And Perin had just picked a fight with a storm he would never be ready to survive.
Zander’s hand was at my elbow the second I stumbled, steadying me before I even realized I’d started to fall back. The hit hadn’t been mine—but the aftermath had stolen the air from the entire field. My magic still flickered weakly, pulsing in my veins like a second heartbeat I couldn’t quite control. Kaelith was too far. Too quiet.
I hated how empty that felt.
“Are you all right?” Zander asked, voice low, but the heat in his eyes gave away more than his tone.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, brushing him off. “Don’t?—”
But he was already helping me upright, his other hand hovering near my back, too careful, too close.
Our squad moved fast.
Jax stepped in first, standing like a wall between me and the still-lurking Iron Fang. Ferrula was at his side, blades drawn, her body tense. Naia had a hand on her dagger, her other subtly nudging Tae to hold back as the tension mounted. Even Riven had moved forward, flanking me like a silent shadow. Cordelle looked like he was about to vomit or fight someone, maybe both.
They didn’t say anything.
They didn’t have to.
They stood as a shield.
But Zander’s hand was still on me, and I was already burning from too many eyes, too many whispers curled on the edge of every breath.
I turned to him, biting back the sting in my throat. “Don’t show me favoritism,” I hissed, hushed enough that only he would hear. “Things are getting out of hand as it is.”
He flinched like I’d slapped him, eyes narrowing. “I wasn’t?—”
“You were,” I cut in. “And you need to stop. If you want the others to trust me, to believe I earned this… I can’t have the prince playing protector every time I wobble.”
He shifted closer, his voice edged but quiet. “You think I care what they believe when you look like you’re about to collapse?”
“I care,” I snapped back. “I have to.”
His jaw flexed, and for a second, I saw it—the war in him, the one between protector and partner, between soldier and something more. “You’re not alone in this.”
“I know,” I whispered, softer now. “But if you want to help me… then let me stand.”
We stared at each other, breathing the same cracked air, hearts out of rhythm but too damn entangled to tear apart.
He nodded, stepping back just enough.
And around us, the squad remained still, silent sentinels between me and an untrusting guild.
ChapterFour
The major’s boots echoed like a war drum as he stepped into the ring, hands behind his back, his eyes sharp enough to cut bone. His gaze found me first, then drifted to Zander and Remy like they were ants that had wandered too close to his boots.
“Rebec,” he barked, “you go again.”
I straightened, jaw tight, still catching my breath from earlier, my body heavy with the weight of Kaelith’s absence and the bitter echo of Perin’s words. But before I could move, Zander stepped forward.
“No,” he said, voice calm but firm. “She’s done enough for today.”
“I agree,” Remy added, coming up on my other side, eyes shadowed with fury. “She’s not ready.”
The major barely spared them a glance. “She’ll go again. And you,” he added, turning to Remy, “are already walking on thin ice.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Remy asked, his voice a blade sheathed in ice.
