Chapter 193: Training.

Lyra

Roman takes a step closer to me. He looks down quietly, his shoulders slumping with what looks like shame.

Then he lets out a sigh. "I wanted to apologize for how I disappeared for the time that I did, Lyra. I know you tried to reach me. I know you texted. But I was just taking some time to get better after the crazy accident that broke my limbs."

I stare at Roman silently for a moment, tightening my fingers around the stems of the pink flowers in my arms. "And how do you feel? Are you alright now?"

A sad smile touches his lips as he finally looks up to meet my eyes. "I will be. Eventually."

"What kind of accident did you get into that broke your bones like that, Roman?" I ask, my eyebrows furrowing.

He goes completely quiet, his eyes look lost for a moment. The silence stretches between us for several seconds before he finally blinks, shifting his weight. "I can't really remember, to be honest. I completely blacked out after the impact. I lost my memory of exactly what happened that night."

I nod slowly, letting out a breath. "I'm just glad you're okay now."

"Yeah," Roman says, the sad smile returning to his face. "Me too."

An awkward silence settles over us. Roman clears his throat, his gaze dropping to the pink bouquet in my hands before rising back to my face. "I also wanted to congratulate you on passing level one."

Before I can even think to take a step back, Roman steps forward and wraps his arm around me, pulling my body against his chest in a tight hug. I freeze completely, my muscles locking up as the stiffness of his grip makes me feel some kind of discomfort. I hold the flowers up to keep them from being crushed between us, smiling awkwardly at him.

A sigh escapes Roman as he continues to hold me. "I missed this, Ly. Holding you... being with you every hour of the day."

He slowly pulls back, leaning down as his lips move toward my cheek but before he can kiss me, I instantly jerk my head back, stepping out of his space while clearing my throat loudly to break the tension. "So... I hope you'll start attending your combat classes and training sessions again soon?"

Roman watches me step away, his arms falling limply to his sides. "Maybe."

"Okay," I say, offering him a tight, polite smile. "I really need to go now, Roman."

I turn around, preparing to walk back toward the general hall, but Roman’s voice, stops me in my tracks.

"Wait, Lyra. I need to show you something. Something very important."

I pause, slowly turning back to face him. "What is it?"

"The thing is… I can't say it here," Roman whispers, glancing around the empty corners of the hallway. "It's a secret. But you need to come with me right now so I can show you."

"Where, Roman?" I ask, my suspicion growing.

"Somewhere just around the outer school perimeters," he answers, taking a small step toward me.

A knot of hesitation tightens in my stomach. I look toward the corner where Kai went, my mind racing. I don't feel sure about this at all.

Seeing my hesitation, Roman steps closer, his voice dropping into a low, urgent murmur. "It has something to do with your background, Lyra. Your real parents."

I freeze completely. The air in my lungs vanishes.

My real parents. The people I have spent so much time wondering about. I desperately want to know what he has to show me, even though a quiet voice in my head warns me that Kai is going to be incredibly upset if he finds out I left the grounds.

"Okay," I say, swallowing hard. "Take me there."

Roman immediately reaches out and takes my hand. But before we can take a step toward the exit, a deep, familiar voice cuts through the quiet corridor.

"My sister is not going anywhere with you, Roman. Not today."

I gasp in surprise, pulling my hand out of Roman's grip and spin around. My eyes widen as I see the tall, familiar figure with silver hair standing near the stone archway.

"Nick!" I cry out.

I rush forward and throw my arms tightly around his waist, burying my face in his chest. I haven't seen him in so long. “Where the hell have you been!”

Nick wraps his arms around me, hugging me back tightly. "I was upset with you, Lyra," he says softly into my hair. "I hated how you defended that Lycan Prince. But... I have no choice but to accept that he is your fated mate. The bond is sealed." He pulls back, looking down at me with a serious expression. "I needed to see you today because we have to begin your training immediately."

"Training?" I ask, blinking.

"Something terrible is going to happen very soon, sister," Nick says, his jaw clenching. "And you need to be able to harness your Phoenix powers perfectly before the storm hits us. We don't have time to waste."

"But he was just about to show me something," I say, gesturing back toward Roman. "Something about my real—"

"It doesn't matter," Roman interrupts me instantly.

I look back to see Roman standing with his hands deep in his pockets, his face completely blank. "Go with your brother, Lyra. I'll see you around some other time."

Before I can even open my mouth to ask him to wait, Roman turns around and storms down the hallway, his heavy footsteps fading rapidly as he disappears around the corner.

Nick shakes his head, scowling at me. "These Morningstar spawns just won't let you breathe, will they?"

I pull back from my brother, glaring up at him with my hands on my hips. "Will you please tell me where the hell you've been for the last two weeks? You just keep appearing and disappearing in this academy whenever you feel like it!"

"I've been busy learning some important things about our fox bloodline," Nick answers casually, completely unfazed by my anger. "I also found the best place for you to practice your abilities without the King's spies sniffing around. The catacombs below the academy grounds." He gestures toward the end of the hall. "Come on. We need to start right now."

"I need to give my flowers to my friends to keep for me first," I say, holding up the glittering pink bouquet.

Nick rolls his eyes dramatically, but he nods his head. "Fine. Make it quick."

I quickly run back into the main hall, scanning the crowd until I find Amara and Isolde still standing near the results screen. I thrust the bouquet into Amara’s arms, breathing heavily. "Can you guys keep these in the dorm for me? I have to go. I'll be back later tonight."

Amara looks at the flowers, then looks at me with a playful wink. "Oh, we get it. Go have fun with your Prince."

