LOGINKahlan’s POV Soren was outnumbered. I could see it clearly now—five wolves against one. And still, he didn’t back down. His silver fur glowed faintly under the moonlight streaming through the tunnel cracks, his body low and ready, a deep rumble building in his throat that made the air vibrate. None of the wolves had lunged yet, but it was only a matter of time. They circled him, snarling, their claws scraping against stone. Every instinct in me screamed to run, but my feet stayed rooted, my heart hammering as I watched him. “Soren…” I whispered, my voice trembling. He turned his massive head slightly, those golden eyes flicking to me for just a second—as if telling me to go. Freya’s hand clamped around my wrist. “Standing here isn’t helping him,” she hissed, tugging at me. “He’s got this, Kahlan. We’ll only distract him.” “I can’t just—” “You can and you will,” she snapped, yanking harder. “Move!” Her tone broke through my hesitation, and I stumbled after her, my head twisting
Kahlan’s POv“Would you hurry up?” Freya’s voice cut through the sound of running water for what had to be the fifth time.“We’re already late. If we don’t leave now, the guards will switch patrols and we’ll get caught before we even reach the east courtyard.”I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see me. “Relax, Freya. You’re acting like the world’s going to end if we miss a few minutes of dancing.”“It might!” she shot back dramatically. “This is the only party before exam season starts. If I die without ever dancing under the academy’s moonlight fountain, bury me with glitter.”I laughed under my breath, turning off the faucet. “You’ll live. Just let me finish my hair.”But the next second—silence.No more impatient knocking. No humming. No sarcastic comments about how long I took.“Freya?” I called, stepping out of the bathroom, towel in hand. The room was quiet. Too quiet.My brows furrowed. Her dress still hung on the wardrobe door, her shoes tossed near the bed, but Freya
Kahlan’s POVClasses were canceled for the rest of the day. The entire academy smelled of smoke and melted stone. Repair teams were already working on the broken towers, and the dragon grounds were cordoned off, but I could still feel the chaos lingering in the air.Vermithor sat by the edge of the courtyard, his wings tucked close to his sides, breathing heavily. His scales, usually smooth and radiant, looked dull and tired.“You okay?” I asked softly, brushing my hand over his snout.He huffed, his voice low and gruff in my mind. I will be. The fire burned deep. But not as deep as the fear I felt when I couldn’t control it.My chest ached. “It wasn’t your fault.”Maybe not, he said, his golden eyes narrowing, but whoever did that used a magic that touched my very core. That kind of power doesn’t come from an ordinary student.Before I could ask what he meant, I heard footsteps approaching. Derek. He looked frantic—his coat half-buttoned, his expression sharp with worry.“Kahlan!”
Kahlan's POV “We’re not going down there, Ethan,” Soren hissed. He was standing on the threshold of a space that smelled of ancient dust and some stupid sickly-sweet decay, a black brick beneath the innocuous flagstones of the old library annex.“It’s a secret exit,” Ethan countered, his posture impossible to tell in the dim light. “One they sealed off a century ago. Trust me, I only found it because—”Soren didn’t let him finish. A low, furious growl tore from his chest as he surged forward in anger. “We’ve been here for three hours!” Soren thundered, the sound echoing harshly off the stone walls. “And you lead us into a damn grave?”The fight was over before it even began. Soren’s fist, fueled by impatience and frustration, was fast. Ethan, fueled by a different kind of life, was faster. He sidestepped the blow with a terrifying, liquid ease, his hand catching Soren’s wrist.“It’s not me, Soren. Stop!” Ethan’s voice sounded low, with an edge of a panicked plea that didn't sound l
Kahlan’s POVThe first scream tore through the air before I could even process what Vermithor had said.It came from the northern end of the training field, sharp and full of terror, followed by the unmistakable roar of a dragon. My heart dropped. I turned just in time to see one of the dragons thrash violently, flames bursting from its mouth in wild, uncontrolled waves.“Get it under control!” Ramsey shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.But the rider didn’t respond. Instead, another student—his partner—cried out, “He’s gone! He’s—he’s in the fire!”I froze. The air was thick with heat and smoke, and before I could react, Vermithor’s voice thundered inside my mind.Run, Kahlan!“What—” I didn’t even finish before the world exploded in light.Soren’s arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me to the ground just as a stream of fire tore through the spot I’d been standing in. The ground shook beneath us, and I could smell the scorch of burnt grass and ash.“Are you okay?” he asked,
Kahlan’s POVI woke up to the faint sound of steady breathing beside me. For a second, I froze, blinking at the unfamiliar ceiling before the memories of last night came rushing back. Soren.He was asleep, lying on his side, one arm tucked under the pillow, the other resting near where my head had been. His hair fell into his face, and for once, he looked peaceful—like all the fire and fury he carried around during the day had finally burned out.A smile tugged at my lips as I sat up slowly, careful not to wake him. I didn’t even remember falling asleep here. He must’ve carried me to his room after I dozed off. That thought alone made my stomach twist in a way that was both strange and wonderful.“You’re ridiculous,” I whispered under my breath, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.Still smiling, I slipped out of bed and tiptoed across the room, gathering my things. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet, and the world outside the window was painted in soft shades of gold and grey.







