a P

lf." I had been watching from the balcony, my teenage heart fluttering at the implication. I saw the blush on my own cheeks in my mind's eye, but

command, but by choice. The pain was a physical thing,

, I stalked over to the stables. I needed a distraction, something to channel the storm of rage and hurt brewing

faster, urging him toward a series of high j

ted even our best warriors. We galloped towards it, a perfect union of rider

n, a sh

pping second, I was suspended in mid-air, a helpless spectator to my own disas

tethered, bolted, his powerful hooves churning the ground

His entire universe was focused on

from my throat. It was a sound of pure agon

seen him use for Lyra, intercepting the frantic horse and wrestling it to a standstill.

aling center. Kaelen, to my surprise, insisted on taking care of me. He sat by my bed,

self to wonder if I had been wrong. Maybe

g that came from his soul. His care for me felt like a task on a checklist, a duty performed with meticulous prec

my leg had begun to mend. I was drifting in a light sleep when I heard v

said, his voice a low hiss. "A broken leg? A

I held my breath,

of silver to nick the strap. Just a little. It was meant to be a lesson

cause grievous, slow-healing wounds t

d of any real remorse. "I miscalculated. Taking care of her now is just damage c

tentive man who had sat by my bedside was a lie. T

ecause he cared. He had co

nging to, snapped. The pain in my mending leg was nothing co