Kael's POV
I shouldn't have but I did. Well, I couldn't help myself—I needed to know if she was settling in fine. Maybe, even slip in a warning or two, but everything went south; Jade was still intent on playing whatever game she had up her sleeve, and I had almost snapped off her head from her pretty neck right while fighting the urge not to bend her over, peel down her pants and fuck some sense into her skull.
"Mind getting your head into this duel," Liam said breathlessly as his sword met mine in a beautiful song. "I almost cut your arm off."
The late afternoon sun did little to warm our bare, slick upper bodies. My bare feet burned at the harsh cold of the snow beneath, however, I didn't mind—in fact, this was one of my favorite things to do; an open spar in the training grounds. To play with blades, guns and my magic.
"Won't happen again." A small smile pricked my lips as I shoved the tip of my blade at his chest, but he deflected it neatly.
"Heard you paid our little red one a visit this morning." He grunted, blocking my sword attacks too nicely.
The sweet music of metals clashing filled the nearly empty space. Adrenaline buzzed through my veins as I leaned backward, narrowly missing a slash from Liam's blade.
"You hear a lot of things, Beta." I teased, panting hard.
"So, how did it go?" Liam huffed, swinging the sword in his hand as we circled each other.
"Terrific." I spat to the ground.
"You know, you shouldn't let her get to you this easily." He continued. "It would be chaos if the pack knows what she is to you."
I rolled my eyes, not liking where the conversation was headed. "The last time I checked she was just an omega."
"Are you sure about that?" He cocked a brow, amused.
"Of course, I'm sure."
Liam shook his head. "I pray she doesn't become your downfall."
I pray so too.
"Are you fighting or not?"
He lunged forward first, bringing his sword down at me. Alarmed, my sword met his with a nice clang, and I drove my foot into his side. He fell back, groaning, almost losing his bearings. His hand instinctively clutched his side as he stood uneasily on his foot.
"Damn," he murmured, trying to catch his breath.
"You've gone soft." I chuckled, feeling victorious.
Liam stared daggers at me. "No, you're the one who's gone soft. Breaking a law for a woman you once exiled. You're lucky the council let you off easily or… " his voice trailed off the second my blade planted into the snow before him, barely missing his groin.
My chest heaved heavily—I was still shaken by the abrupt rage that shot through me. My eyes fixated on the gold hilt of my sword—the one I had thrown at my second-in-command just because he had…
Liam's face paled. "Kael… what the hell was that?"
I didn't dare say a word—I couldn't. Instead, I turned around and walked away, not wanting to be in such an atmosphere a second longer.
I had almost impaled my best friend.
___
The Council's Archive, tucked behind the Great Hall, half-sunk into the earth and accessible only to the elite and authorized personnel. It was a circular stone chamber, cold and dry, smelling of old parchment, leather, and dust. Here, the pack's laws, histories, and darkest secrets lived, far from preying eyes like mine.
I carefully dusted off the scrolls that lined most of the shelves, under the bored gaze of one of the watch guards. Somehow, I had been assigned to the section that held accounts of the council's financial transactions and assets—not so bad but I had wanted the section that had the accounts of their rivals and pitfalls.
"My lady," I heard a guard say.
The feminine voice that followed picked my interest. "Clear out the omegas working in that section."
"But…"
"Now."
"Yes, ma'am." Footfalls followed.
My hand froze midair, scroll barely reaching its place on the shelf. I knew that voice, and it belonged to the one person who had no right to be in the council archive. I peeked between the gaps in the books and caught sight of a green dress. I adjusted my stance, and I could see her face—of course I had been right; it was Sasha.
"What are you doing?" The guard in charge of my section demanded.
I jolted, flashing a smile at him. "Oh, nothing. I thought I saw someone I knew." I played coy. "She used to be a close friend back when I was younger."
His facial expression remained plain. "Get back to work."
I nodded, turning back to the shelf, however, catching a glance of green dress vanishing behind a row of shelves—whatever section that was. I tucked the scroll back in, and continued dusting the place up in silence—I just had to be patient.
The right time came as expected, the watch guard yawned, shifting his weight to his other leg—I noticed he had been doing that quite a lot since the past minutes.
"Keep working." He ordered. "I'll be right back."
I nodded, hands still working. I didn't stop until he disappeared. Didn't stop until it had been a few seconds since he left. Only then did I straighten up. I looked around—the other watch guards, most hidden behind other shelves, hadn't bothered to keep an eye on me. So, I took my chance—I gingerly took to the opposite end of the row, careful not to be caught by a watch guard upfront, and snuck my way into the aisle Sasha had gone into.
"The Council Archive is off-limits to unauthorized personnel." My sudden voice caused her to yelp. I watched a leather book fall from her hand. "Violators are severely punished in accordance with the law."
Her eyes widened for a second before narrowing. "I see you've begun your task. I hope it is befitting for a lesser omega."
"Very befitting." I smiled, actually admiring the potentials of my tasks.
"And your cabin?" She probed further."I heard the omega quarters is a total rundown. But to be given a cabin close to the borderlands," she shook her head solemnly. "That's a pity."
I folded my arms across my chest, unbothered by her frail attempt to scar me. "Yea. Even Kael had to come to check it out himself."
Her eyebrows shot up. "What?"
"Yea," I feigned innocence although not bothering to smother a smile. "He messed around a bit." I held her gaze. "Something about getting down on the floorboards."
Her fists clenched. "I warned you."
"I think you should warn him instead."
Sasha snorted and turned away, hurrying towards the exit like an enraged chicken. I couldn't help chuckling as I watched her leave, although deep down, I knew she was going to be a thorn in my side.
Noticing my assigned watch guard wasn't yet back and the coast was still clear, I walked over where the leather book, which had fallen from Sasha's hand, sat. I bent over and picked it up, eyeing the leather cover—-what did Sasha want to know about?
"Alliances." I murmured as I turned open the leather cover.
I had only gotten a glimpse when my watch guard appeared a few meters away from me. "Hey! You!"
I froze, cradling the book in my hands. My heart hammered as he marched over to him, a grim look on his face.
He snatched the book from my hand. "What are you doing with this? Doing here?"
I swallowed for a moment, hesitant.
"Answer me out!" His voice was gruff.
"I met the lady Sasha here," I made my voice sound small and almost teary, acting out the lie. "She had needed my help with her dress. Somehow the book fell after she left and I picked it up. I was just about to return it to its place before you…"
"Never mind." He said dismissively, obviously irritated by my false fragility. "Get back to work. And pray I don't catch you doing something silly again."
"You won't." I nodded, fingers crossed.
I immediately turned away, satisfied he had bought the act. However, my mind still lingered..
Why was Sasha so concerned with Ironwood's alliances and geography that she had taken such a risk?