Chapter 5- Lyraea

Chapter 5: Into the Fray

The safehouse was quieter than usual, the air thick with unease. My cells must still be out training or on pseudo missions which we carried out regularly just to make sure that my squad is as prepared for the real thing. As per my instruction as their squad leader, I had them all train today because they needed to be ready. Well that and the fact that I didn't need anybody around to watch my trails.

Mara- My company commander's second- too had disappeared into the shadows to meet with other leadership, which when i was leaving, i was insalnely grateful for as she had showed up unannounced and delaying my plan was not an option. But now that im back and her absence has me leaft me alone with my thoughts. I hated it. Silence was a fucking poison, seeping into my skin and twisting my mind.

I paced the length of the small back room which served as my bedroom, my boots scuffing against the worn floorboards. Every step echoed in my skull, a constant reminder of how badly the mission had gone. The chest was empty, a decoy, and now the prince was hunting me like a damn hound.

Kaelion Valmont.

I muttered a curse under my breath, slamming my fist into the wall. Pain shot through my knuckles, sharp and grounding. He'd been faster than I expected, stronger too. But it wasn't his blade or his strength that haunted me. It was the look in his eyes, the way they burned like embers in the rain.

I should have killed him.

The thought sent a jolt through me, bitter and cold. I'd had the chance—gods, I'd had the fucking chance—but I'd hesitated. And now he knew I existed.

"You're losing your edge," I muttered, running a hand through my damp hair.

A creak behind me made me whirl, my dagger already in hand. Mara stepped into the room, her expression unreadable.

"Jumpy, are we?" she said, her tone light but laced with steel. Taking a seat on the edge of the tiny bed that sat in the corner of the room, she continued "This place is well...interesting" she said, her voice hitching on the word interesting.

I don't blame her, this place is a dump, but it's what we needed to keep my squad undetected. When I first saw this abandoned warehouse in toward the end of the lesser district, I all about jumped. Unlike how things are in the mainland kingdom- ridiculously large houses with so many rooms than one would know what to do with- in the lesser district, where the limits of wealth meant a cramped bed sitter apartment, this warehouse was a fucking blessing.

"Not in the mood, Mar'," I shot back, sliding the blade back into its sheath.

"Good, because neither am I," she said, crossing her arms. "We need to talk about the prince."

"What about him?" I asked, choosing to act casual and oblivious, I leaned against the wall.

"Stop fucking around with me, Lyraea," she said, her voice low. "He's the kind of danger we can't afford to ignore."

I scoffed. "I can handle him."

"Can you?" she shot back, her eyes narrowing. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like he got the better of you." She shot back. "What in Vaelthar's name where you thinking? Going to the freaking Palace of all places!"

"I was doing what had to be done! You know that it was only going to be a matter of time before we had the King and his men come to start fishing us out "

"No! Leadership-"

"Leadership is having us sit on our asses, like sitting ducks awaiting slaughter. Fucks sack Mara! Look what happened to your squad." I quipped

"Don't you fucking dare." She responded, "and no, you have started a war that you are not ready for. One that the entirety of the rebellion is not ready for" her voice low but laced with venom.

Taking a breath, I moved to kneel before her, placing my hand on hers "I had to do something, I couldn't just sit here and wait for orders. If you were in my shoes, having experienced what you had to experience, Mar' wouldn't you do the same?"

"I do not answer to you," she snapped. And with that she stormed out of the room slamming the door behind her.

The words hit harder than any blade. I looked away, my hands curling into fists. I shouldn't have gone out there completely by myself it was a risky move. I could have potentially started a war that Leadership is not ready for. But at the same time, I do not regret a damned thing.

The rebellion couldn't afford mistakes, and neither could I. So if I indeed have started a war, then so be it. I would sooner die fighting than die unprepared.

Kaelion Valmont was indeed a problem. And problems were meant to be solved.