I clung tighter, breath catching as each motionsent a jolt through us both. Kaelric carried me across the impossibly long chasm of seemingly endless bars. Carried me the entire way without complaint, without falling, both of our lives literally in his hands. I didn’t know how something like this was physically possible without magic, even for a wolfkin. But sheer determination seemed to push him along.
It felt like only seconds, and also forever, until we hit the final platform. Hard.
The crystal flared to life the second Kaelric’s boots touched ground, bathing us in a golden glow.
The trial was complete.
Kaelric’s grip on my back didn’t loosen. Not until I let go first.
Then he set me down gently, carefully, my body sliding down his slowly as heat flared to life between us. But he didn’t let me go, not fully. He just loosened his grip.
“You didn’t let go,” I said, eyes burning into his.
“Never,” he whispered, and that was the moment that I fell in love with Kaelric Morvain. My traitor wolf.
“You’re hurt?” Kaelric’s voice was deep and laced with possessive concern as he peered down at my bleeding hands. The platform was quiet except for the ragged pull of my breathing and the hum of the crystal behind us.
Kaelric wrapped one hand around my lower back; his other hand cupped the nape of my neck like he wasn’t quite ready to stop holding me. Or maybe like he couldn’t. I leaned into him, chest heaving, hands shaking. My palms stung so badly it hurt to breathe. We stood there, hearts still syncing, sweat cooling on my skin. For a moment, it felt like the rest of the arena had vanished.
But it hadn’t.
Footsteps thundered up the stone steps behind us. I turned just in time to see Cassian rushing across the platform.
“Brynn!”
I barely got the words, “I’m okay,” out before he pulled me away from Kaelric and into a hug.
His arms wrapped around my shoulders, and I winced when the pressure hit my palms. He pulled back immediately.
“Your hands, Brynn, they’re bleeding,” Cassian said.
“I—” I started, but Kaelric stepped between us so fast I didn’t see him move.
“I’ve got it,” he told Cassian, voice low, controlled but dangerous.
Cassian’s brows lifted in surprise.
Kaelric didn’t blink.
Cassian gave me a long look, then nodded slowly. “I’ll take you both somewhere private.”
He turned back to me, and I nodded my thanks.
Cassian’s footsteps echoed down the long hallway as we walked down a long dark tunnel, no more abyss around us, just solid stone, which I was grateful for. There was a room off to the right, and Cassian unlocked the door magically with the wave of his hand.
“I’ll be out here if you need me,” he said.
Kaelric just nodded, and I noticed the two men were unusually icy to each other.
The second we stepped into the room, Kaelric shut the door.
“Sit,” he said, his voice softer now.
The room’s four walls each had a glowing sconce in the center. I lowered myself onto the edge of the bench in the middle of the room, legs trembling, heart still racing from the trial.
I couldn’t believe we had passed it. So many had died. I couldn’t believe it would just be two teams left to face the final trial next week. And I was one of them.
Kaelric dropped to his knees in front of me.
