Chapter 38
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
SABLE
T he hot water is soothing, the steam rising in thick clouds around me as I sink deeper into the tub. My muscles are still aching from the intense training session with Torin. I can't deny that the physical conditioning is starting to pay off, even if I’m still not sure what I’m going to do with all the strength. I mean, yeah, the Trials are coming up, but it's still hard to wrap my head around the fact that I’m expected to fight for my life in a twisted, bloodthirsty contest.
The thought of it should make me nervous, but the heat of the water, the soothing warmth, and the quiet of the room make everything feel distant. I close my eyes, leaning back, letting the water lap gently against my skin. It’s a rare moment of peace, a rare moment where I can just... breathe .
And then, the door slams open.
I barely have time to jerk upright before I hear Kael's voice, low and confident, like it’s a regular thing. "Little huntress, I have news for you. "
I can’t help but roll my eyes, even though my stomach tightens when I realize that Finn’s with him. Both of them. And I’m naked. In a tub. Alone.
“Gosh, you two never knock?” I mutter, trying my best to sound nonchalant, my heart thudding in my chest. But there's no real point in hiding it. They’ve seen me before, and honestly, I’m not exactly shy anymore. Not after everything that's happened with Kael.
I notice, though, that both of them freeze just slightly when they step into the room. Their eyes flicker down to the water, and I can see it—the interest in their eyes. The heat that isn't just from the warmth of the water.
My mouth quirks into a knowing smile.
I’ve never felt so... aware of myself. The woman I am now feels stronger, more confident, more... in control. Not just of my body, but of myself . And it’s not just because of my training with Torin or even the strength I’ve built physically. It’s the way Kael has made me feel—desired, yes, but also respected. And that’s something I never thought I’d crave.
I glance up at Kael, meeting his eyes, watching the way he looks at me, like he’s not sure whether he should be embarrassed or pleased. But I know the truth now. He’s a man , and I’m no longer that fragile thing that was kept in a cage. I know it stirs something in him, something he’s never fully dealt with, but maybe... maybe that’s just the way it is.
"So, what's going on?" I ask, my voice teasing but laced with something else—a confidence that surprises me even as I say it. "You just come in here to interrupt my bath, or is there something you need?"
Kael clears his throat, his gaze flickering away from me, though I see his eyes linger just a moment too long. "Finn is going to help you with your powers," he says, the words rolling off his tongue so naturally that it almost feels like an afterthought. "Just like Torin is helping you train your body for the Trials."
I blink, looking between them both. "Are you two serious?" I ask, incredulous. "Because this sounds like a joke."
Finn, the ever-earnest one, lifts his eyebrows and looks at me with all the seriousness in the world. "I don’t joke, Sable,” he says, deadpan, and I almost snort.
“No way. I took you for a comedian,” I fire back, giving him a challenging look.
Finn doesn’t crack a smile, but I see a hint of amusement in his eyes. “You’ll get used to me."
I can’t help but roll my eyes again, but I’m not really mad . The situation just feels so ridiculous at this point. I’m sitting in a tub, naked, while both of them stand in front of me, one of them being all serious, the other pretending to have all the answers.
I sigh, reaching for the towel, finally deciding I’m done hiding. I stand, and both of their eyes snap to me—both of them a little too obvious in how they’re looking at me.
“Really, it’s nothing either of you haven’t seen before,” I mutter, stepping out of the tub and wrapping the towel around me.
Kael’s eyes flicker over me—quick, deliberate—but I notice the slight stiffening of his posture. It’s almost like he’s not sure if he should be... jealous?
I smirk. “Especially you , Kael.”
His jaw tightens for a second, and I know that he heard me, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he turns away like he’s trying to hide the subtle change in his expression.
Finn seems to shift too, but it’s not the same. There’s an edge to his tension, something different. It’s almost like he’s trying to hide something else entirely. That’s when I realize. He wants me .
I finish toweling off and take a slow, deliberate step forward. "So, when are we getting started?" I ask, glancing at Finn, who finally looks like he’s ready to move on from whatever just happened in his mind.
“Once you’re dressed, we’ll start,” Finn says, his voice steady but with that underlying seriousness that makes me want to roll my eyes again. “I’ll meet you in my chambers. I’ll set up a force field around the area so no one can detect your power signature.”
“Fine,” I reply, letting the towel fall to the floor. “I’ll be right there.”
Finn glances down at my nakedness and I can see the shift in his eyes. He's practiced at not letting it show, but it's there. He nods and starts to walk out, but Kael stays behind, and I turn to face him, sensing something more. Something deeper.
