The attack came before dawn.
Kael felt it before the alarms sounded—the sudden wrongness in the air, the way the forest stiffened as if bracing for impact. He was already on his feet when the first howl tore through the eastern boundary.
Not Nightfang.
Lyra jolted awake at the sound, heart slamming against her ribs. The room trembled, the faint glow beneath the floorboards pulsing like a heartbeat.
She hugged her knees to her chest.
He said I'd be safe.
The door burst open.
Kael strode in fully dressed, blade strapped to his thigh, eyes blazing silver. "Lyra. With me. Now."
Fear spiked—but so did relief.
She jumped off the bed, barely managing, "Are they—are they here?"
"Yes," he said. "And they're not getting past me."
Outside, chaos reigned. Wolves shifted mid-run, guards shouting orders. At the edge of the clearing, dark figures prowled just beyond the wards—testing them.
"They're probing," Kael muttered. "Seeing how strong our defenses are."
Lyra swallowed. "They know it's me."
Kael stopped abruptly and turned to her. "Listen to me. None of this is your fault."
"But if I wasn't here—"
"They'd still be monsters," he snapped, then softened. "Stay behind me."
She nodded immediately.
Too immediately.
A snarl echoed from the treeline, closer than it should have been. A wolf lunged—breaking through the ward in a flash of red light.
Kael moved to intercept—
—but Lyra screamed.
Not in fear.
In instinct.
The ground exploded.
Roots burst upward, coiling around the attacker, slamming it into the earth. Water surged from nowhere, freezing the wolf in place.
The entire clearing went silent.
Lyra stared at her hands, horrified. "I—I didn't mean to—"
Kael spun toward her, shock and awe colliding in his expression.
"You did that," he said.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't want to hurt anyone."
"You didn't," he said fiercely. "You protected yourself."
Another wolf tried to advance.
Kael growled, "Enough."
Lyra's breath shook. "Tell me what to do."
That stopped him.
"Look at me," Kael said. "Don't think. Feel."
She obeyed.
Their bond snapped tight.
The world narrowed. Lyra felt him—his strength, his steadiness, his unyielding will wrapping around her like armor.
"Now," he murmured. "Push them out."
She lifted her hands.
The forest obeyed.
A wave of force rippled outward, knocking the invaders back across the boundary. The ward flared brighter than ever before, sealing with a thunderous crack.
Silence followed.
Then cheers.
Lyra collapsed.
Kael caught her before she hit the ground, pulling her into his arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Her head rested against his chest.
"You were incredible," he murmured.
She shook her head weakly. "I was scared."
"So was I," he admitted quietly.
Her fingers curled into his shirt. "You feel… safe."
The words sent heat through him.
"You make it dangerous for me to lie to myself," he said.
She frowned slightly. "Lie about what?"
Kael hesitated—then brushed a strand of hair from her face, careful, reverent.
"That I can keep this distance forever."
Her breath caught.
Before either could say more, Elder Maelor approached, grim-faced.
"This was only a test," the elder said. "They will come again."
Kael's gaze hardened. "Then we prepare."
"And the girl?" Maelor asked.
Kael tightened his hold just slightly.
"She trains," he said. "With me."
Lyra looked up at him, eyes wide. "Train?"
"Yes," he said. "So no one ever corners you again."
Her voice was small—but steady. "Will you stay with me?"
Kael met her gaze.
Always.
"Yes."
Beyond the trees, unseen eyes watched.
The war had begun.
And Lyra was no longer just prey.
She was becoming power.