And so they sat, letting the warmth of the sun and each other’s quiet presence carry them forward.