She jolted awake to the relentless pounding on her door, each thud echoing painfully in her skull. She knew exactly who it was. A groan escaped her lips as she threw off the thin bnket and sat up. Her eyes were gritty, the remnants of sleep clouding her vision and slowing her movements. The knocking on her door grew more insistent. Clearly, patience was not Colton's strong suit.

  Stumbling to her feet, she yanked on the nearest set of bck clothing, the skin-tight fabric hugging her body like a second skin, covering the consteltion of tattoos and scars that marked her. With a sharp twist, she threw open the door, only to find Colton standing there—his posture rigid, his irritation simmering just beneath the surface. His eyes glinted with an edge that could slice through steel.

  He shoved a watch toward her face, the ticking hands pointing accusingly at her. "You’re te," he snapped.

  The watch read 5:20 a.m., the air still heavy with a predawn chill, and shadows pooled in the stone corridor like dark puddles. She met his gre and shrugged, barely caring.

  Colton snatched his watch back, and for the first time, his gaze roamed over her disheveled appearance. His eyes flicked over the tight fabric, tracing the lines of muscle beneath it. He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. "Wear something proper for training," he muttered, voice rougher than usual. "We’ll start with combat. Meet me in the gym."

  Without another word, he turned and walked away, his boots echoing against the cold stone floor. A smirk tugged at her lips. Had she actually made him nervous?

  She shut the door, leaning against it for a moment, then grabbed her gear from the desk. Her fingers traced the familiar weight of her daggers, each one resting where she’d pced it. One for her left thigh, one for the right. Two more for each hip. She sheathed them one by one, each weapon sliding into pce with a satisfying whisper of steel. "Check," she murmured, a steadying ritual.

  With a final nod of satisfaction, she pulled on her boots and sprinted into the corridor. The stone walls of the castle were damp from the morning chill, and the torches sputtered weakly in their brackets. As she ran, she twisted her bck hair into a braid, the movements swift and practiced.

  The gym was cavernous, its walls carved from ancient stone. Shafts of early morning light streamed through narrow windows, casting golden stripes across the worn mats and racks of weapons. The air was thick with the smell of metal, leather, and old sweat.

  Colton was already there, standing by a table den with daggers of varying shapes and sizes. His intense gaze flicked over them as if studying ancient texts. Swords leaned against the walls, their gleaming edges catching the dim light.

  She stepped onto the mat, her boots sinking slightly into the padding. Colton’s eyes snapped up to meet hers, his expression sharpening. He picked up two daggers and stepped onto the mat with her, a wicked smile curling his lips—one that promised nothing good.

  "I’m assuming you’ve gone over basic combat training in the time that you’ve spent here," he said, his voice low and challenging.

  She nodded, sliding into a rexed, predatory stance. They began to circle each other, the air between them charged like a drawn bowstring. The faint squeak of their boots on the mat was the only sound.

  His eyes sparkled with challenge as he sheathed the daggers at his sides. "This is going to be fun."

  He lunged first, his fist shot toward her face—fast and powerful. She twisted away quickly, feeling the air ripple against her cheek, and snapped her own fist forward, nding a jab to his side. He grunted, stumbling back a step, surprise fshing across his face.

  She smiled, her expression sharp as a bde.

  He shook it off with a cough. "Okay. I won’t underestimate you now."

  He came at her again, faster this time. His punches targeted her ribs, jaw, and temples. Each strike was precise, like a surgeon’s cut, aimed at breaking through her defenses. She dodged, weaving and ducking, his fists grazing her but never nding. The mat beneath them creaked and shifted as they moved in a deadly dance.

  Her muscles burned, but she reveled in the challenge. His frustration fred in his eyes, and she saw his jaw tighten.

  "Are you going to nd anything anytime soon?" she taunted, her voice low and mocking. "I’ve got more important things to do."

  The words hit like flint striking steel. His eyes narrowed, and he surged forward, his speed blurring into something almost inhuman. His fists hammered toward her—relentless, aimed at her torso, her legs, her face. Her breath came in sharp gasps as she dodged, each movement a hair’s breadth from disaster.

