POV: Aphrodite
He does not fear them—and that unsettles everyone.
The crossbow bolt embedded in the ground wasn't a threat. It was a warning. The metal tip gleamed dully in the fading light, still vibrating slightly from the force of impact. A small puff of disturbed earth settled around where it had struck.
Kai moves before any of us fully process the danger, his crossbow already tracking movement in the trees. No hesitation. No fear. Just immediate, practiced response to threat. His movements are economical, precise, no wasted motion. The weapon fits in his hands like it was made for them, an extension of his body rather than a tool.
"Rogues," he says, voice calm and steady. "At least six. Circling from the northeast. They've been following us for the last mile."
"How do you know?" Draco demands, shifting to defensive stance. His muscles coil beneath his skin, the wolf rising just beneath the surface.
