Whispers of the shadows

This is already strong, but let's refine it a little to keep Elaris's voice sharp and immersive. Here's the revised version from her perspective:

Elaris

The night was too quiet. The kind of silence that made my skin crawl, warning me that something was off.

The rebels had set up camp just a few miles from the supply route we'd hijacked earlier. For the first time in weeks, we had real food—enough to last for a while. The others laughed, their voices lighter than they had been in days. Morale was high. But I couldn't shake the unease curling in my stomach.

Not when I'd seen Marlik disappear into the trees.

His movements had been careful, deliberate. Like he didn't want to be followed. That was enough for me to slip after him, my heart pounding against my ribs.

I kept my steps light, moving through the shadows. The damp earth softened the sound of my boots as I crouched behind a thick patch of bushes. And that's when I saw him.

Marlik stood a few feet away, speaking to someone cloaked in darkness. Their voices were hushed, barely audible over the whisper of leaves in the wind.

"…She's growing stronger," Marlik murmured. "I don't know how much longer I can keep her distracted."

My breath hitched. Distracted?

The shadowed figure shifted. "Then act faster. She cannot reach the throne."

My hands curled into fists. Who was this? And why was Marlik speaking as if he were… working against me?

The moment I shifted my weight, a branch snapped beneath my foot. The figure's head jerked toward me. And in the next second, they vanished into the trees, slipping into the night like smoke.

Marlik turned sharply, his expression flickering from alarm to something softer. "Elaris?"

I stepped forward, voice taut. "Who was that?"

His lips parted, but no words came out. Just silence. And for a single, fleeting moment—guilt flashed across his face.

My stomach twisted. "You're hiding something."

Marlik sighed, running a hand down his face. "I don't want to lie to you."

"Then don't."

Instead of answering, he took a step closer, lowering his voice. "Elaris… I need you to trust me."

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Trust you? After what I just saw?"

"I swear to you, I am not your enemy." His eyes held something raw. Something desperate. "If I wanted to betray you, I would have done it a long time ago."

I didn't know if that was meant to reassure me. If anything, it unsettled me more.

"Then what is this, Marlik?" My voice was quieter now. "What are you doing?"

His jaw tensed. And then, to my utter shock, he reached for my hand.

I stiffened, but he didn't let go.

"I love you, Elaris."

My breath caught in my throat. "What?"

His grip tightened. "I love you. And I know you don't trust me right now, but I need you to believe that."

My world tilted. Love? Now? After everything?

I searched his face, looking for the lie, for the deception I knew had to be there. But all I found was truth. No mischief. No carefully crafted words. Just something open, unguarded.

But I couldn't let myself believe it. Not when doubt clung to me like a second skin.

I pulled my hand away. "I need to get back to camp."

Marlik's expression faltered. But he nodded. "Then let me walk you back."

I said nothing. Just turned and walked ahead. He followed—silent. And yet, I felt his presence like a shadow at my side.

A Growing Bond with Roran

The rebels were still awake when we returned, their murmured conversations blending into the crackling of the fire.

I spotted Roran sitting alone, sharpening his blade.

I needed an anchor. Something steady in the chaos of my thoughts.

He glanced up as I approached, his expression softening slightly. "You okay?"

I hesitated before sitting beside him. "Just thinking."

Roran's sharp eyes flickered toward Marlik, who had stopped a few feet away, watching us.

I ignored him. Focused on the fire instead.

"You don't talk much about what you're feeling," Roran murmured.

A huff of dry laughter left me. "Not much to say."

He set his blade down, turning toward me fully now. "You don't have to carry it all alone, Elaris."

The words shouldn't have hit as hard as they did. But they did.

Maybe because he meant them.

Maybe because, for the first time in a long time, someone was telling me I didn't have to do this alone.

I met his gaze. For a moment, it was just us. The fire casting shadows across his sharp features.

Roran reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face.

Heat crept up my neck. I should pull away. I should look anywhere else.

But I didn't.

His fingers lingered a second longer before he pulled back. "Get some rest."

I nodded, standing. But as I turned, I caught sight of Marlik.

He was watching us.

And for the first time—I saw something new in his eyes.

Jealousy.

Kael's Warning

The cold night air did little to cool my thoughts.

I stood outside my tent, arms wrapped around myself, my mind tangled in the war inside my chest.

"You're letting yourself get distracted," came a gruff voice behind me.

I turned. General Kael stood there, arms crossed over his broad chest. His sharp gaze pinned me in place.

"I'm not," I said. Even though we both knew that was a lie.

Kael stepped closer. His voice was low, edged with steel. "I've seen the way you look at them—both of them. Marlik and Roran. Your focus is shifting."

I stiffened. "That's not true."

"It is," he countered, unyielding. "And it's dangerous."

Frustration burned in my chest. "So I'm just supposed to shut off every feeling? Pretend I don't have emotions?"

Kael exhaled sharply. "You are leading a rebellion, Elaris. This is not the time to be caught up in fleeting desires."

I scoffed. "You think this is just about desire?"

His voice turned cold. "I think love makes people weak. And you cannot afford weakness."

My fists clenched. "I won't let emotions cloud my judgment."

Kael's eyes didn't waver. "Then prove it. Because right now, you're playing with fire. And if you're not careful, you'll burn everything down."

The Spy Among Us

The words lingered in my mind as I entered the war council tent.

Roran and Naela were already there, murmuring in low voices. Kael took his place beside me, his expression unreadable.

I exhaled, pushing aside my emotions. "We can't stay silent anymore," I said, cutting straight to the point. "The longer we wait, the more control the king gains. We need to act."

Roran leaned forward. "An ambush is risky. But it might be our best option."

Naela nodded. "We can't face him in open battle. We don't have the numbers."

Kael studied the map. "Then we target his strongholds. His supply lines. We cut him off."

I traced a finger over the map. "There's a major supply convoy leaving the capital in three nights. If we intercept it, we'll have the upper hand."

But just as we started planning—something felt off.

The hair on my neck stood up.

Kael noticed it too. His gaze snapped to the entrance of the tent.

A shadow flickered outside.

Roran was on his feet in an instant. But when he yanked the tent flap open—

There was no one there.

Naela's expression darkened. "Someone was listening."

Kael's jaw tightened. "We have a spy in the camp."

I clenched my fists.

"Then we find them. Before they destroy everything."