  Then, without warning, he swept her legs out from under her. The world tilted, and she hit the mat hard. Pain exploded through her back as the air was knocked from her lungs. Before she could recover, she grabbed his ankle, twisting it sharply. He crashed down beside her, his back hitting the mat with a satisfying thud.

  They grappled, limbs tangling, breaths coming fast and ragged. His hands reached for her wrists, but she was faster. With a swift move, she pinned him beneath her, her knees on either side of his hips, her hands pressing his shoulders down. Her eyes bzed, and she felt Leviathan’s power surge through her, heat curling behind her eyes like an inferno barely contained.

  Colton’s eyes widened. Admiring the sheer beauty of them. "Your eyes," he whispered.

  She blinked, forcing the fmes back. The fire dimmed, leaving only the usual stormy green behind. She released him, standing and clearing her throat. "What’s next?"

  He pushed himself up, breathing heavily, his gaze never leaving hers. Without a word, he grabbed the padded gloves from a nearby rack and slipped them on. "We’ll see how hard you hit with powers induced."

  She frowned. "What?"

  "Hit the pad. Regurly, first."

  She slid into her stance, drew back, and punched with everything she had. Her fist cracked against the padding, the impact echoing like a gunshot. Colton’s feet slid back an inch.

  "Good. Again."

  She struck harder this time, her knuckles throbbing with the force. Colton grunted, bracing himself.

  "Now reach for Leviathan," he said. "Channel his power into your hands."

  She hesitated but then closed her eyes, reaching inward. Leviathan’s presence fred hot and wild. His power surged through her veins, pooling in her hands. Fmes erupted, curling over her knuckles.

  "Control the fire," Colton commanded. "No outward fmes."

  She gritted her teeth, forcing the fire inward. The fmes receded, leaving her hands glowing red—molten, dangerous.

  Colton’s eyes glittered with approval. "Now add more power."

  She drew deeper from Leviathan, feeling the fire roar inside her. Her hands burned hotter, the glow intensifying until they looked like molten va.

  "Now hit the pad."

  She hesitated, uncertain of what she might do. But she met Colton’s eyes, nodded, and let her fist fly forward. The fire surged with her strike, and the impact sent Colton staggering back several steps. A bckened, smoldering imprint marred the pad.

  She had burned it.

  Colton’s eyes shone with awe. "Now that’s power."

  She smiled softly at him, the fmes dancing in her eyes. "Take off the pads and actually fight me, Colton." Her voice was low and challenging, her hands glowing like molten iron, the heat radiating in waves that distorted the air around them.

  Colton’s eyes narrowed, and without hesitation, he peeled the padded gloves off, letting them fall to the mat with a soft thud. In an instant, crackling lightning snapped to life around his hands, tendrils of white-hot electricity curling around his fingers and wrists like serpents eager to strike. His hands glowed a brilliant, blistering white, arcs of electricity sparking off them with sharp pops.

  A wicked grin curved Aria’s lips as she felt the surge of fire and fury flood her veins. Leviathan’s power thrummed beneath her skin, charging her with raw energy. The air around them crackled, thick with the scent of ozone and the faint sulfuric sting of her own fire. Every muscle in her body coiled, alive with the thrill of the fight as her eyes locked onto Colton, noting every shift in his stance, every subtle twitch of his fingers. He was ready.

  His grin mirrored hers, sharp and defiant, his eyes glinting with a challenge she couldn’t ignore. The storm was building between them, two forces of nature locked in a votile dance, just moments from colliding.

  She struck first, her body barely seen as she lunged toward him. Her right hand, wrapped in searing crimson fire, shot toward his torso. The air shimmered as the heat spiraled around her, but Colton was quick—he twisted at the st moment, his body bending like a reed in the wind, narrowly avoiding her strike.

  Before Aria could reset, Colton retaliated. A streak of blinding white lightning shot from his fingertips, crackling toward her throat with lethal precision. Her eyes widened in reflex, but she ducked just in time, feeling the crackle of energy singe the tip of her braid. Her heart hammered in her chest, the rush of adrenaline drowning out everything but the primal urge to survive.

