They Came For Me

Ariana's POV

Nobody waited for me to ask another question.

Kael was already moving.

"Rowan."

His voice was firm.

"Get every entrance sealed."

Rowan nodded once and headed for the door.

"I'll send more guards to the east wall."

"Don't send them."

Rowan stopped.

"If the hunters crossed our border this easily, they wanted us to notice them. They're waiting."

Rowan understood immediately.

"I'll take another route."

He disappeared into the hallway.

Kael turned to Selene.

"Take Ariana upstairs."

I stared at him.

"What?"

"You'll stay in your room."

"I'm not hiding."

"It's not a request."

His words annoyed me.

"I wasn't asking for permission."

I walked past him and headed for the door.

Before I could reach it, his hand caught my wrist.

Not roughly.

Just enough to stop me.

I looked down at his hand.

Then back at him.

"You can't keep doing this."

"I'm trying to keep you alive."

"I don't even know why they're looking for me."

"Neither do they."

His answer made no sense.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Kael let go of my wrist.

"They know what you are."

"I don't."

For the first time, he looked as though he wanted to answer.

He opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

That hurt more than I expected.

Every time I thought he was finally going to trust me...

He stopped.

"I'm tired of your secrets."

"They're not secrets."

"What are they then?"

"They're things I wish you never had to carry."

I laughed quietly.

"You don't get to decide that."

Before he could answer, a loud horn sounded outside.

Once.

Then again.

The third blast was cut short by shouting.

Real shouting.

Not practice.

Not training.

People were running.

Someone screamed.

Kael looked toward the window.

"They're here."

He pulled a sword from the stand beside the fireplace.

The movement was quick, like he'd done it a thousand times before.

He tossed another blade to Selene.

"Protect her."

Selene caught it easily.

"I can fight beside you."

"No."

"Kael—"

"I said no."

She looked angry but didn't argue.

Another shout came from outside.

This one was closer.

Then the sound of metal striking metal reached us.

My stomach turned.

The battle had already started.

Kael walked toward the door.

I grabbed his arm before I could stop myself.

He looked down at my hand.

Then at me.

"Don't go."

The words slipped out before I could take them back.

For a second neither of us moved.

His expression softened.

Only a little.

"I have to."

"You could get killed."

A small smile touched his face.

"The hunters will have to do better than that."

"This isn't funny."

"I know."

His hand covered mine.

It was warm.

Steady.

"I'll come back."

"You can't promise that."

"No."

He looked into my eyes.

"But I'll fight like I promised it."

I slowly let go.

He turned and walked out.

The door closed behind him.

The room suddenly felt much bigger.

Much emptier.

Selene walked over to the window.

Smoke was already rising from the front gate.

"They're inside," she said quietly.

I joined her.

Warriors were running across the courtyard.

Some carried shields.

Others were helping the wounded.

Then I saw Kael.

He walked through the middle of the fighting without slowing down.

The hunters rushed toward him.

The first never reached him.

The second fell before lifting his weapon.

The third turned and ran.

Nobody had touched Kael.

Beside me, Selene sighed.

"He always fights like that."

There wasn't pride in her voice.

Only worry.

A young guard burst into the room without knocking.

"My Lady!"

He was breathing hard.

"They broke through the western wall."

Selene grabbed her sword.

"How many?"

"We don't know."

His face had gone pale.

"But they're asking for the same person."

He looked straight at me.

"They're asking for

Ariana."

Before anyone could speak...

A deep roar shook the entire castle.

It didn't sound human.

It didn't sound like a wolf either.

Every person in the room froze.

The frightened guard whispered one sentence.

"They brought something with them."