All Chapters of The Goddess Warrior: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

“You sound tired, my love,” she said, concern threading through her words.“I’m okay. This week has been intense,” Kaplan replied. “I spend at least eight hours a day in combat training. Tharion and his brother Soren are brutal—they never let up. Then there’s this other instructor, Gus… he’s a werebear, and man, he looks the part. Ferocious, but genuinely a good guy. And that’s not even counting the other training—magic, creature studies, all of it, and how they interact.”Jaiyana leaned against the doorframe, fascinated. The way he described his training, his tone a mix of awe and determination, made her chest swell with admiration. She could hear the grit behind his words, the intensity of his world, and yet, in that moment, it was just him and her, connected across the distance.“You’re amazing,” she whispered, almost unconsciously. “I wish I could see it all.”“I wish you were here too,” Kaplan said softly, and for a moment, the miles between them felt smaller, bridged by the soun

Danny’s mind had been elsewhere most of the day, drifting toward the anticipation of his training with Dr. Mahisar. He hadn’t told anyone he would be training—only that he had an opportunity to meet one of the locals after work. He grabbed a quick bite when they returned to the guesthouse, then slipped upstairs to change. He didn’t have fancy training gear like Kaplan, but he wanted to be comfortable.He opted for a more traditional kameez, a loose tunic that hung to his knees, though it would have been longer if Danny weren’t so tall. The tunic draped over his jeans, giving him a casual, effortless confidence. He rolled up the sleeves, revealing a handcrafted leather bracelet on his wrist, threaded with small, colorful beads—reds, blacks, whites, and yellows—each pattern carrying a story of his heritage. Woven into the band was a small, polished piece of buffalo horn, smooth and dark against the beads, a quiet homage to strength and resilience. The bracelet, supple from years of wear,

Kaplan’s senses were on overdrive as the team of seasoned operatives moved in silence through the thick pines toward a concealed cave mouth high in the Croatian mountains. They had come ashore under cover of night, slipping their small black craft beneath a rocky overhang along the jagged Velebit coastline. Now, cloaked in shadow and resinous pine scent, they advanced step by step, each motion measured, each breath deliberate.Kaplan’s movements echoed those of his seasoned teammates, each step measured, each shadow a shield. His first mission—and already his pulse was hammering against his ribs. Every snap of a twig, every whisper of wind through the pines set his senses on edge. They were there to infiltrate a hidden coven of witches, guarded by rogue wolves—feral, unpredictable, and lethal. The thought of their eyes gleaming in the dark made his stomach tighten. He’d been trained for this, drilled in every maneuver, but experience couldn’t erase the creeping fear that one misstep c

The group remained mostly silent on the journey back to Directorate headquarters. Cara and Marcus kept the trident close, secured in an enchanted case that pulsed faintly with its own power.Kaplan replayed the mission in his mind, recounting it step by step, each moment tinged with embarrassment over how he had missed the rogue’s deception in the chamber. He kept his eyes on the floor, ashamed of his lapse.Tharion must have sensed his thoughts. His voice was calm, almost fatherly, as he spoke. “You did very well, Kaplan. A true warrior.” He rested his massive hand on Kaplan’s shoulder, grounding him.“I… I’m sorry I missed the rogue’s ruse in the chamber,” Kaplan admitted, voice low.“No,” Tharion said firmly, shaking his head. “You did well. You fought bravely. Anyone could have missed it. We completed the mission—and we’re all alive. That makes it a good day.”Kaplan felt a weight lift slightly from his shoulders, the tension of the battle and his own self-doubt easing under Thari

Jaiyana hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard. She needed to let her grandmother know that Kaplan would be joining them, but how could she phrase it without revealing too much? She started and stopped several drafts, each one feeling either too casual or too revealing, before finally gathering her courage.Dearest Nani,I have some exciting news. I will be joining you this weekend in Dubai. I am so looking forward to seeing you.Her hands paused as she considered the next words, weighing every nuance.It just so happens that one of my workmates will be in Dubai during our visit. I have offered for him to join us for dinner on Saturday. I hope you don’t mind.She stared at the screen, a tight knot of guilt forming in her chest. This wasn’t just any colleague—he was the love of her life. Yet the thought of revealing that truth in an email made her stomach twist. Some conversations demanded presence, tone, and nuance. Some truths had to be spoken in person, not typed into a scree