I took a step toward the window, then stopped. The panels were locked, secured tight.

  Of course they were.

  “Thanks, Doyle,” I muttered under my breath.

  I leaned my forehead against the glass and let out a slow breath. The truth was, he’d probably saved me from myself. From rushing outside with nothing but nerves and half-formed ideas. From saying something stupid the moment she turned around.

  What would I even tell her?

  Hi. I borrowed some dead kid’s face. Then, I turned invisible in front of you and your brother to go on a stabbing spree. And after all that, I let the curse everyone fears loose and hoped it didn’t kill me first.

  Yeah. That would go over well.

  I straightened and stepped back from the window, rubbing a hand over my face. The urge to follow hadn’t faded, just dulled enough to think around it.

  “What do you think she’s doing?” I asked quietly.

  The blade shifted at my side.

  “The pup,” it said. “She may be tending it.”

  I pictured the wagon tucked just out of sight around the cottage. The injured wolf curled inside, blood dried into its fur, breathing slow and heavy. The attendants would have seen to it first. Of course they would have.

  “That makes sense,” I said then asked. “Pup? But that thing was massive.”

  The blade didn’t stir. “It will grow.”

  I snorted quietly. The wolf’s shoulder had already been level with my chest. Any larger and it would be pushing the size of a horse. The idea of a wolf that big was scary.

  “I wonder if Calum’s bird is nesting somewhere out there too.” I muttered.

  “Most likely.”

  The thought lingered. Druids and their companions. Not trained. Not owned. Bound in ways like me and the sword. The bond between the siblings and their creatures felt like an old custom. Deep, ingrained. Not something you broke without consequence.

  “How do you think Doyle and Brent will go tonight?” I changed the subject to one that was nagging at me.

  “I trust they will fare better than you could have,” the blade said. “They know the city. They have walked its shadows longer.”

  True enough.

  “Doesn’t stop me worrying.”

  “Worry does not strengthen anyone, nor does it help.”

  I didn’t argue.

  I turned back to the rune book, letting the pages slide beneath my fingers. Wards. Reinforcements. Half-finished patterns that hinted at strength but demanded a price I wasn’t ready to pay yet. I marked a few in my mind. Possibilities. Future meals.

  My focus dulled. The symbols blurred. At some point the book slipped from my hands and I sank back onto the bed.

  Sleep took me quietly.

  No memories. No hunger. No dark place waiting to drag me under.

  When I woke, light was already filling the room. My limbs felt heavy, but in a good way. Rested. For the first time in longer than I wanted to admit.

  I swung my legs over the side of the bed, energy humming under my skin. The delivery would be coming today. Weapons. Armour. Answers.

  And I knew exactly where to start.

  I found Rob in the training hall below. He was already moving, working through drills on his own. Sweat darkened his shirt and ran down his neck, the air sharp with the sound of steel biting into wood.

  He’d rigged up a makeshift target. Rope, padding, and a battered post that looked like it had been dragged in from outside before dawn.

  “Hey, mate,” he called when he spotted me, blade still moving.

  “Morning,” I said, watching him finish the sequence. “Your forms look cleaner.”

  He grinned and rolled his shoulder. “This new blessing’s helping. Watch.”

  He stepped in again, faster this time. The strike landed flat and precise, not brute force, just control. The target shuddered on its ropes, the sound sharp and solid.

  Rob drew back, breathing hard, and rested the sword against his shoulder. “Wish Jerald would hurry up and find us a replacement for the one you destroyed.” The grin crept back in. “Or you could stand in for it.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  He laughed and lifted both hands. “Relax. I’m joking.” He eyed me again, head tilting. “Mostly. How about a quick spar instead?”

  The offer tempted me, more than I wanted to admit. But my mind was already elsewhere. “Later. I need a favour first.”

  His grin sharpened. “Go on.”

  “Kent.”

  That got his attention. “What about him?”

  “I need to find him this morning. Ask a few questions.”

  Rob’s eyes lit up. “You thinking more gear? Something for training?”

  “Better,” I said. “it’s part of the surprise.”

  That did it. He sheathed the sword and wiped his face with the hem of his shirt. “Yeah, I can track him down. He mentioned where he lived ages ago. Kept telling me to visit, test out some practice blades. But I never had the time.”

  “After breakfast?”

  He nodded. “Works for me. I’ll finish up here and take you. Should we grab Amelia?”

  I thought about it. About how quickly she’d piece things together and accidently spoil the surprise.

  “Not this time.”

  “No problem,” he said easily. “Later then.”

  I left him to his drills and headed back through the house, looking for Doyle. The kitchen was empty. His little room was locked and silent. No answer when I knocked.

  I checked the spare room upstairs next. Brent wasn’t there either.

  The bed was untouched.

  “Shit,” I muttered, more to the house than anyone else.

  I was halfway down the hall when a door creaked open. Calum stepped out. He took one look at me and his mouth twisted. A sharp breath left him, full of disgust, and he turned away like I wasn’t worth the air.

  That did it.

  Fear for the others was already sitting raw in my chest. His reaction pushed it over the edge.

  “Seriously?” I hissed.

  He stopped. Slowly, he looked back.

  “What do you want,” he said, the words spat out. “Coward.”

  I didn’t have anything to say. I’d told myself I wouldn’t react, and yet here I was, letting it get to me. I took a slow breath.

