Chapter 32
Kai
I PROMISE
The urge to strangle Caleb is barely held in check. As much as I love those fuckers, they can be a real pain in my ass. But that’s family for you. They forget about boundaries like it’s their unwritten job.
“You really need to learn how to read a room, dude.”
“Sorry, Corporal,” Caleb says, cringing.
Shaking my head, I head inside to get ready for the hell of a day that awaits me. General Brackwell is back, lucky me.
Arriving at the Institute, I figure it’s better to rip off the band-aid right away.
I cross paths with my father as he finishes discussing with Isolde and some diplomats.
One of them being Nalaka’s father, the king of Elveron.
Tall, dark, and carved out of obsidian, with those gold-flecked eyes that look like they’ve seen too many centuries and still aren’t impressed.
His armour gleams as if it’s never seen a scratch.
King Jelani has the kind of presence that makes everyone else feel overmatched.
My gut tells me things aren’t great if on his first day back, the General’s already meeting with royalty. Giving a quick nod, the kind of salute that says, I’m being a good soldier. Then, I head into the office, I don’t sit or slouch; I just stand there, waiting.
He walks in a minute later. “Son.”
“General.” His jaw tightens at that.
Yeah, well, he stopped being Dad a long time ago, and I’m not about to pretend otherwise.
Shoulders pulled back, I stand straight, waiting for him to get on with business.
I learned early on that showing weakness is exactly what he feeds off.
Reaching his desk, the General doesn’t waste a minute before debriefing me on my next task.
“The Grianstad Eve Ball is one and a half months away. Need me to remind you who you’re taking?” His voice is like nails on a damn chalkboard. My jaw locks so hard I’m surprised my teeth don’t crack.
“You can screw whatever trash you want behind closed doors, but when it comes to official appearances, you show up with who you’re assigned to. Am I clear, soldier?”
“Clear,” I spit back, barely holding it together, except that for some reason I don’t stop there.“You’re so desperate for power, you need me to play dress-up whore for your political circus.”
The General steps slowly into my space, trying that whole puffed-chest routine like he's the alpha in this cage. The only reason he gets away with it is that I let him, and some days I hate myself for it.
“That image, boy,” he growls, “is the only reason the circus listens to us. That power is what’ll save our people and finally got us the damn respect we’ve bled for, we’ve died for.”
I chuckle, but there’s no humour in it, just bitterness. “Sounds like your problem, General.”
His face twists. Going red like a boiled lobster, and I see it, the glow in his eyes, the same as mine. That flicker of power that reminds me we’re cut from the same cursed stone. And I let my lycan come alive too.
“You’ll do what I say.” He growls, voice low, deadly. “You wouldn’t want something to happen to your new favourite toy, accidents are so quick to happen.” And that’s it.
That’s the match. My blood explodes, and I step forward so fast he stumbles back.
Good.
“You so much as breathe near her wrong, I swear to Kvirr—”
“You’ll what?” He cuts me off. “We both know what happens when you try to play hero.”
That hits like a twist of the soul, a curse poisoning my mind. Guilt comes crashing in, dragging memories I’ve spent years trying to bury.
“You stay here, okay?”
Sammy’s blue eyes look up at me. We share the same shade, but they’re different on him. Brighter, untouched, still full of light, eager to live.
“But Kai, you can’t go alone. It’s dangerous.”
“I know,” I say, crouching to meet his height. My voice wavers, but I force it steady. “I’ll be okay. I have to go; there are people out there who need help.” He grabs my sleeve, his fingers small but holding strong.
“But what if something happens?”
I swallow hard. Every instinct in me is battling between going and staying, and to lock the door to keep him safe. But I hear the chaos outside, the cries for help, panic rising as dark smoke, choking.
And I can’t ignore it.
What kind of soldier hides when people need help?
“I won’t be long,” I whisper, brushing his blond hair back. “Just stay here, in the warded room. Please, I need to know you’re safe.”
Screams rise from the street—closer now, sharper, cutting through the air like glass.
No more time.
I stand. “I’ll come back,” I promise, more to myself than to him.
“Ok, Kai. I’ll stay, promise.”
“Attaboy,” I ruffle his hair, before warding his room, sealing it away from evil.
The General’s smug smile is like acid on my skin. I want to tear something apart just to drown out that feeling. That reminder that I failed the one person I couldn’t afford to lose.
“So,” he says, voice smug, “we clear?”
Any words I can say taste as ash in my mouth, so I nod.
But at the last minute, I add.
“Yeah. But if anything happens to her?” I lean in. “The deal’s off, and I’ll burn this whole place to the goddamn ground.”
I know it’s a tactical error, showing open interest in Avilyna. But when it comes to her, logic fractures.
“Unlike some people,” the General says, tone biting, “I always make sure my missions are a success. ”
I scoff, I can’t help it. It’s either that or I draw blood. He doesn’t retaliate, not with his usual go-to punishments. Smart, he knows better than to push me when I’m like this. The General knows it’s been months since I’ve shown this much… Drive. Even if it’s dangerously misdirected.
“Looks like you’ve taken your surveillance duty a little too seriously.” He crosses his arms, staring me down. “So? What do you have to report?”
I straighten up and keep my expression flat. “Nothing to report, sir.”
“Nothing,” he repeats, skepticism cutting through his tone like a scalpel. He doesn’t believe me, watching every tic, every blink, measuring my pulse by the silence.
“She’s progressing at a steady pace in her training,” I report, voice measured. “But she hasn’t awakened. Given her mixed bloodline, I assess it’s unlikely she ever will. The best she’ll achieve is becoming a skilled soldier with the sight.”
I hold my silence after that, knowing any hesitation or slip could trigger his suspicion. Now that I truly understand what Avilyna is. His attention is the last thing I need: him sniffing around.
My father’s doctrine is clear; lycans are the apex breed of Elgar. The only threat to his claim over Kallahan is the resurgence of valkyries. I have no proof tying him to the whispers spreading, but I know for a fact he’s done nothing to quash those rumours.
The General studies me, eyes sharp, reading every micro-expression. After a long pause, he waves me off without a word, dismissing me.
The last class of the day couldn’t have come sooner. Waiting by the door, I spot her laughing with Nalaka, eyes shining, posture relaxed, genuine happiness lighting up her face.
That kind of moment’s rare around here. She turns toward me, her outfit hugging every curve like it was tailored just for her. A glimpse of her bare stomach makes me want to trail kisses along it. Fuck, Avilyna’s got a figure that could start wars; wide hips, a tight waist, and her chest…
I’m running through all kinds of trouble in my mind, none of them are good. I shift my weight slightly, muscles tightening. Gotta keep it together for fuck’s sake.
When she finally reaches me, I lean in close, careful not to draw too much attention. My voice drops low, just for her ears.
“After class, you and your friends should head straight to the Manor. We need to talk.” She gives me a small and almost imperceptible nod, then slips away to her usual spot across from me.
All I can think of is how much trouble I’m walking into. Willing to risk too much.