ASHES OF BETRAYAL THE SORCERER'S VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 8

Morning light crept through the window like a thief, golden rays stretching across the floor and climbing onto the bed where Kael lay. The brightness pressed against his closed eyelids, pulling him gradually from the deep, dreamless sleep he'd fallen into.

He groaned softly, his body heavy and sore in unfamiliar ways. His muscles ached,a pleasant ache that reminded him of last night, of Lyanna, of everything they'd shared. A smile tugged at his lips before his eyes even opened.

Last night…

The memories flooded back in vivid detail: her skin under his hands, her voice calling his name, the overwhelming pleasure that had consumed them both. His smile widened. Today was the beginning of everything. His first official day as an Elite Squad member. His first day truly begins with Lyanna as equals in the same squad.

Still half-asleep, Kael rolled over on the bed, his arm reaching out instinctively for her warmth. His hand patted the space beside him, expecting to find her soft curves, her golden hair spread across his pillow.

His palm met only cold sheets.

Kael's eyes snapped open. He pushed himself up on one elbow, blinking against the sunlight, and stared at the empty space beside him. The sheets were rumpled where she'd been, but there was no warmth left in them. No indent in the pillow. She'd been gone for hours.

"Lyanna?" 

His voice came out rough from sleep. He cleared his throat and tried again, louder.

 "Lyanna?"

No one answered.

Maybe she'd just gone to her own quarters to change, he thought. Maybe she hadn't wanted to be caught leaving his chambers in the morning and risk scandal. That made sense. That was probably it.

He was about to call out again when movement in the corner of his room made him freeze.

Someone was standing there. In the shadows near his wardrobe. Just... standing there. Watching him.

Kael's hand instinctively reached for the knife he kept under his pillow,a habit from his training but before his fingers could close around it, the figure stepped forward into the light.

"Good morning, Ashford."

It was Marcus Valen.

The Elite Squad captain stood there, arms crossed over his chest, leaning casually against the wall like he'd been there for hours. He was fully dressed in his squad uniform, his red hair tied back, his expression unreadable. 

Those burning orange eyes studied Kael with an intensity that made the younger man's skin crawl.

Kael scrambled to pull the sheets up to his waist, suddenly acutely aware that he was completely naked.

 His heart hammered in his chest, confusion and alarm warring in his mind. 

"What the hell are you doing in my room?!"

Marcus's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He pushed off from the wall with deliberate slowness, taking a few steps closer to the bed. 

"Interesting question. I could ask you something similar,what the hell were you doing in your room last night?" 

The emphasis was subtle but unmistakable.

Heat flooded Kael's face. 

"That's none of yours,how long have you been standing there?!"

"Long enough." 

Marcus tilted his head, studying Kael like a specimen under glass.

 "So tell me, Ashford. Did you have fun last night?"

Kael's mouth opened and closed. This was his superior officer, his squad captain, asking him about it,he couldn't even finish the thought. The embarrassment was overwhelming.

 "I... that's private. Sir."

"I'll take that as a yes."

 Marcus's smile widened, but there was something wrong with it. Something cold and cruel that made Kael's stomach twist. 

"Good. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. Everyone deserves one last good memory before…" 

He stopped himself, shaking his head. 

"Well. Never mind that."

Before Kael could ask what he meant, Marcus reached into a bag that had been sitting at his feet,Kael hadn't even noticed it until now and pulled out a bundle of dark fabric. He tossed it onto the bed.

The Elite Squad uniform.

Kael stared at it, his mind still trying to catch up. 

"What…"

"Get dressed." 

Marcus said, his tone shifting to pure command. 

"The squad has already moved out without us. We need to catch up. You've got five minutes."

"Moved out? Where? I thought…"

"Five minutes, Ashford." 

Marcus turned and walked toward the door.

 "There's a mission. A real one. Consider it your initiation. Get ready. Meet me at the stables."

 He paused with his hand on the door handle, glancing back over his shoulder. 

"And Ashford? Don't keep me waiting. I'd hate for your first day to start with disciplinary action.”

The door closed behind him with a firm click.

Kael sat there for a long moment, staring at the closed door, trying to process what had just happened. Marcus had been in his room. Watching him sleep. Asking about last night. The whole thing felt wrong, off, like something was crawling under his skin.

But he was a squad member now. He had orders. And he'd be damned if he'd fail on his very first day.

He threw off the sheets and grabbed the uniform. As he pulled on the dark trousers and tunic,both made of reinforced leather that would offer protection without sacrificing mobility,his mind raced. 

Where was the squad? Why had they left without him? And where the hell was Lyanna?

He'd ask her when he caught up with everyone. Maybe she could explain what was going on.

Kael strapped on his boots, buckled his belt, and secured his knife in its sheath at his hip. The weapon was simple but well-made, the blade sharp enough to shave with. 

Master Rendall had given it to him when he'd passed his final combat trial.

Don't let me down, boy, the old master had said.

Kael intended to make him proud.

He ran to his bathroom,a small adjoining room with a washbasin and mirror and splashed cold water on his face. The shock of it helped clear his head. He scrubbed quickly, washing away the smell of sleep and sex, then grabbed his tooth powder and cleaned his teeth with furious speed. 

His reflection in the mirror showed a young man with messy hair, wide gray eyes, and an expression somewhere between excitement and anxiety.

First mission. First real mission. 

You can do this. He ran his wet hands through his hair, trying to tame it into something presentable, then gave up and sprinted back into his bedroom. One last check,uniform, knife, boots, everything secure. Good enough.

Kael burst out of his chambers and ran through the castle corridors, his boots pounding against stone floors. Servants pressed themselves against walls to let him pass, their expressions ranging from amused to annoyed. He didn't care.

 Marcus had said five minutes, and he was probably already past that.

He burst out of a side door into the morning sunlight and sprinted across the courtyard toward the stables. 

The smell of hay and horse hit him before he even reached the building. Inside, Marcus was already mounted on a large black stallion, holding the reins 

of a second horse,a gray mare with intelligent eyes.

"Six minutes."

 Marcus said without looking at a timepiece. 

"You're late."

"Sorry, sir. I…”

“Save it. Mount up." 

Marcus tossed him the reins…