Bob positions himself beside Aspen, backing the threat.
Darian doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t look at the blade. His eyes stay locked on mine. Calm. Resigned.
Like he expected this.
“Aspen—” My voice cracks.
“Don’t.” Aspen’s tone is ice. Absolute. “Don’t defend him, Kaia.”
Mouse flicks his tail once—Aspen’s grip on the blade tightens, but he doesn’t move.
“I’m not—” I scramble to my feet. Carl darts anxiously around my ankles. “I’m not defending him. I just—”
Noise erupts beyond the firelight. Footsteps. Voices. The camp waking in shouted questions and chaos.
Torric arrives first, shirtless and radiating heat. Golden eyes locked on Darian with murderous intent. Finn’s right behind him, chaos magic sparking at his fingertips. His usual grin replaced by something sharp. Deadly.
Malrik steps from the tree line. Silver eyes cold. Shadows coiling at his feet like waiting serpents.
And Kieran.
He moves through them with quiet authority. Never needs to raise his voice. His golden eyes sweep the scene—Darian kneeling, Aspen’s blade at his throat, me frozen between them.
His expression hardens into something unreadable.
Finnick somersaults through the air, landing with dramatic flair before mimicking Darian’s kneeling position. Bob appears behind him, yanking him upright by the scruff.
“Report.” Kieran’s single word carries weight.
Aspen doesn’t look away from Darian. “Found him kneeling over Kaia.”
Torric snarls. Fire licks up his forearms. “I’ll burn him where he—”
“Don’t kill him.”
The words tumble out before I can stop them. Loud. Desperate.
Everyone stares.
Finnick stops mid-mockery. Goes still.
Finn recovers first, voice tight with disbelief. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not.” My hands shake. I clench them into fists. “Just—don’t.”
Kieran’s gaze shifts to me. Searching. “Kaia—”
“I know what he did.” My voice trembles but I don’t take it back. “I know. But killing him won’t—” I stop. Swallow hard. “It won’t change anything.”
The silence feels suffocating.
Malrik steps closer, voice low and dangerous. “He betrayed you. Studied your shadows so he could destroy you.”
“I know.” The bond flares hot against my ribs—wrong, tainted, but still there. I press my hand over my heart like I can smother it. “I know.”
Linda appears at my shoulder, already trying to organize the chaos. Patricia’s notebook glows brighter—this is going in the report.
Darian’s eyes haven’t left mine. No pleading. No desperation.
