Chapter 18: Shadows and Ice

Faye's body ached.

She barely felt the cold biting through her clothes as she leaned against Talis's side, her breath coming in slow, steady pulls. The cavern was empty now, save for them and Kael. The Empress was gone, but her presence still lingered—a shadow, a stain on the air.

The frost that had erupted from Faye's body was beginning to fade, the cavern slowly thawing around her. But she could still feel it—the hum of something new, something ancient, coiled deep within her bones.

Talis exhaled, his warm breath misting over her. You're different.

She swallowed hard. I know.

Her magic was gone. Shadowflame had been stripped from her. And yet… she had still fought. Still won. But at what cost?

A movement caught her eye.

Kael stood a few feet away, watching her carefully. He looked like he wanted to say something—but he didn't. His sword was still sheathed, but the tension in his shoulders hadn't faded.

Faye's fingers curled. The exhaustion made it harder to hold onto her anger, but it was still there—a sharp, burning thing lodged in her chest.

"You should have left with her."

The words came out quieter than she intended, but they still landed like a blade between them.

Kael flinched. Just barely.

"I couldn't," he said.

Faye forced herself to straighten, ignoring the sharp pull of pain in her ribs.

"You had no problem standing by while she tried to kill me."

Silence.

Kael's jaw tensed, his hands clenching at his sides. "I didn't—" He exhaled, his voice lowering. "I didn't know she could do that to you. Strip your magic."

Faye scoffed. "And if she hadn't? Would you still be standing there, pretending you had a choice?"

Kael didn't answer.

That, more than anything, told her the truth.

Talis's tail curled around her protectively, his low growl echoing through the cavern. He didn't trust Kael. Not anymore.

Faye swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth and looked away. "We need to leave."

Kael nodded, though he still hesitated.

"The Empress won't give up," he said. "She's already hunting you. Now more than ever."

Faye knew that.

And yet, she didn't feel afraid.

She was done running.

"Let her try."

She turned toward Talis, pressing

Faye's body still ached, but she forced herself to keep moving. There was no time to rest.

Talis shifted beside her, his massive form blocking the cavern entrance like a silent guardian. His presence was the only reason she hadn't collapsed yet. The warmth of their bond steadied her, even with the exhaustion pressing down like a weight.

Kael, however, was not so steady.

He stood a few steps away, his expression unreadable. His hands were still clenched at his sides, as if he was preparing for an attack that hadn't come yet.

"You shouldn't follow me," Faye said, voice sharp despite her exhaustion.

Kael inhaled slowly, his gaze meeting hers. "And yet, I will."

Talis let out a low rumble, his distrust rolling through their bond like distant thunder.

Faye narrowed her eyes. "You betrayed me."

A flicker of something—regret? Pain?—crossed Kael's face, but it was gone before she could place it. "I had no choice."

"There's always a choice," she bit out.

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. She could still hear his voice in her mind. Then you were a fool. The wound was still fresh, still raw. And yet, here he was, standing in front of her, claiming loyalty after everything.

Faye exhaled, forcing herself to focus on what mattered.

"You said the Empress won't stop hunting me," she said. "Why?"

Kael hesitated. "Because she knows now."

Faye's breath hitched. "Knows what?"

Kael's gaze flickered to Talis. "That you are more than what you were. That your power is changing." His voice lowered. "And that you might be the one thing that can truly stop her."

A chill ran down Faye's spine. She had felt it, too. The shift in her magic, the loss of Shadowflame—but also the awakening of something far older, something buried deep within her blood.

She turned away, pressing a hand against Talis's scales. "Then we need to move. We need to find Riven and Lyra."

Kael nodded. "They're already looking for you. They—" He hesitated. "They think you're dead."

Faye's stomach twisted.

Of course, they would.

The Veiled Empress had taken her, drained her, left her to break. If Talis hadn't come…

She inhaled sharply, pushing that thought away.

"Then we'll make sure they know I'm not."

She turned back to Kael, her voice steady. "You can come with me. But don't think for a second that I trust you."

Kael didn't flinch. "I wouldn't expect you to."

Talis rumbled, clearly displeased, but Faye ignored him. They didn't have time for trust. Not yet.

Right now, all that mattered was survival. And making sure the Veiled Empress regretted ever thinking she could break her.