On the fourth night, the rogues found them.
The attack came swift, in the ravine where the moonlight barely touched. Shadows darted from the rocks, snarls ripping through the stillness.
Kael was first to meet them, blade flashing. Lyra's dagger found its mark in a rogue's throat, her movements quick and precise. They fought back to back, wolves howling inside them, bond thrumming like a drumbeat.
And then—Kael faltered.
A rogue's blade scraped his side, slipping past his guard. He staggered, teeth bared in pain. Before the enemy could strike again, Lyra was there.
She slammed into the rogue, driving him down, her wolf lending her strength beyond her size. Her blade sank deep. Blood sprayed hot across her arm.
When she turned, Kael was staring at her. Not with fury. Not even with surprise. But with something dangerously close to admiration.
"You saved my life," he said hoarsely.
Lyra wiped her blade, chest heaving. "Don't let it go to your head."
After the rogues retreated, their party regrouped. Kael's wound was shallow, but Lyra insisted on binding it. She knelt before him, fingers deft, wrapping cloth tight.
The air between them shifted.
Kael's eyes burned into hers, his wolf prowling close to the surface. The bond pulsed, stronger now, like it was feeding on the danger they had faced together.
For a heartbeat, neither moved. Neither spoke.
Then Lyra tied the knot hard enough to make him grunt. "There. Try not to get stabbed again."
Kael's lips twitched, the ghost of a smile. "You're insufferable."
"And you're alive."
On the fourth night, the rogues found them.
The attack came swift, in the ravine where the moonlight barely touched. Shadows darted from the rocks, snarls ripping through the stillness.
Kael was first to meet them, blade flashing. Lyra's dagger found its mark in a rogue's throat, her movements quick and precise. They fought back to back, wolves howling inside them, bond thrumming like a drumbeat.
And then—Kael faltered.
A rogue's blade scraped his side, slipping past his guard. He staggered, teeth bared in pain. Before the enemy could strike again, Lyra was there.
She slammed into the rogue, driving him down, her wolf lending her strength beyond her size. Her blade sank deep. Blood sprayed hot across her arm.
When she turned, Kael was staring at her. Not with fury. Not even with surprise. But with something dangerously close to admiration.
"You saved my life," he said hoarsely.
Lyra wiped her blade, chest heaving. "Don't let it go to your head."
After the rogues retreated, their party regrouped. Kael's wound was shallow, but Lyra insisted on binding it. She knelt before him, fingers deft, wrapping cloth tight.
The air between them shifted.
Kael's eyes burned into hers, his wolf prowling close to the surface. The bond pulsed, stronger now, like it was feeding on the danger they had faced together.
For a heartbeat, neither moved. Neither spoke.
Then Lyra tied the knot hard enough to make him grunt. "There. Try not to get stabbed again."
Kael's lips twitched, the ghost of a smile. "You're insufferable."
"And you're alive."