  She stumbled back a step but didn’t pause for long. Springing forward again, faster this time, she aimed a fiery jab at his face, her knuckles bzing with heat. He leaned back, just enough to avoid the full impact. The heat from her punch must have singed his cheek, but he didn’t flinch. He only smirked, hungry for more.

  They fell into a brutal rhythm—fire and lightning colliding in a vicious battle. Aria’s fists flew in rapid succession, carving bright trails of fire through the air. Colton dodged with unnerving precision, his body flowing around her strikes, his movements fluid and sharp. Then he countered, arcs of lightning slicing toward her with murderous intent.

  The gym echoed with the violent symphony of their battle—crackling lightning, whooshing fmes, and the sharp sp of their feet against the mat. The air grew thick with tension, stifling, charged with the collision of heat and static.

  Aria closed in, determined to nd a blow. Left, right, left again—punches coming faster, more desperate. Colton parried with his forearms, sizzling where their heat met, the smell of charred leather filling the air. He winced but didn’t falter. The fight wasn’t over yet.

  Then, without warning, he swept low. His leg was moving quickly, too quickly. Aria leapt, twisting mid-air, and aimed a kick at his shoulder. He blocked it, his hands absorbing the impact with a sharp snap of electricity. Aria nded lightly, but her bance wavered for just a heartbeat. A fatal misstep.

  Colton’s eyes fshed. He saw the opening. He lunged with lightning-fast speed, his hand crackling with energy, arcing toward the exposed side of her torso. Time seemed to stretch as his hand shot forward, the power around it blistering.

  This was it.

  But at the st moment, he pulled back the deadly charge, curling his fingers into a fist. His knuckles smmed into her ribs with bone-crushing force.

  The sickening thud of impact echoed through the gym. Pain exploded in her side, white-hot and blinding. Aria gasped, staggering backward before colpsing to her knees. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she coughed violently. The world spun around her, her vision flickering. The mat beneath her felt cold and unforgiving as her hand pressed to her ribs, but it didn’t stop the burn. It didn’t stop her ribs from breaking more.

  The fire in her veins sputtered and died, leaving only the searing ache. The world narrowed to the pain in her side, the pounding drumbeat of her pulse, the gritty texture of the mat beneath her hands.

  Colton’s voice sliced through the haze, smug and breathless. “I finally hit you.”

  The satisfaction in his tone stung more than the physical pain. Aria clenched her jaw, pushing through the agony as she slowly pushed herself up. Every movement felt like dragging the weight of the world, her side throbbing in time with her heart. She wasn’t going to let him see her break.

  “I’m fine,” she rasped, her voice barely a whisper, even though she knew it wasn’t true. “Don’t worry.”

  Leviathan’s fury roared in her mind, crashing against her thoughts like a tidal wave. His energy surged through her, raw and wild, threatening to consume her.

  Colton raised an eyebrow, confusion flickering in his eyes. “Are you talking to Leviathan?”

  Aria nodded, still clutching her side. “He’s very angry at you.”

  Colton’s smirk faltered, his eyes shadowed with unease, but he didn’t comment further. “Good to know,” he muttered.

  As Aria starts to take a shaky step toward the exit, the pain in her side fred again, shooting through her like a burning arrow. Her legs wobbled, and her breath came in short, bored gasps. Each step felt heavier, like she was dragging a thousand pounds behind her. The bruises, the deep throb from Colton’s blow, all combined into a crushing weight that threatened to pull her under. But she refused to stop, refused to show any weakness.

  Before she could steady herself, Colton’s presence loomed behind her, and then his hand was at her arm, gentle yet insistent. He reached out to catch her, his grip firm as he pulled her toward him. “Let me take you to the medic,” his voice was soft, filled with concern, but beneath it, there was something else—a quiet urgency that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

  The warmth of his touch spread through her, but it wasn’t comforting. It was a reminder of everything she couldn’t trust, everything she had buried deep inside her. The brief flicker of relief that washed over her was quickly smothered by the cold steel of her resolve.

  She jerked her arm away from his grasp, her body tensing with the sharp instinct to protect herself. “Don’t touch me.” Her voice came out hard, a cutting command that was more than just words. It was a wall, a barrier between them that she couldn’t afford to let down. She couldn’t afford to need someone. Not now, not ever.

