Thirty seconds. Her outline remained steady.
Forty-five seconds. I saw her hands clench into fists.
Fifty seconds. Her knees began to buckle.
"Enough!" I stepped forward, breaking protocol.
Nyx turned to me, his concentration broken. "The time isn't?—"
"I said enough." I sent my own shadows forward, pushing his back. "She's proven herself."
"She's proven nothing," he snarled. "Except that you've grown soft."
His shadows struck out at me, unexpectedly vicious. I deflected them, but one caught me across the chest, burning cold where it tore through my shirt.
The crowd gasped. Drawing blood was forbidden in a formal challenge.
I didn't hesitate. My shadows surged forward, wrapping around Nyx's throat. "You forget yourself, cousin."
The Elder's voice cut through the tension. "Release him, Varkolak. This challenge is over."
I withdrew my shadows reluctantly. Nyx massaged his throat, his eyes promising retribution. "This isn't finished."
"It is for tonight," the Elder said firmly. He turned to Aya, who stood shakily in the center of the arena. "The human has shown unexpected resilience. She may continue her training."
Relief washed through me, but it was short-lived. As we left the arena, I could feel Nyx's gaze burning into my back. This victory had only made things more dangerous for her.
I escorted Aya back to my quarters, knowing she was too weak to make it to her own. She collapsed onto my bed the moment we entered.
"Did I pass?" Her voice was hoarse, her skin too pale.
"You did." I brought her water, watched her drink greedily. "But you shouldn't have had to face that challenge at all."
"Why did you intervene?" She set the empty cup aside. "I could have lasted the full minute."
"He was increasing the pressure. He never intended to play fair." I paced the room, unable to contain my agitation. "You could have been seriously hurt."
"You were worried about me." A smile touched her lips.
I stopped, looking at her. "Of course I was worried."
"Why?" She sat up straighter. "I'm just an assignment, aren't I?"
The question hung between us. In the shadows of my room, with her eyes steady on mine, I couldn't lie.
"No." The word came out rough. "You're not just an assignment."
She stood, unsteady but determined, and crossed to where I stood. "What am I, then?"
Her proximity was intoxicating. The shadows in the room responded to my desire, swirling around us both. "Something impossible."
Her hand touched my chest, right where Nyx's shadow had torn my shirt. "You're bleeding."
"It's nothing."
"It's not nothing." Her fingers traced the edge of the wound, and I couldn't suppress a shiver. "You were hurt defending me."
"I would do it again." The admission hung between us.
