Page 16 of Blood Marked

“Varyn. The velvet-and-venom type.”

Kael grunted. “Stay away from him.”

She folded her arms. “That’s it? No explanation?”

“You don’t need one.”

Selene’s jaw tightened. “You know, I’m getting real tired of ‘because I said so.’”

Kael stopped mid-strike. Turned to her.

His chest rose and fell, skin gleaming with sweat, eyes gold-bright in the dying light from his near shifts for training.

“He’s dangerous.”

“So are you.”

Kael stepped closer, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. “I’m not trying to manipulate you.”

“Just control me. Right.”

His jaw flexed. “I’m trying to keep you alive.”

“For a prophecy neither of us asked for.”

“That doesn’t make it any less real.”

Selene took a breath.

The air between them was charged. Buzzing. SHe challenged his gaze long before she looked away.

“I don’t trust him,” she said softly.

Kael's voice was quiet. “Good. Don’t trust me either.”

She met his gaze again.

“I don’t.”

But the longer she looked… the less sure she was.

EIGHT

KAEL

Kael watched from the edge of the council chamber, arms folded, back pressed to the stone pillar as if he could disappear into it.

The room buzzed with the low hum of political pleasantries—Shifter nobility exchanging barbed words wrapped in velvet tones, laughter that didn’t reach eyes, wine sipped like it wasn’t poison. Smoke curled from the ceremonial braziers, mixing with the scent of wildflowers and incense.

But Kael’s gaze didn’t move from her.

Selene stood near the central hearth, her head tilted slightly as she spoke with one of the Grimhart envoys—Calder, if Kael remembered right. The bear heir was all warmth and broad smiles, his posture relaxed, respectful,easy. Selene laughed at something he said. Not a polite court laugh, either.

A real one.

And Kael’s jaw clenched.

She wore a soft plum tunic that brushed the top of her boots, embroidered at the collar in Fenrir red and bone. Her hair was twisted back today, exposing the curve of her neck—the spot just below her ear where the Mark flared every time they stood too close. Where Kael’s gaze kept falling whether he wanted itto or not. It had bloomed there almost immediately after the ceremony, as had Kael’s, just below his collarbone. Like they were a dumbass couple who got matching tattoos.

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