Lucius's sharp gaze bored into mine the moment we were alone in the carriage. His arms were crossed, his jaw set tightly, and his presence filled the small space with a tension I couldn't ignore.
"You shouldn't have let Veryon train you," he said, his voice low but laced with frustration.
I sighed, knowing this was coming. "Lucius, I didn't have a choice. He showed up and insisted. What was I supposed to do?"
"You were supposed to refuse," he snapped, leaning forward. "I'm your trainer, Kiara. No one else. It's my responsibility to ensure you're prepared."
I frowned, the intensity of his words pressing against me. "Lucius, you can't always be there. If someone else can help me improve, why is that a problem?"
His eyes darkened, and he clenched his fists. "Because it's not just about training. Veryon has ulterior motives. He's manipulative, and he'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants. I can't trust him with you."