Chapter 33 | The Guardian | Kael
The training moves forward in fits and starts.
Leah's ability to sense energy gets better every day—now she can feel my presence from two rooms away and can tell what emotional state my aura shows. But her hands-on skills are falling behind. Her shields fail more than they work. Her telekinesis can barely move small objects. It's like all her power is in sensing things, not doing things.
"Maybe this is as far as I can go," she says one afternoon, after another failed attempt. She's sitting on the floor with her legs crossed, sweat on her forehead. "Maybe I'm only supposed to sense things, not actually do them."
"That's ridiculous." I hand her a towel. "You have the Progenitor's bloodline. There's no limit to what you can do. We just haven't found the right way in yet."
"What way in?"
"Every bloodline has a trigger. Something that unlocks its full power." I sit down across from her, cross-legged, our knees touching. "For most people, it's emotion. Fear, anger, love—strong feelings can wake up hidden power."
"So I need to be afraid?"
"Or feel something strongly." I take her hands in mine. "Close your eyes. Think of something that really matters to you. Something you'd protect no matter what."
She closes her eyes. Her breathing slows down. I feel the Bloodbond connection stir, pulsing with her focus.
Minutes go by. Then—
"The baby," she whispers. "I think of the baby."
"Good. Hold onto that. Feel the need to protect. Let it fill you up."
Her fingers squeeze mine tighter. The silver lines on her wrist start to glow—faint at first, then brighter. A warm energy comes off her skin, like sunlight breaking through clouds.
"Now," I say, "try the shield."
She lifts her free hand, palm facing out. The air in front of her ripples. A see-through barrier forms—not the weak, flickering thing from before, but a solid, glowing disc of silver light. It holds. Steady. Strong.
"Three seconds," I count. "Four. Five."
The shield holds. Ten seconds. Fifteen. Her forehead wrinkles with effort, her jaw clenches, but the barrier stays up.
"Twenty."
Then it breaks apart. Not fades away—breaks apart, shattering into a thousand silver pieces that melt into the air. Leah gasps, her eyes flying open, her hand dropping to her side.
"Twenty seconds," I say, wonder in my voice. "Leah, that was—"
"I did it." She stares at her hand, eyes wide. "I actually did it."
"You did." I pull her into my arms, laughing. "You did it!"
She laughs too, a sound of pure happiness that fills the small room. We hold each other, swaying slightly, both smiling like kids.
The moment shatters when a sound comes from outside—a twig snapping, footsteps in the forest. I freeze, my Prince senses instantly on high alert. The Bloodbond connection flares with Leah's fear, matching my own tension.
"Stay here," I whisper, letting go of her.
I move to the window, looking through the curtains. The forest is dark, the trees swaying in the evening wind. But my eyes catch movement—three figures, wrapped in shadow, coming toward the house from the north.
Council agents. More than last time. And better trained.
"Leah," I say, my voice calm but urgent. "Get to the safe room. Now."
"What—"
"Council agents. At least three." I turn to her, my look serious. "The safe room. Lock the door. Don't come out until I tell you."
She nods, her face pale but steady. She moves fast and quiet, disappearing into the back room. I hear the door lock with a soft click.
I turn to face the front door. The short-knife is in my hand, its blade shining in the firelight. The pressure builds inside me, my Prince power coiling like a snake ready to strike.
The door slams open. Three agents come in, their faces hidden by masks, their auras hidden by shadow-wards. But I can sense them—two mid-level, one high. The high-level one is carrying a suppression device, its energy unmistakable.
"Prince Kael," the lead agent says, his voice muffled by the mask. "Hand over the girl."
"No."
"This is your last warning."
"And this is mine." I release the pressure.
The room explodes with force. The agents stumble, their shadow-wards cracking under the attack. The lead agent raises the suppression device, but I'm already moving—Shadow-glide, faster than sight, my blade finding the device and cutting it in two.
The agent stares at the broken pieces in his hand. Then at me.
"Leave," I say, my voice cold as ice. "Or die."
They leave. Fast. Professional. Knowing when they're beaten.
I stand in the doorway, breathing hard, my blade still in hand. The forest is quiet again. But I know—they'll be back. With more people. Better gear.
"Kael?" Leah's voice comes from the safe room, small and scared.
"It's okay," I say, putting away the blade. "They're gone."
She comes out, her face pale, her arms wrapped around herself. "How did they find us?"
"I don't know." I pull her close, feeling her shake. "But we'll be ready next time. I promise."
She presses her face against my chest, her heartbeat racing against my ribs. I hold her, my eyes on the dark forest beyond the door.
The war has started.