Page 30 of Traitor Wolf (Bonded by Fate Duet #1)

Chapter Twenty-One

I t had been nearly a week since Kaelric kissed me.

A week since he’d pulled away like it hadn’t meant anything.

Human. We can’t be together. We’re cursed. I shouldn’t want you, but I do.

His words haunted me. We hadn’t spoken since. Just clipped nods during meals and short glances that burned hotter than they should’ve. He hadn’t so much as brushed my arm in passing. Had barely met my eyes.

That hurt worse than the kiss.

Because that kiss had meant something to me. It had unraveled every wall I’d built around my heart, only for him to act like it never happened.

At his request, his request , I’d been training with Cassian. We were inseparable, eating every meal together and working late into the night. A bond had formed between us, one that confused me.

Every morning, just after dawn, Cassian met me at the outdoor sparring grounds.

He always brought my favorite cup of steaming hot apple cider, handing it to me with a flirty smile and complimented what I was wearing.

Even if it was a ruddy old jumpsuit. Cassian was all charm and veiled interest, and I found myself pulled between the two.

Cassian, Kaelric, Cassian, Kaelric. One seemed like he might want me in a world where the class system didn’t exist, and the other might want me in a world where I wasn’t human.

Needless to say, those options weren’t ideal, but Cassian was sweet, and he’d been a huge help in getting me this far.

He was smarter than he looked, quicker too, but he didn’t push me the way Kaelric did. He was too soft on me.

Ever since the second trial, it had become apparent to me that Cassian might be interested in me romantically. He flirted, he teased. But there was something careful behind his smile, a distance that was probably due to my being magicless. So in that way, neither guy truly wanted me.

Kaelric, mind you, stayed away like I was the fire that might burn him alive.

I hadn’t seen him shift into his wolf all week. Not once. But I felt him somehow, always watching me from the edges of the tree line. Keeping his distance. Guarding without guarding.

The third and final trial was looming. Another chance to prove I belonged here, and an even bigger chance to bring my family up out of the Dregs forever.

A chance to face Kaelric and pretend he hadn’t broken my heart.

Cassian tossed me a practice blade, the hilt warm from his palm. “You’re getting faster,” he said, circling me on the packed-sand sparring grounds. “Maybe even dangerous.”

“Maybe?” I lifted the blade. “Careful, Lord Draven. I might take your pretty head off.”

He grinned. “Oh, I’d let you. Just to see the look on Kaelric’s face.”

My heart skipped.

I didn’t glance towards the shade tree at the edge of the training yard. I didn’t have to. I could feel him there, the same as always. Half-shadowed, arms crossed, unreadable.

Fast as lightning, Cassian stepped in, and I barely brought my blade up in time. Steel rang out, and he smiled like we were dancing instead of fighting.

“Good,” he said. “Now, again.”

We moved in a tight rhythm. Strike, block, pivot. Cassian’s moves were elegant, all precision and flair, pulling each blow before it could hurt me. As practice went on, I noticed his smiles lingered a little too long. His gaze dropped once, just once, to my mouth.

“Your stance is better,” he said, voice low. “But your balance is off.”

He stepped behind me without warning, one hand brushing the curve of my hip, the other resting lightly on my lower back.

Being held like this felt good. I wanted more of this, but not with him.

With the angry wolf watching me from the trees.

But what was the point of wanting something you couldn’t have?

Or that didn’t want you back? I was better than that.

Maybe I should be focusing my attention on someone who was focused on me back.

“Here. You’re leaning too far forward. Keep your weight centered.”

His touch wasn’t intimate, not quite, but it was intentional.

I let out a breath and stepped forward, breaking the contact.

“You’re supposed to be training me,” I said.

“I am.” His smile turned sharp. “Can’t help it if I enjoy it.”

Okay, that was intimate. Something in the air shifted between us. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like Cassian’s flirty attention .

I turned toward the tree to find that Kaelric was gone.

Just empty space where he’d been.

The loss hit harder than it should have, and Cassian saw it.

He tilted his head, tone softer now. “You know… whatever he said to make you sad, it wasn’t true.”

Was I sad? Was it that obvious?

I tightened my grip on the blade, forcing my voice to be steady. “We’re not talking about him.”

“No,” Cassian said, stepping closer again. “We’re not. But maybe we should be?”

“We should be practicing so I can stay alive tomorrow,” I told him. “Any clues as to what the next trial will hold?”

Cassian frowned. “I would tell you if I could. You know that.” His voice was low as he scanned my face.