"Are you done taunting my brother?" he asks with a bit of a smirk.
I give him a saucy grin. "Probably not."
"Keep standing there naked, little huntress, and I might just need to bend you over that tub and sate my lust for you again."
I shake my head at him. "Promises, promises."
But then I sense it. Something through our binding. It's not just his desire. There's something else there that makes me pause. I pick the towel back up, wrapping it around myself, suddenly more concerned.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask, my voice softer, my tone gentler. “Why help me train?”
Kael looks at me, his eyes dark but surprisingly vulnerable. "Because I shouldn't have left you, Sable," he says, the words coming out in a rush like he’s been holding them back for far too long. "You trusted me. You... gave yourself to me. And I shouldn’t have just walked away. I thought I was doing the right thing, but it wasn't. I shouldn’t have left you alone after your first time. It wasn’t right."
I study him for a long moment, watching his eyes flicker with something raw, something I wasn’t expecting to see. Guilt . And that’s when I know. I know that it’s not just about desire. Not just about the lust or the burning need that’s passed between us. There’s something else there. Something deeper.
“I know Torin got involved,” I say, my voice softening. “But it wasn’t as big of a deal to me as you think. I wasn’t expecting... warmth from you, Kael. I didn’t expect it.”
Kael shakes his head, his expression hardening with resolve. "Regardless, I shouldn’t have left you. Not after that. And I want to make it up to you... by doing something that actually helps you. By training you, helping you with your powers."
I take a slow breath, my heart softening just a little bit more for him. “Your past,” I begin, my voice quieter, “it’s made you cold. Distant. But I can see it, Kael. The struggle in you. The guilt. I know what it feels like to have that kind of weight on you.”
Kael’s eyes flicker with something I don’t quite understand, but I feel it—the vulnerability in him, raw and unguarded. He’s letting me in, just a little, and it makes me want to reach out.
I raise my hand slowly, gently, and caress his cheek. He freezes at first, like he’s unsure if I’ll pull away. But I don’t. I let my fingers trace over the hard lines of his face, and he doesn’t move.
Then, almost shyly, he leans into the touch.
The moment feels too intimate, too real, but I don’t pull away. For once, I don’t want to.
And then, just as I’m about to lean in for a kiss, Kael pulls back slightly, his gaze turning intense. “Let’s go,” he says, his voice low. “I want to understand your powers as much as you probably do. But first, we need to get you dressed.”
I smile at him softly, something shifting between us. “Would you mind using your powers to dress me?” I ask, almost playfully.
His brows furrow, and he looks incredulously at me. “You never want me to use my powers for things like this.”
I smile wider. “Maybe things are changing for me. Maybe I want to see what you can do.”
A small, almost imperceptible smile tugs at his lips as he stands taller. With a wave of his hand, my clothes materialize—a set of something practical but beautiful, comfortable for training yet flattering in ways I didn’t expect.
The fabric shimmers briefly as it forms, the deep forest green of the tunic catching the light in a way that almost feels alive. It’s soft but strong, like something woven from the finest threads, hugging my form without being too tight, giving me just enough freedom to move. The long sleeves gather at my wrists, but the material is light, not restricting my movements. A dark leather belt cinches at my waist, the buckle simple but elegant, adding a touch of ruggedness to the outfit.
The pants are a perfect fit—fitted but stretchy, designed for agility. The deep brown leather knee-high boots complete the look, their soles thick enough for endurance but flexible enough to let me run or kick without hesitation.
It’s a perfect balance of practicality and beauty, something that feels both strong and feminine without trying too hard. The way it moves with me, the way it feels against my skin, makes me feel powerful and yet somehow... graceful.
I look down at the outfit, seeing how the colors complement each other—green and brown, earthy tones that ground me, make me feel rooted. There’s nothing too extravagant about it, but there’s an understated elegance, the kind of beauty that doesn’t need to scream for attention. It’s just... there , in the way it fits, in the way it allows me to be me .
I glance up at Kael, my heart fluttering just a little as I take in his expression. His gaze is steady, his eyes tracing the outfit with something I can’t quite place. When he meets my eyes again, there’s that almost smile, the faintest hint of approval that makes me feel like I’m finally seeing him in a different way too.
I look down at it, surprised, before looking back up at him. “I love it,” I whisper, the words coming out without thought.
Kael is actually smiling now, not with his usual cocky grin, but a softer version that shows more of him than I’ve seen before.
“Good,” he murmurs. “Let’s go. Finn’s waiting for us."