Rory's POV

“You shouldn’t be near me.”

Kael’s words cut through the silence like a blade. His voice was low, rough, as if dragged from a place of pain he rarely let anyone touch.

I froze on the training field, the night air cool against my skin. The moon hung above us, pale and watching. He stood across from me, arms tense at his sides, eyes shining slightly gold. He looked like a man fighting himself.

“Why are you saying this now?” My voice shook despite the calm I ...