Page 35

VAELITH

M orning light filters through the tall windows of my private war chamber, brushing against my eyes.

I stand near a massive wooden table strewn with maps and reports, but I’ve barely read a word of them.

Instead, my mind can’t still process the lingering images of last night—my blood still thrums from the fierce, raw intimacy Selene and I shared in the courtyard.

I can’t forget the way her body felt against mine, how her anger matched mine, stroke for stroke, until we collapsed into a moment that was half violence, half desperate need.

It unnerves me how easily we shattered every boundary.

She’s exactly what my superiors warn me about: a purna bursting with defiance, a threat to Orthani’s order.

I loathe her kind—I lost too much to her species to simply ignore it—but I can’t deny that I’m drawn to her with a force that shakes my discipline.

This morning, my entire being feels torn between duty and a conflicting desire to keep her close.

I pivot away from the table, letting out a slow exhale. A soldier steps inside, saluting stiffly. “Commander, the men await your orders for today’s scouting drills.”

I nod, forcing composure. “See that Sergeant Marek handles formation. I’ll join them shortly. First, there’s another matter to address.”

He acknowledges the order and steps out.

I cast one last glance over the scattered war plans, my gaze sliding off the lines of attack and supply routes.

None of it holds my attention the way it normally does.

My thoughts drift to Selene’s parted lips, that savage flash in her eyes when we fought—and how quickly that fight melted into heat I can’t name.

My stomach twists, uncertain what to do next.

With purposeful strides, I leave the war chamber, heading down the corridor toward the second floor of my estate.

Normally, a purna of Selene’s caliber would be locked in the lower cells or kept under constant guard in the training barracks.

But after last night, the idea of her returning to a damp cell churns my insides.

She’s proven too valuable, too powerful, and—gods help me—too enthralling to degrade that way.

The council might want me to keep her on a tight leash, but I’m prepared to make a different arrangement.

I pass a pair of guards who bow politely as I approach. One of them, Garen, glances at me with a flicker of curiosity. Rumors swirl about my relationship with Selene, no doubt, but none dare to voice them openly. “Guard,” I say, “the purna—Selene. Bring her to me in the east wing common room. Now.”

He snaps a salute. “Right away, Commander.”

Once he heads off, I continue along the hallway leading to the east wing.

This part of the estate used to house visiting dignitaries.

It features larger chambers with decent light and a bit more privacy.

I walk past empty lounges, noting the hush that settles when my soldiers see me pass.

For all their suspicion of purna, they sense I hold a stake in Selene’s presence.

Let them wonder. My mind remains fixed on the decision I made upon waking: no more dungeons.

She’ll have a private room, better accommodations, if only so I can keep an eye on her—and perhaps find a measure of peace with what happened between us.

The east wing common room is spacious, featuring tall windows draped with deep blue curtains.

A soft rug covers much of the polished floor, and the walls display minimal decoration—just a few paintings of Orthani’s mountainous frontiers.

I stand by the window, ignoring the faint hush of the city outside.

My breath feels uneven, as if last night’s friction lingers in every muscle.

Soon enough, footsteps approach. The door swings open, revealing Garen and another guard escorting Selene.

She steps inside, posture taut, face betraying none of the storm I suspect rages in her chest. My gaze flicks over her, recalling how she felt pressed against me, how her breath caught when I pinned her to the courtyard post. The memory sends a pulse of heat along my spine.

She levels me with an unreadable stare. “You summoned me, Commander?”

“Yes.” I signal the guards to leave. They exchange a glance but obey, closing the door behind them. Once alone, the hush between us vibrates with tension that crackles like a live current. She stands with her chin high, arms folded, as if bracing for another confrontation.

I keep my tone steady. “I meant to speak with you sooner, but the morning demanded my attention. I trust you slept… well?”

Her lips quirk, a mocking glint in her eyes. “My rest was fine, considering the bruises from last night’s tussle.”

My gut clenches. I recall how we battered each other before giving in to raw lust. Guilt mixes with an unexpected surge of arousal.

“I’ve made an arrangement,” I say, forcibly turning to practical matters.

“You won’t return to the dungeons or training barracks.

