Page 108 of The Blood Moon Oath

She’s pushing reassurance through the tether that binds us, her presence a balm to my fraying control. I glance toward the sidelines, where she stands watching, her expression fierce and unwavering.

The warlock’s distraction costs him. Torin closes in, his blade slashing through the air. The warlock stumbles, his magic faltering under the relentless assault.

“Keep him busy,” I order, stepping back to channel my power.

Torin grins, bloodlust glinting in his eyes. “With pleasure.”

The ground beneath us trembles as I release a surge of energy, roots twisting up from the earth to ensnare the warlock’s legs. He struggles, his magic flaring wildly, but it’s too late. My blade finds its mark, slicing through the air and biting into his side.

The warlock collapses, his breath ragged as blood pools beneath him. The crowd erupts, but my victory is short-lived.

I feel it before I see it—a shift in the energy around us. I turn, my eyes scanning the sidelines, and my heart drops. Rothgar is gone.

“Sable,” I whisper, my gaze locking onto her figure. She’s alone, her focus on the fight.

And then I see him. Rothgar. He’s behind her, his blade drawn, his intent clear.

“Sable!” I shout, but my warning comes too late.

A sharp pain explodes in my side as my opponent, bloody but not defeated, drives his blade into me. I stagger, my vision blurring as I watch Rothgar’s blade rise toward Sable.

And I’m too far away to stop either of them.

Chapter

Fifty-Eight

SABLE

The roar of the crowd is deafening, but it fades into the background as I stand at the edge of the arena, my heart pounding in time with the fight unfolding in front of me. Torin’s movements are sharp, calculated chaos—a deadly dance of steel and muscle that seems almost effortless for him. He’s laughing, of course, reveling in the bloodlust and the challenge. That’s Torin. He thrives on this madness.

Kael, though...Kael is different. His blade arcs with precision, his strikes deliberate, but there’s a tension in his shoulders, a tightness in his jaw that sets my nerves on edge. He’s angry. I can feel it through the bond, simmering and sharp, like a blade poised to break skin.

“They’re doing fine,” Finn says beside me, his voice calm and measured, as if he’s reading my mind. “Torin is enjoying himself too much to lose, and Kael—well, he’s angry, but he’ll refocus.”

I glance at Finn, narrowing my eyes. “And what happens ifhe doesn’t? You know as well as I do that Kael doesn’t fight well when he’s distracted.”

Finn arches an eyebrow. “Kael’s the Alpha for a reason. He knows how to handle himself.” He pauses, then looks at me. “But you could help him.”

I blink, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

“Push calm through the bond,” he says simply. “He trusts you now, whether he likes it or not. Use that.”

I hesitate, my gaze flickering back to the fight. Kael’s movements are growing more erratic, his frustration bleeding into every swing of his blade. Torin, meanwhile, is grinning like a madman, completely unbothered by the chaos around him.

“Do it,” Finn urges, his voice steady but firm. “He needs you.”

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and focus on the bond, on the connection that ties Kael and me together. I picture calm—cool, steady waves washing over his anger, grounding him, pulling him back to the control he thrives on.

When I open my eyes, I see the shift almost immediately. Kael steadies, his movements becoming smoother, more precise. He counters a brutal strike from his opponent with ease, forcing the warlock back a step. Relief floods through me, and I exhale slowly.

“It worked,” I murmur, more to myself than to Finn.

“Of course it did,” Finn says with a small smirk. “He might not admit it, but Kael needs you just as much as he needs us.”

I don’t respond, but my worry doesn’t entirely fade. My gaze flickers to the edges of the arena, scanning the crowd. Something feels off, like a shadow creeping just out of sight.

“What is it?” I ask, noticing the way Finn’s eyes narrow.

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