"It's not—" I start, but Isolde is already giggling and waving me away. I sigh, realizing it is completely useless to argue. I also don’t want Isolde to know her hated mate is around cause she’s warned me not to mention him around her.

As I walk back to the corridor to meet Nick, I quickly pull out my phone and send a text to Kai.

Me:I'm going to do some training with Nick. I'll text you when I'm done.'

My phone vibrates instantly in my hand.

Kai: 'When the fuck did that arrogant bastard arrive? Do you want me to come meet you right now?'

I smile softly at the screen before typing back.

Me: Don't worry, my love. I'll be completely fine. Focus on your meeting.'

Kai: 'I don't like him near you. Be careful, flower. I love you.'

I slide the phone back into my pocket, a warm feeling spreading through my chest. I jog back to where Nick is waiting, and he leads me down a series of dark, winding stone stairs that descend deep into the earth, eventually opening up into a huge cavern filled with ancient pillars. He’s right. No single soul will hear anything from down here.

For the rest of the entire afternoon, i focus on Nick’s instructions. He shows me how to draw the raw heat of my Phoenix spirit from the very center of my chest, channeling it through my fingers.

It doesn’t take long before the power responds to me shockingly. Within just a few hours of intense concentration, I’m able to lift heavy stones with my mind, and I even manage to create a ball of pure white light that illuminates the dark cavern.

The ancient power feels completely incredible.

Kai’s POV

A tense, suffocating silence hangs over the council room.

I stand rigidly near the back of the room, crossing my arms over my chest as I watch my father pace around the round table of royals. The high-ranking lords of the alliance sit in their chairs, their faces pale and completely quiet.

He stops his pacing before he finally speaks.

"I called for this urgent meeting today because I have discovered something," King Geo says in a low, dangerous rumble that makes everyone sit up, tensed.

"My personal informants have informed me that the Phoenix has been found," the King growls, his gaze scanning every single face in the room with a lethal intensity. "And one of you in this very chamber is hiding her identity. Whoever it is, rise up immediately. Because I swear to you, if I have to dig you out myself, your entire bloodline is finished."

My heart stops beating as fear grips my chest, and my muscles go completely rigid. Fuck. How the hell does he know? How did he find out about her? I’ve been so careful, making absolutely sure that Lyra didn't show a single sign of her true nature inside the academy.

The King continues to stare at us, his eyes burning with a murderous fury. The moment his gaze slowly turns toward my corner, I force my facial muscles to lock into a perfectly blank expression. The King narrows his eyes, his gaze lingering on me for a long second.

Suddenly, a chair scrapes loudly against the floor.

The Monpire Lord, Sin, slowly rises to his feet on the opposite side of the table. He adjusts his dark cloak, looking directly at the King. "It's me, your highness. I’m the one you are looking for."

I immediately let out a breath of relief. But a second later, confusion strikes my mind. Why the hell is Sin taking the fall for me? He doesn't even know Lyra.

King Geo steps closer to the table, his hand slowly dropping to the hilt of his heavy broadsword. "I will pardon your treason, Monpire, if you tell me exactly who the Phoenix is and where they are hiding right now. You have five seconds."

For one quiet second, Sin turns his head and his dark eyes lock onto mine across the chamber. A small, confident smile touches his lips before he turns back to face the King.

"I'd rather you find out who it is when it becomes entirely too late," Sin says clearly, his tone dripping with absolute defiance. "Fuck you, and fuck your rotten reign, Lycan King."

In the next split second, a loud, metallic sound echoes through the room.

King Geo violently yanks a sword from one of the statues. A flash of silver cuts through the air, and the sound of slicing flesh follows instantly. Sin’s head is completely severed from his neck, flying off his shoulders and hitting the round table with a heavy thud.

Loud gasps of horror and shock erupt from the royals as black blood splatters all over the place, staining the people closer to him.

I shut my eyes tight, grinding my teeth together until my jaw aches as I force myself to remain perfectly still. The pure rage inside my chest burns like acid. Sin didn't care about the war and politics. He simply wanted salvation for his people, and now he has been slaughtered like an animal.

‘We will avenge the Monpire’s death in due time, Kai,’ Vlad’s voice snarls violently in my head, his beast clawing at my consciousness to break free.

‘I know,’ I respond, forcing my hands to stay flat against my sides. ‘Soon.’

King Geo casually wipes the dark blood off his blade with a white silk cloth, his expression entirely bored. "The next time I call for this council meeting, one of you better have the Phoenix bound in chains. If not..." He trails off, leaving the threat hanging in the air as he drops the sword and begins to walk toward the exit doors.

Before he reaches the door, he stops, looking back over his shoulder. "Kai. See me in my private chambers immediately, son."

I grit my teeth in anger at his command. I can already feel the urge to destroy him in my throat.

After a long minute of standing alone in the council room, seriously contemplating just shifting and going back to the academy, I finally force my feet to move. I walk up the staircase of the palace, straight toward the King's private wing.

When I reach the wooden doors of his private quarters, I reach out my hand, preparing to push the door open..

Suddenly, the door is violently thrown open from the inside.

I freeze instantly. Princess Rina stands right in the doorway, her eyes widening in pure shock as she stares up at me. She is wearing absolutely nothing. She is completely naked, with her hair tangled, and her skin is flushed a deep, telltale pink.

She was just inside my father's bedroom.

"K-Kai!" She gasps in surprise, clearly not expecting to see me here.

I stand still in the hallway, looking at her as the realization comes to my mind.

I don't even know what is worse, feeling pity for Rina who’s so desperate for royal power that she would sell her body to the King, or being completely disgusted by my own father who is sleeping with a girl my age.