Page 29

The following few days, I was nonstop training.

Except I was making no improvements. I should’ve been focusing on bettering myself, but my mind was elsewhere.

Hunter had barely spent time in the dorm and when he did, he’d lock himself in his room.

I had contemplated whether to tell him I knew about him threatening others for me, but things were still tense between us, and I was too stubborn to apologize.

Sighing, I threw a weak punch at the padded dummy in front of me.

“Hey, Grace.” Matias sauntered past, his smug grin making my skin crawl. “How’s Lucas? Oh—wait. I forgot. He’s no longer here. My bad.”

My heart twisted in my chest, and he may as well have driven one of the angelic weapons into me. I turned toward him, my fists clenched. “What did you just say?”

Matias chuckled, along with a few others beside him. “Nothing. Just stating facts. Must be strange for you, though. Your friend is dead, and his twin sister is probably wishing it was you instead.”

Rage surged through me like an electric current, and I stepped forward. Matias’s eyes dipped to where my fists were turning white, and smirked.

“Woah, careful, guys.” He glanced at his friends. “I think we might have angered the little beast.”

Obnoxious laughter broke out between the group, and I practically growled as I raised my fist to hit him. But before I could, a strong hand gripped my wrist, pulling me back.

I glanced up into a set of piercing grey eyes.

“Trying to be the next Rocky, Bambi?”

I shot him a glare, yanking my arm free from his grip.

He barely seemed to notice as his focus shifted entirely to Matias, and the moment their eyes met, Matias stiffened.

His face drained of color, his confidence withering under the weight of Hunter’s stare.

Without a word he took a cautious step back, grabbing his friends and pulling them along with him.

Had Hunter threatened him too?

I wanted to ask, but I didn’t get the chance to when I noticed a group approaching from afar.

A few familiar Celestial faces arrived alongside Council members, with Eden, Joe, and Nadael walking in the front.

Her usual serene expression was in place as the attention of everyone in the training grounds turned toward them.

I leaned closer to Hunter, enough to smell his aftershave and that blend of smoke and vanilla.

A woman—who I presumed was part of the Council—in a grey pantsuit stepped forward, harsh eyes scanning us all.

“Warriors,” she began, her voice echoing across the field.

“As per our investigation into the incident that occurred on the 23rd of October, we have finally caught the demon responsible for the breach.”

I froze as blood rushed to my ears.

“Thanks to Eden.” The Council turned to a smiling Eden. “He was found outside the academy, where we presume he was planning another attack. She managed to subdue him with an angelic weapon and is now awaiting trial. As for the upcoming competition, it will proceed as scheduled—”

What?

My jaw clenched in disbelief. How could they just move on? Lucas was dead, and they were acting like it was just another obstacle to brush aside.

Before I knew it, I was storming over, my blood boiling. “That’s it?” I called out, ignoring the whispers around me. “You’re just going to go forward like nothing happened? Lucas didn’t even get a proper burial! How is that fair?”

One of the Council members shot me a withering look, then turned to Joe, who stood at the side, trying to remain composed. “Keep your human in check,” he said coldly, dismissing me like I was an annoyance.

“With all due respect, Cael,” Joe said. “Grace isn’t just my human. She is someone I have taken care of since her birth, and I believe she has every right to demand answers.”

The Council member’s gaze cut to Joe, his expression calm, but I could see the flicker of annoyance beyond it.

“Answers?” Cael repeated, his voice dripping with condescension as he looked at me.

“What answers do you seek? That death is a part of this? That sacrifices are necessary? Or perhaps you think the world should stop spinning every time one of you falls.”

My fists curled so tight that my nails bit into my palms. “It’s not about the world stopping; it’s about respect. Lucas James deserved better than this—better than everyone dismissing him like he didn’t matter!”

Cael’s expression darkened to the point where I thought he might actually retaliate. His sharp blue gaze bore into mine. “Careful, Miss Martin. You’re treading dangerously close to insubordination.”

I barked out a bitter laugh, unable to stop myself. Nadael’s eyes widened, and she looked over at Joe as if pleading for him to stop this.

But it wasn’t Joe who spoke up again this time. It was Hunter. He’d stepped in front of me, his body partly hiding me away from Cael’s wrathful gaze.

“Insubordination?” he said, his grey eyes staring down Cael.

“You call it insubordination, but all I see is someone demanding basic decency. Lucas fought for us, and now you expect us to stand here and pretend his sacrifice meant nothing?” He stepped closer, his posture rigid, shielding me even more as his voice dropped lower, deadlier.

“You want to throw around words like loyalty and obedience in order to preserve the Angelic Code? Fine. But respect goes both ways. And if you can’t give that to people, then maybe you’re the one who’s forgotten your place. ”

Cael’s gaze narrowed dangerously, but Hunter didn’t back down. His broad shoulders were squared, and his jaw was set like he dared Cael to challenge him.

Silence followed before Eden cleared her throat. “I think Mr Cain is trying to say that they have all had a tiresome few weeks, and Lucas was such a good friend to them. It is normal to feel all these emotions, especially in their case.”

Hunter glanced at Eden like he knew what she was saying was utter bullshit. That was not what he meant at all.

