Chapter 103 - A Game of Shadows and Whispers

I shivered as Alaric and his guards combed through the woods at the edge of our property. The bitter cold seeped through my cloak, but it wasn't just the winter air that chilled me to the bone. Someone had been watching us—watching me—during my training session with Alaric. The thought made my skin crawl.

"Anything?" I called out, my breath forming small clouds in the frosty air.

Alaric shook his head, his expression grim as he examined the area where we'd spotted the figure. "Just this," he said, pointing to a disturbed patch of snow. His guard, Marcus, knelt beside it, studying the ground carefully.

"Someone was definitely standing here, Your Grace," Marcus confirmed. "The snow is compacted, and these marks suggest they left in a hurry when spotted."

I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling exposed despite the half dozen armed men surrounding us. "They were watching us train. They saw everything—my techniques, my weaknesses."