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Ayres is asleep in Alden’s cabin, curled under the blanket, breathing softly. The lantern sways with the gentle rocking of the boat, casting warm light across its face. Peaceful. Safe.
Alden steps out onto the deck to check the lines, expecting nothing but the usual quiet.
But the air feels wrong.
Still. Heavy. Like the ocean itself is holding its breath.
Alden’s hand drifts toward his sword.
A soft thud hits the deck behind him.
He spins—
—but the sound came from inside.
His heart drops.
“Ayres…”
He bolts for the cabin, shoving the door open so hard it bangs against the wall.
Ayres is still asleep.
And standing over it—silent, tense, eyes sharp—is Kaja.
Kel’s posture is coiled, ready, like a storm about to break. The lanternlight catches the edge of kel’s expression—anger, hurt, something darker.
Alden’s voice comes out low, dangerous. “Step away.”
Kaja doesn’t move. Doesn’t even flinch.
“You really let it sleep in your bed,” Kaja murmurs. “You’ve gotten soft.”
Alden steps inside, placing himself between Kaja and the bed. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Kaja tilts kel’s head, studying him. “You didn’t answer me last time. I thought I’d try again.”
“You attacked Ayres last time.”
Kaja’s smile is thin. “It survived.”
Alden’s grip tightens on his sword. “Leave.”
Kaja’s eyes flick past him, toward Ayres. “You’re protecting it? That thing?”
Alden’s voice drops even lower. “Ayres is under my protection. You don’t touch it.”
Something in Kaja’s expression cracks—hurt, betrayal, fury all tangled together.
“You used to listen to me,” Kaja says quietly.
“You used to not hurt people I care about.”
That lands like a blow.
Kaja lunges.
Alden meets kel instantly, steel clashing against force, the cramped cabin amplifying every movement. They slam into the table, the lantern, the wall—Alden pushing Kaja back, Kaja twisting like kel’s trying to slip past him toward the bed.
Alden blocks, shoves, redirects. “Not here. Not near Ayres.”
Kaja snarls, “You’re choosing it over me?”
“I’m choosing what’s right.”
Kaja swings again, but Alden catches kel’s wrist, twisting just enough to break the momentum. Kaja stumbles back, breathing hard, eyes burning.
“You think you’re safe out here,” Kaja spits. “You think this boat will protect you.”
Alden steps forward, sword raised—not to strike, but to warn. “Leave. Now.”
For a moment, Kaja looks like kel might keep fighting.
Then kel glances at Ayres—still asleep, still unaware—and something in kel’s face fractures completely.
“This isn’t over,” Kaja whispers.
Kel bolts for the door, sprinting across the deck and leaping over the railing into the night. By the time Alden reaches the edge, Kaja is already gone—swallowed by darkness and ocean.
Alden stands there, breathing hard, sword trembling in his hand.
Then he turns back to the cabin.
Ayres is still asleep, curled small and peaceful, untouched by the chaos that nearly reached it.
Alden exhales, shoulders finally dropping.
He sits beside the bed, resting a hand near Ayres—not touching, just close enough to reassure himself it’s really there.
“You’re safe,” he whispers. “I won’t let anyone take you.”
Outside, the ocean rocks the boat gently, as if trying to soothe the storm that just passed.
But Alden knows Kaja will return.
And next time, he’ll be ready.