“Yes, exactly,” Nadael chuckled nervously. “Come, Cael, let us head to my office, and we can discuss the upcoming competition in more detail.”

Cael hummed, ignoring Nadael as he glanced back at me and Hunter.

He leaned forward, his cold smile firing my anger again.

“Do you know what your problem is, Mr Cain? You think this is about justice, about fairness. But fairness is a luxury in this world, and justice... justice is for those who serve. It is a pity you haven’t still learnt that after what happened to your brother. ”

The words sent a shot of anger to my chest. I could only stare at him, my breath coming in short, sharp bursts as Hunter’s jaw twitched in response.

I was practically trembling with rage for him, refusing for the fire in my chest to be extinguished.

“Remember, Mr Cain,” Cael said smoothly, “the second rule of the Angelic Code: ‘To question is to rebel. To rebel is to fall.’”

I stepped forward before I could stop myself, fists clenched at my sides—but Joe caught the movement instantly.

“That’s enough,’ he said, voice taut with warning. “You’ve made your point, Cael. I say we head back now.”

Cael smirked as if he’d already won. “Of course. It’s always a pleasure, though, to hear the passionate rambles of a mortal.”

I wanted to argue, then scream, but the crushing weight of Joe’s gaze stopped me. With one last glare at Cael, I watched as they all left the training grounds.

As soon as we were out of earshot, I turned to Hunter. “Are you okay?” It was a rubbish question to ask. I knew he wasn’t okay.

He didn’t look at me right away. His jaw was still tight, and his eyes were fixed at some distant point ahead of him.

“That asshole,” I muttered, unable to contain it any longer. “He had no right to bring your brother into this. None.”

Hunter finally turned to me, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But when our eyes met, the depth of emotion there—the anger, the pain, the guilt—was enough to take my breath away.

“It’s what they do,” he said in quiet rage. “They twist the knife wherever it’ll hurt the most. That’s how they keep people like us in line.”

“But that doesn’t make it right, and it doesn’t mean we just have to take it.”

“And what do you think happens when we fight back, Grace? Huh? You saw what just happened in there. If I push too hard, if we push too hard—” He broke off, running a hand through his hair, his frustration palpable.

“They don’t care,” he finally said, voice rough.

“They only want control, and they’ll destroy anyone and anything who steps out of line. ”

There was something in his tone, something darker that was just out of reach, but it was there, waiting... anticipating. For the first time, I noticed how his hands trembled slightly as if he was trying to hold himself together but barely succeeding.

I didn’t know what to do, and the only thing that I thought could distract him was turning his attention on me. “I want you to train me,” I blurted out.

Hunter raised an eyebrow as he looked down at me, his posture easing. “Train you?”

“Yes, train me. Teach me how to be a Celestial Warrior – just anything.”

He chuckled at that, the sound low and gruff. “I’m going to pass on that.”

“Look, you’re the best Warrior, and whether I like it or not, I’d benefit from you teaching me.”

Hunter stared at me for a few silencing seconds before turning and walking away from me.

“Ask Azrael for private lessons,” he said without looking back as if he knew I was following behind him like an idiot.

“Or Silas. I’m sure he’d be happy to teach you something—if you don’t mind his spider crawling up your arm or him walking around naked. ”

I rolled my eyes, trying to match his long strides across the field. “Azrael would rather see me fail than give me private lessons, and Silas spends half his time shirtless, chasing Jerry around. I know we’re not on the best of terms but... you’re skilled, Hunter. I need that.”

He stopped and turned to face me. His eyes narrowed. “And you don’t think I’d also rather see you fail?”

I swallowed nervously, aware that our complicated relationship was hardly sunshine and rainbows. “I figured it’s worth a risk.”

Hunter shook his head, his jaw set. “Find someone else.” He was turning away again when desperation kicked in, and before I could stop myself, I was blurting out the very words that could make or break this moment.

“I’ll help you look for your brother.”

That made him pause. His back was still to me, but I saw the tension rise on his shoulders. Slowly, he turned around, his eyes hard. “What?”

“I’ll help you find Aaron.” The nerves twisted in my stomach as we stared at each other.

“And how exactly are you going to help? You know as little as I do.”

“I’m strategic,” I shot back, refusing to back down. “I can talk to people, unlike you, and above all, a Riftkeeper is no different than a human; maybe I can relate to them... in a way.”

He laughed at that—a short, dry laugh that did nothing to help the situation. “So, you think charm and words are going to help me find my brother?”

“It’s better than you doing it alone.”

Hunter was quiet, and that flicker of desperation in me grew.

I took a step closer. “I’m not saying I can fix anything, but I can help you.”

His gaze locked on mine, and for a moment, his expression shifted vulnerably. But then it was gone, replaced by that cold, infuriating mask he always wore.

He didn’t say anything else. He gave me one last unreadable look before turning and walking away.

I watched his back disappear into the distance, and frustration simmered in my veins.

I hated him for always making me feel this way—for pushing me away when I knew deep down we could actually help each other.

I looked around the training grounds, the other Ascendants sparring and practicing with ease, while I stood there again on the outside, watching.

I couldn’t decide what was more frustrating—how badly I wanted his help or how much I cared that he didn’t even consider mine.