I nodded. “I know.”

He glanced at Valkaryn and then back at me. “It’s designed so that you won’t survive it. I can tell you that.”

Chills raced up my arms. There were only two pairs left.

Two . The House of Vexalor initiate and me.

The rest had perished on the obstacle course from Hades, as I affectionately called it.

Now that final course was designed to take me out?

Me specifically. The Elites never wanted me to win, I knew that.

“It’s good we’ve been practicing sword training,” he said, and there was a widening of his eyes. Was he giving me a hint? It seemed like it.

I tipped my chin, indicating I understood his meaning. “Alright. Good. I should turn in for the night.” My arms felt like mush, and I needed a shower.

Cassian nodded and pulled my upper arm gently, drawing me closer to him.

“The other sponsors have been questioning my… friendship with you.” His voice was low as he scanned the field with his eyes. “They call me a sympathizer. They’ve been encouraging me to get rid of you before the final trial. Watch your back. They might pull something.”

I knew he didn’t mean to watch my back from him . I trusted Cassian, but he meant they were working out a way to get rid of me before tomorrow.

I nodded once. Message received.

‘Let them try it,’ Valkaryn suddenly said, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Okay, thanks,” I told him.

Then his gaze met mine. “When this is all over, I’d like to take you on a date.” He stated. “I mean, if you want.”

I was surprised at the little glimmer of excitement that gave me. A date? I’d never really been on one. And if Kaelric wasn’t going to be interested in me …

“I’d like that,” I told him before I could change my mind.

The grin that graced his face made my stomach flip-flop a little.

That night, I could barely sleep.

I hadn’t been sleeping much since Kaelric kissed me and walked away.

But tonight, after tossing and turning for two hours, something felt… wrong. The air smelled faintly of smoke and magic, and I could have sworn I heard a scream.

Then a bell rang.

I sat up in the dorm, heart pounding.

Not the morning wake-up bell.

The city alarm. The fire bell.

I shoved on my boots, sheathed Valkaryn at my side, and bolted into the living room only to find that the clamor was coming from outside. I ran down the hall and out into the darkness.

In the distance, flames rose like serpents over the rooftops of the Dregs. A dozen fires, maybe more. Screams echoed down the slope as shadows fled through narrow alleys, children clinging to mothers, elders limping with blankets over their heads .

No . My stomach sank, and I suddenly felt sick.

The Dregs were burning.

Without thinking, I started running.

It took me too many minutes to cross the lower quarter of Aerlyn and squeeze through the fence into the edge of the Dregs, where the air was thick with soot. I was shocked to find Cassian already there.

“Cassian!” I screamed, panic fully taking over me. The Dregs were on fire. Oh Creator, my home was burning. I didn’t know what to do.

“Kaelric said he would take first watch. I was out for a late-night run to clear my mind about tomorrow’s trial and saw smoke,” he said, looking panicked. “We need buckets, hoses, anything.”

I nodded, heart in my throat. “The Elites?”

They had water wagons, even people with water magic. They could help.

“They’re watching…” His voice was sharp, bitter. “…from their balconies.”

I followed his gaze.

High above the flames, on the marble and glass terraces of Aerlyn, robed silhouettes stood motionless. Not helping, not lifting a finger, they simply watched the Dregs burn. I peered up at the highest floor of one of the nicer buildings and saw a red cloak whipping in the wind .

Corvessa. She stood and watched while my people burned.

I noticed that the front gates of the city were closed.

“They’re not even going to open the gates,” I said, sick to my stomach as rage boiled just beneath my skin.

“No,” Cassian said. “They won’t dirty their hands for Dreg filth.” He didn’t say it like he believed we were filth, he said it like they were. “I’m so sorry, Brynn.”

Somewhere, a child wailed.

“My family!” I sprang into motion. I was still half asleep when I’d gotten down here, and seeing Cassian had distracted me. But hearing a child scream, it reminded me of my brothers and sisters.

My legs pumped as I ran harder.

Smoke filled my lungs as I passed burning house after burning house. My eyes stung, and I shoved past a tangle of fleeing bodies until I reached the top of our street. My street.

A few more strides and I could see that my house was gone.

The roof had collapsed, flames licking what was left of the frame. The door hung open, one hinge melted to the ground. And behind it, smoke. Just smoke.

“No,” I choked out. “No, no, no.” I moved to rush through the half-open doorway and see if my family had gotten out, when I heard a familiar voice.