n Du

by high stone walls, it hummed with energy as Lycans of all shapes and sizes sparred, practice

ng every eye. He didn't have to bark orders or assert his

lver eyes locking onto me

s, wary stares. Some of the Lycans outright sto

t," I muttered, s

nt. Instead, he handed me a wooden

eyebrow. "

ed, nodding toward a figur

and eyes the color of storm clouds. There was a sharpness to his featu

ly, his voice carrying just enoug

ght," Lucian replied, ste

hing that wasn't quite a smile.

knuckles whitening. "You talk

nd amusement rippling through the onlookers. Kae

voice cutting through the n

me to react as his staff came swinging toward my side. I blocked

aster and harder than the last. It was all I could do to

, his staff slamming against mine with

was getting under my skin. I knew he was testing me, t

ut to give him t

ting his staff sail harmlessly over my head. Before

rd. He stumbled, and a gasp

el growled, rega

o with it," I shot back,

forcing him to backpedal. For a moment

ng me off balance, and swep

ng from my lungs. Before I could react,

d, his voice lo

t me to keep fighting. But I knew better

hrough gritted t

ering his staff a

ing as the Lycans returned to their training

pushing myse

r than I expec

mpliment?" I snapped, bru

otential, Seren. But you're raw. Untrained. If you wa

retort, but he held

. "We'll start

mind, each mistake glaringly obvious. Kael's smug expression

e stronger. F

ets and got to my feet. The room felt stiflin

he silent halls of the Den. The training grounds we

ack and stepped onto the field, the c

t sleep

d defensively, to find Lucian sta

gesture of peace. "Relax

asked, lowering the staff

could ask you th

him. Finally, I said, "I need to ge

ession unreadable. Then he stepped onto

me," h

ha

earned," he said, taki

ted, the

I didn't

rs of the morning. By the time we stopped, I was

ime, I felt like I

, his breathing steady despite

mproving,

ttered, taking

es piercing in the moonlight.

ht me off guard.

," he said. "Revenge. Surviva

sure. I'd been running for so long, fighting to st

I guess I'm still

derstood. "When you do, ho

he air between us,

cian than the stoic, battle-harden