  Pain fred through her ribs as she forced herself to stand taller, her side burning with every movement, but she made herself do it. She wouldn’t let him see how much it hurt, wouldn’t let him see her breaking.

  Colton hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering with something unreadable, but then he let his hand drop. He stepped back, but there was a fsh of something else—hurt or frustration, maybe even confusion—as he watched her turn away from him.

  Aria ignored him, pushing forward, refusing to let the pain control her. The cold air of the gym doors hit her like a sp, stinging her skin and cutting through the sweat and heat of the fight. How long had they been fighting for? She shakes the thought out of her head. She couldn’t let him help her. Not now. Not when she had no idea where they stood.

  Behind her, Colton’s footsteps faltered, and she could almost hear the way his gaze lingered on her back, filled with pity, doubt, and something she couldn’t quite pce. He couldn’t understand, couldn’t see that she wasn’t broken. She was stronger than that. She didn’t need saving.

  Her breath hitched with the effort to hold herself together as she reached the doors, forcing her body to move despite the pain. The weight of her side pressing against her with every step felt like a constant reminder that she wasn’t invincible. But she wouldn’t let it break her.

  She sucked in a sharp breath and forced herself to keep moving. She wouldn’t stop for him. Not for anyone.

  Aria whistled loudly, sharply. The unmistakable sound cut through the empty courtyard, slicing the quiet night air.

  The change in the atmosphere was instant. Leviathan’s presence filled the air with a pulse of energy, like thunder rumbling in the distance. Before Aria even saw him, she felt him—the power of her dragon surging through the courtyard, charging the space around her with life.

  Aria didn’t have to wait long. Leviathan soared down from the darkened skies, the wind pulling at her, trying to drag her back, but she kept her feet firm. His massive wings beat the air, and the earth shuddered beneath her. He nded in front of the castle with a soft thud, the force of his descent kicking up a gust that nearly knocked her off bance. His dark scales gleamed under the moonlight, and his eyes, glowing with an inner fire, locked onto hers, sensing her pain before she even spoke.

  With a low rumble, Leviathan lowered his head, bending closer to make it easier for her to climb onto his back. She grimaced as she raised her arm to grip the nearest scale, feeling the fresh bruises pulse beneath the leather. Each movement sent a sharp pain through her body, but she managed to hoist herself up onto him, pressing her side as gently as she could against his sturdy form. Every touch was a reminder of how fragile she felt in that moment.

  Once she was settled, Leviathan lifted into the sky, his wings cutting through the night air with practiced ease. The cold stung her skin as they rose, but the pain from her body was the worst of it, wrapping around her chest and squeezing tighter with every second. She couldn’t grip him with both hands, but Leviathan knew where they were headed. He knew her too well.

  They flew swiftly, as Leviathan always did, but not recklessly. He adjusted his pace to match her condition, never pushing her too hard, always vigint. The ndscape blurred beneath them, a swirling sea of dark forests and winding rivers, until the world opened up to reveal the hidden valley below. The air grew warmer as they descended, the scent of earth and sulfur greeting them long before they nded.

  Leviathan touched down beside the healing hot springs, the water shimmering like liquid silver in the moonlight. The springs were nestled in a secluded glen, surrounded by ancient trees whose trunks twisted and curled like the limbs of giants. The air was thick with mist, swirling in soft ribbons, and the heat rose from the water in gentle waves, carrying with it the scent of minerals and calming herbs. The stones surrounding the springs were worn smooth, their surfaces bathed in the soft glow of the water, adding to the otherworldly beauty of the pce.

  Leviathan stayed close, his massive form casting a shadow over her as she made her way toward the spring. The warmth of the air comforted her for a moment, and the ache in her side dulled just a little.

  Without wasting any time, Aria’s hands trembled as she unbuckled her leathers, the pressure against her bruised ribs making her skin burn with each movement. The leather pulled away, revealing the marks of the fight—the ones Colton’s fists had left. She let her braid fall loose, shaking her hair free of its restraint, before stepping into the hot spring.

