DAUGHTER OF ASH AND NIGHT

The shadows had been following her since last night.

Or maybe it was just him.

Aliana sat by the window of Kaelith's chamber, watching the night sky, but her mind was trapped in the memory of the black mist curling around his fingers. Of the wings that should not exist, stretching outward like living shadows. Of the way he had touched her throat—a silent warning, a test, a question she still couldn't answer.

Her body still remembered the ghost of his fingers.

The palace had felt different after their encounter. The guards looked at her with carefully concealed unease. The servants moved too quickly in her presence, whispering behind their hands when they thought she wasn't listening. Even the air felt charged, like a storm waiting to break.

Kaelith had vanished after last night.

And now, she was supposed to pretend nothing had happened?

"Coward," she muttered under her breath.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

She turned as the same maid from before stepped in, bowing her head.

"His Lordship demands your presence in the training grounds."

Aliana inhaled sharply. Of course.

Avoids me all day, then summons me like nothing happened?

"Fine," she said, standing. "Escort me there."

The maid led her through the palace corridors, and for a while, silence stretched between them. But Aliana had too many questions clawing at her mind to let it stay that way.

"You knew, didn't you?" she asked suddenly.

The maid glanced at her. "Knew what, my lady?"

"What Kaelith is. What he's capable of."

There was no hesitation in the woman's voice. "Everyone in this palace knows, but few have lived to speak of it."

Aliana felt a shiver creep down her spine.

"And yet, you speak of it freely."

"You asked."

"That's not an answer."

The maid hesitated, then gave her a small, knowing smile. "Perhaps I do not fear him as much as I should."

Aliana narrowed her eyes. "And why is that?"

"Because I have seen the way he looks at you."

Aliana's steps halted.

"And how does he look at me?" she asked carefully.

The maid only smiled. "Like he is not sure whether to destroy you or protect you."

Before Aliana could respond, the woman stepped aside, gesturing forward. "We have arrived

At the training ground,Kaelith stood at the center of the vast stone arena, his back turned to her. He wasn't wearing his usual dark coat, only a sleeveless tunic, revealing the sharp cut of his muscles and the faint black markings that traced down his arms—witch sigils, carved into his skin like living ink.

"Took you long enough."

Aliana scowled. "You could have come to get me yourself."

He turned, golden eyes glinting. "You are not that important."

She clenched her fists, anger sparking in her veins. "Then why did you summon me?"

"Because you are weak, and I do not tolerate weakness."

Without another word, he lunged.

Aliana barely had time to react before his hand caught her wrist, twisting her around in a blur of movement. She gasped as she was slammed against his chest—hard, unyielding.

"Lesson one," he murmured against her ear, voice dangerously low. "Never hesitate."

With a sharp movement, he kicked her legs out from beneath her. She barely caught herself before hitting the ground, rolling away and springing back up.

"Bastard," she spat.

He smirked. "Good. Now fight back."

She didn't need to be told twice.

This time, she struck first.

She darted forward, feinting left before swinging her leg toward his ribs. He dodged effortlessly, but she expected that. Twisting her body, she used the momentum to aim a punch at his throat—only for him to catch her wrist mid-air.

"Better," he admitted.

Then, without warning, he pushed her back—hard.

She stumbled, but before she could regain her balance, something snapped.

A shift in the air. A dark pulse.

Aliana looked up—and froze.Kaelith eyes had changed, and he seems to catch a scent.

It wasn't Aliana's usual fragrance—the subtle mix of wildflowers and lingering embers. No, this was something else. Something wrong.

It hit him like a blade to the throat, sharp and intoxicating, sinking into his senses like a curse.

His fangs ached before he even realized why.

The scent was sweet. Potent. Alive.

Blood soap.

His pupils dilated as realization struck him.

"What did you do?" he rasped.

Aliana, still catching her breath from their sparring match, frowned. "Excuse me?"

Kaelith took a slow, measured step forward. He could feel the way his body responded—muscles tightening, hunger crawling under his skin like a living thing. He clenched his fists, forcing his instincts back.

"Your scent," he growled. "It's different."

She blinked, clearly confused. "I don't—"

He moved so fast she barely had time to react. One moment, he was feet away, the next, he had her pressed against the cold stone wall.

Aliana gasped, but it wasn't from fear—it was from the way his body caged hers in, the sheer heat rolling off him like an impending storm.

"What. Did. You. Bathe. With." His voice was a low snarl, his fangs dangerously close to her throat.

Aliana's heart slammed against her ribs. "A…a new soap? The maid gave it to me."

Kaelith froze.

"Describe it."

She swallowed. "It was red, sort of thick, smelled like…like wine? I don't know."

His eyes flashed, fury burning beneath the gold.

Blood soap.

The kind only vampires used. The kind that, when applied to a human, made them impossible to ignore. The scent soaked into the skin, turning them into prey.

A deliberate punishment. A trap.

And he had nearly fallen for it.

His grip on her tightened for a moment before he let go, stepping back as if she burned him.

"Who gave it to you?" His voice was rough, strangled.

Aliana, still dazed, took a breath. "The maid. The one who escorted me here."

Kaelith's expression turned cold, dangerously unreadable.

"She knew," he murmured to himself. "She did this on purpose."

Aliana rubbed her wrist, still staring at him. "Kaelith, what's going on?"

He didn't answer. He couldn't.

Because right now, he wasn't safe.

Not for her. Not for himself.

His wings rippled, shadows curling around his feet. He could still smell it on her, in her blood.

He needed her gone.

"Leave."

Aliana stiffened. "What?"

"I said leave, now."

"Not until you tell me—"

His gaze snapped to hers, and for the first time, she saw true hunger.

The kind that couldn't be reasoned with.

She swallowed hard. Then, without another word, she turned and left.

Kaelith stood there, motionless, jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.

Someone had done this.

Someone had set him up.

And they had used Aliana to do it.

Whoever was responsible… would regret it.