Instead, I’m assigning you a private chamber here, in the east wing. ”

Her brows arch, suspicion flaring. “That’s a sudden shift. Why the mercy?”

I exhale, crossing my arms behind my back. “It’s not mercy. You’re valuable, both as a fighter and as… someone Orthani expects me to keep in line. I see no point in chaining you to a cell if you continue to prove you can follow orders.”

She studies me. “You realize the council might object if they learn you’ve softened my captivity.”

I stiffen. “The council trusts my judgment. I’ll argue that fear and chains breed resentment, while proper accommodations cultivate cooperation.

” The explanation tastes hollow, but I cling to it.

She can’t know the deeper conflict gnawing at me.

“Besides, last night showed me you’re no ordinary prisoner. You deserve more than a musty cell.”

Her mouth twists wryly. “I see. So I’m ‘worthy’ enough to be caged in a nicer room. Thank you, Commander, for such benevolence.”

A low growl escapes me. “Don’t push it, Selene. This is for your benefit and Orthani’s. I’m still within my rights to clamp irons on you if you provoke me again.”

She steps closer, posture defiant. “Did last night feel like mere provocation to you?” The question coils around us with a potent bite. My heartbeat spikes, remembering how we rutted against each other with savage abandon. I curse inwardly at how the memory sizzles through my body.

I let out a tight breath. “It was… complicated. I won’t pretend it changes everything between us. But I won’t ignore it either.” My voice drops, tension knotting my throat. “We both needed that release, evidently.”

Her eyes flick with a swirl of emotions—anger, desire, something else. “And now?”

I press a hand to the window frame, gazing out at the city’s distant spires.

My reflection in the glass reveals a man struggling to maintain composure.

“Now, we continue with our roles. I train you, you assist Orthani’s campaigns.

But you have this private chamber. If you choose to remain…

physically close, that’s up to you. I won’t force it. ”

She snorts softly, as if amused by my attempt at politeness. “Physically close,” she echoes, stepping around the table that anchors the center of the common room. She brushes her hand over the polished surface. “You speak like a man who regrets letting lust guide him last night.”

My jaw tightens. “I regret… the confusion it invites. You’re a purna, a sworn enemy of Orthani, yet you fight by my side. This is complicated.”

She lifts her chin, gaze flicking over my face. “It’s complicated for me too. I can’t claim to relish Orthani’s brand of captivity, yet last night I—” She trails off, cheeks coloring faintly. “Let’s just say it’s not a situation I foresaw.”

The hush between us grows thicker. I notice a bruise on her arm, shaped like my fingers from our violent spar. My heart feels heavy at the sight, a swirl of guilt and possessive heat. “You’re not badly hurt?”

She half-smiles. “Just bruises. That’s normal in this twisted arrangement. Are you nursing wounds?”

A half-laugh escapes me. “I’ve a few. Nothing I can’t handle.” Then I gesture to the corridor behind me. “Let me show you the room I’ve readied. We can finalize details there.”

She nods warily, following as I lead her down a short hallway branching off the common room.

We pass a pair of large windows that let in a flood of daylight, the estate’s walled gardens visible below.

I stop at a heavy oaken door. Unlocking it with a small key, I push it open, revealing a modest suite.

The bed is larger than the cramped pallet she had in the dungeons, the floor lined with a rug, and tall drapes mask a single window.

A writing desk stands against the wall, and a small brazier sits in the corner for warmth.

She steps inside, scanning every detail. Her posture remains tense, but curiosity flickers in her eyes. “This is… actually livable,” she mutters.

I linger near the threshold, arms crossed to steady myself.

“There’s a lock on the inside, but I’ll have a guard posted in the corridor.

Don’t think you can slip away unnoticed.

” My voice remains gruff. “Still, this is far better than what the council intended for you. You can appreciate that or not, but it’s a fact. ”

She gives a small nod, though no gratitude forms on her lips. Instead, she approaches the window, drawing back the drapes. Weak sunlight spills in, illuminating a swirl of dust motes. “At least I won’t feel like a caged animal in a damp cell.”

I shift uncomfortably. “Yes, well, caged might still describe your situation, but I suppose this is an improvement.”