Chapter Twenty Two

The clatter of cutlery and the thick scent of cooked meat filled the air. Tables were lined with loud, brawny cadets in uniforms stained by sweat and testosterone.

Elowyn—still very much Scrawn Wolf Elyan to them—sat wedged at the end of the table, picking at her food and trying to ignore the sting in her abdomen.

“Oi, Scrawn Wolf,” one cadet with a crooked nose barked. “That your fifth bite or you just nibble for show?”

Elowyn glanced up, expression deadpan. “I’m savoring it. Something you wouldn’t understand—seeing as you chew like your teeth are fighting a civil war.”

A few heads turned.

Someone choked on soup.

The crooked-nosed guy blinked.

Then another cadet laughed. Just one, sharp laugh that sounded like it escaped before he could stop it.

It was one of the males she'd shared her chicken with.

Then two more. And soon, the table shook with snorts and restrained laughter.

Elowyn blinked, stunned. The flush in her ears burned hot. But she didn’t retreat.

She smirked. “I mean, no offense. You fight better than you eat.”

“He can eat your face, Froste,” another muttered—but he was grinning.

Their mood shifted, less venom, more rivalry. For a moment, just one, she wasn’t the weakest. She was one of them. Or... close enough.

Across the hall, Baron Ortega slowed his walk.

He’d just walked out from the Senior corridor, intent on ignoring the loud masses as always—but something in the noise caught his attention.

He saw him.

Scrawn Prince Elyan Froste.

Talking.

Laughing.

Holding his ground like a wolf too small for the pack but too smart to get devoured.

He didn’t smile. But his eyes sharpened, lingering on the boy's face longer than they should have.

“She’s... adapting.”

Baron lit a quick cigarette and stuck it in his mouth.

Then: “About time.”

★★★

★★★

Elowyn was in the toilet again as times back and her fingers were instantly pushing into her boots for the most precious sheet of paper for her friend.

She grabbed a pen and set to work, a soft smile holding onto her slightly masculine face.

"To Mia,

Hey. I’m writing this now before I crash in the dorm because today felt.... huge. I needed to send it to you before it all slips from me.

How are you feeling? How are you today? I'm so clogged with emotions and I don't know what to say. I do not want to make you sad.

Dear Mia, I soulfully do not.

First, Combat class? I actually didn’t suck anyone. Like, really didn’t. I don’t know what came over me, but my instincts just.... moved. Every time someone swung, I dodged like I’d done it before. My limbs moved faster than my fear. I think they noticed. I think that blue-eyed boy Riven noticed. But that's his problem.

I hope I don't get punished in the dormitory today. I'm beginning to do well and I wasn't punished yesterday.

Maybe I’m not as helpless as I thought.

I sat at the table with the boys, Mia. And I made them laugh. They laughed. Like I belonged—just a little. It was strange.... but warm. Even if it only lasted a second.

Also.... something happened today. I started bleeding. It’s the real thing—my thing. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t even think it would come here. Not with all the herbs and stress and hiding. But it did. And I panicked. I’m still panicking. I'm so embarrassed.

(But I handled it. I think.)

I had to shut the bathroom door before they barged in again—Baron and Azpen. Don’t worry. I didn’t get caught. But Azpen took the flask. I almost cried right there. I can’t let anyone take that. Ever again. I have to begin to hide it now.

There’s something I keep wanting to write, but.… I won’t."

Elowyn paused and licked her lips. She glanced at the door, deep in thoughts but she was fast to go back to writing.

"Because I know it would just worry you, and maybe it's not fair of me.

Let’s just say, I miss what I never really had. And I hope she’s...."

Elowyn quickly paused and quickly blazed ink over the little emotions she'd spilled and sighed. She shut her eyes for a moment.

One. Two.

"Don’t stress, Mia. I’ll be fine. Maybe even better than fine, if I keep dodging like today.

Write me back. Even if you just draw a stick figure.

— E

★★★

★★★

The heavy door creaked as Sergius shoved it open, breath ragged, sweat clinging to his greying collar.

Sergius cried. “He’s getting impatient, Ariya. Very impatient. You need to comply. He's going to unleash his fury upon us.”

Ariya didn’t look up from the half-burned candle she’d been tracing with her finger. Her eyes were dull, her spine straight.

Ariya smiled softly, unfazed and said. “You sound like you’re the one on the leash.”

“I am on the leash! You think Haspan will just sit back while the girl hides in plain sight? She was meant to be delivered weeks ago!” He snapped.

Ariya finally turned, eyes blazing now, voice low and clipped.

“She’s not some courier package, Sergius. Do not talk to me."

“You made sure of that when you birthed her into this curse and kept her from her father cas' she's forbidden. And this is happening because she's forbidden! What can you do now, eh?”

He stepped closer, manic energy rising in his voice.

“If Haspan finds out she’s hiding hard now.... if he suspects that you're hiding her.... he’ll come for you himself and he'll get her. And he’ll raze the entire cities to the ground if he has to. Do you know what that means?”

Ariya didn’t answer. She simply looked away, jaw tight.

Sergius' voice softened now and it began to sound like he was begging. Helplessly.

“I’ve seen him. With the vial and knife. That golden vial and knife. He’s almost ready, Ariya. He’s just waiting for her to ripen. Three more moons, maybe two.”

Silence settled like ash.

“She’s stronger than you think. You can't have her.”

“She will need to be. Because when Haspan comes… no one will be able to stop him.”

He turned, grabbing the door frame with trembling hands. His voice dropped lower, broken.

Sergius:

“You should start praying to the gods you turned your back on, Ariya. Or to whatever’s left of your daughter. You will regret this.”

Then, he was gone—leaving Ariya sitting in that dim room, still as stone, the candle flickering with the tension in her chest.