  The moment her feet sank into the water, a shudder of relief ran through her, and she let out an involuntary moan. The heat wrapped around her aching body like a lover’s embrace, soothing the deep, pulsing pain that had gnawed at her since the fight. She let the water pull her in, submerging herself until she was sitting on the stone beneath the surface, the heat of the spring flowing into her muscles and bones, easing the tension and the hurt.

  The stone was familiar beneath her—worn from countless visits, her refuge in the darkest of times. The spring, with its soft glow and warm embrace, had always been a pce where she could heal, even when the world was broken around her. And now, as the water began to heal the bruises and broken bones, she let herself feel the pain fully. It wasn’t a hurt that numbed you. It was the kind of pain that reminded you that you were alive, that you were still here, and that no one could ever take that away.

  The healing was slow, each breath a struggle, but it was the good kind of pain. The kind that promised recovery, that promised strength.

  Leviathan watched from a few feet away, his eyes glowing softly in the dim light, a constant reminder that no matter what Aria had gone through, no matter what she had been forced to become, she was not alone. Never again.

  Once she had finally healed from the brutal fight and could touch her side without wincing from the immense pain, Aria slowly rose from the hot spring. The water had worked its magic, and as she gnced down at her side, she saw that the bruising and swelling had faded to almost nothing. Her fingers traced over the smooth, healed skin, and a soft smile tugged at her lips. “I love this pce,” she murmured, gazing at Leviathan. His golden eyes met hers, and she could feel the comforting warmth of his gaze wash over her.

  “I’m all fixed now. No need to worry,” she said, her smile widening as she looked back at him. He had always been there for her, even when she thought no one else would be.

  Leviathan let out a low rumble, almost as if he was agreeing. “If they hit you again, I just might burn them alive,” he growled in their shared connection, the hint of protectiveness in his voice sending a shiver of warmth through her.

  Aria giggled at the thought, shaking her head pyfully. “Oh, I’d love to see that.” The idea of Colton being burned alive, while extreme, was almost tempting. The smile on her face lingered, but it was a twisted kind of satisfaction.

  She began to gather her leathers from the stone where she’d discarded them earlier, the fabric cool against her skin. She slipped into her clothes, her hair still dripping wet from the spring, but her body felt dry, the soreness almost completely gone. She moved with ease now, no longer hindered by the pain that had once held her back.

  As she finished, Aria swung up onto Leviathan’s back with practiced grace, the small soreness in her side a distant memory now. The wicked smile that crept onto her face was one of pure anticipation.

  “Levo,” she said in their connection, and without hesitation, Leviathan took off into the night sky. They soared upward, faster than Aria had thought possible, cutting through the cold night air. The wind whipped around her, pulling her wet hair back, but for the first time today, she felt at peace. The weight of everything—of Colton, of the fight, of all the anger—felt lighter, even if just for a moment. She let out a soft ugh as she stretched her arms out once again, embracing the chill of the wind, feeling alive in a way that she hadn’t in a long time.

  Leviathan’s wings beat the air with steady force, and soon, the familiar silhouette of the castle loomed ahead. The speed at which they were traveling was almost dizzying, but Aria reveled in it, knowing they would make it back before midnight.

  Before long, Leviathan nded gracefully in front of the castle, the sound of his massive wings folding in the quiet night filling the air. Aria slid off his back, the warmth of his presence lingering, and offered him a soft "goodnight" as she turned toward the castle doors.

  With a powerful beat of his wings, Leviathan took off again, his silhouette disappearing into the darkness, leaving Aria standing at the castle entrance. The heavy wooden doors creaked open, and she stepped inside, the echoes of her footsteps bouncing off the stone walls as she moved through the empty halls. The castle was eerily silent at this hour—most of the inhabitants had long since retired for the night.

  Her footsteps rang out as she made her way through the castle, the sound amplified in the stillness. She ascended the stone steps to her chamber, exhaustion weighing on her limbs, but there was a sense of satisfaction, of victory, burning in her chest. The door to her room was just a few feet away when she heard it—a soft rustling from the shadows.

  She froze. Her heart skipped a beat.

  Someone was there. Someone waiting in the dark. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and a sense of unease crawled over her. This wasn’t good.