  He had no idea. He thought I was a coward for running, but invisible or not, how could you not see what I did. Trolls didn’t just fall over by themselves… Maybe Calum was too slow, or maybe too stupid to realise what I had done. The thought twisted into a smirk before I could stop it.

  His eyes narrowed. “What are you laughing at.”

  “I didn’t laugh.”

  “Then why are you smirking.”

  I shrugged. “Just realised something.”

  His jaw tightened. “Say it.”

  I met his stare. “I was thinking how stupid you are.”

  Something snapped.

  His face flushed red and he stepped forward. “Say that again.”

  “I’ll give you one better,” I said. “You’re a dumb fuck.”

  He moved before the last word was even out.

  His fist came up wild and fast, clipping the doorframe as he lunged. Instinct took over. The kinetic rune flared and the punch brushed past my cheek, missing by a breath before slamming into the wall behind me.

  Calum swore and swung again.

  This time I twisted with it, the rune guiding the force away from my centre. That was when it clicked.

  He didn’t know how to fight.

  His stance was wrong. His balance worse. His hands were rough, but not from sparring. From strings and frets. Music, not combat.

  He shouted in frustration and went for a kick.

  I didn’t see that one coming.

  It caught my leg with a dull thud and forced me back a step. It stung, more surprise than pain, and that made it worse somehow.

  I shoved him away.

  Not hard. Just enough.

  The fire that had driven me there guttered out all at once, leaving something sour in its place.

  Calum came at me again anyway.

  His punch missed. His knuckles didn’t.

  Instead of flesh, they hit the stone pillar beside me with a solid crack. He screamed and staggered back, clutching his hand and cursing between gasps.

  Doors flew open.

  They spotted me standing over Calum.

  “Sean!” Amelia shouted, rushing forward. “What did you do?”

  Celeste stood frozen in the doorway.

  Her eyes found me, then Calum on the floor, cradling his arm. The hurt on her face stopped me cold. My breath caught.

  And I realised there was no version of this where I came out clean.

  “I didn’t do anything.”

  Calum laughed harshly, pain and anger tangled together. “Bullshit. The coward used some kind of blessing.”

  “Really?” I said, genuinely thrown. “You think I needed one for that?”

  Celeste didn’t look at either of us. She had already slipped under her brother’s arm, steadying him. Her hand brushed his injured wrist and her jaw tightened.

  “Come on,” she said quietly.

  She guided him into her room and closed the door behind them without another word. The sound of the latch felt louder than it should have.

  As soon as it shut, Amelia rounded on me.

  “Alright,” she said. “What actually happened?”

  I rubbed the back of my neck. “Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll explain.”

  She didn’t argue, but the look she gave me said this wasn’t going to end well.

  I sat at the table picking at my food while Amelia worked through breakfast like she needed the energy for whatever came next. I told her everything. Start to finish. No shortcuts.

  She listened without interrupting.

  Rob wandered in halfway through, took one look at Amelia’s face, and stayed quiet until I finished.

  When she finally spoke, her voice was calm. Too calm. “Seriously, Sean. You need to be more careful.”

  “I was,” I said. “I didn’t touch him. The moment he swung, I knew he wasn’t a fighter.”

  “That’s not what I mean,” she said. “Not the fight. The provocation. He’s a druid, but to his people he might as well be a noble. And that means consequences.”

  I let out a short, humourless breath. “What is it with me and nobles.”

  Rob snorted. “Nah, mate. That’s not you.”

  I glanced at him.

  “It’s nobles.”

  That earned a weak smirk from me.

  “They’re born with sticks lodged somewhere uncomfortable,” Rob added.

  “True enough,” I said.

  Amelia did not look amused. Rob caught her expression and cleared his throat.

  “So anyway,” he said quickly. “Before Sean picks another fight with the next noble who knocks on the door, I’m taking him to see…”

  “Shh,” I said.

  Rob blinked. “Taking Sean to train. Obviously.”

  I sighed. “Nice recovery.”

  Amelia rolled her eyes. “Let me guess. This surprise of yours has something to do with it.”

  “Yep,” Rob said brightly.

  She shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her mouth.

  I sighed again.

  A sharp echo from the front door cut through the house. The others barely reacted. I was already on my feet.

  I reached the entryway just as the door opened. Brent and Doyle stepped inside. Both looked worn down, like the night had taken something and not bothered to give it back.

  Brent didn’t slow. “If anyone needs me,” he muttered, already passing us, “I’ll be asleep.”

  He disappeared down the hall.

  “Make sure you at least…” Doyle started.

  Brent’s door closed.

  Doyle stopped, exhaled once, and let it go. Some battles weren’t worth picking.

  “So,” I said. “How’d it go?”

  He hesitated. Just long enough to set my nerves off.

  “We got in,” he said. “Found where they kept the files.”

  My shoulders loosened a fraction. “You weren’t caught?”

  He shook his head. “A few close calls. Nothing more.”

  “Good. And the files?”

  Doyle rubbed at his jaw. “About that.”

  Uh, oh…

  I must have looked concerned, because he shook his head. “No, no... It’s not a disaster. Just… complicated.”

  He glanced down the hall, checking doors, listening. Then he leaned in slightly.

  “Before we reached them, they were already gone,” he said. “Burned. Right inside their sealed containers.”

  I stared at him.

  “Someone got to them first."