Page 15 of Frostforge: Passage Four
He leaned closer still, the distance between them narrowing until she could see the faint scar that bisected his right eyebrow, a relic from his time in prison.The mess hall seemed to recede around them, the ambient noise fading to a distant hum as Kaine's presence filled her awareness.
"I'm going to find out who's doing this," he promised, his voice dropping to a near-whisper that sent a shiver across her skin.The intensity in his eyes burned like blue flame, fierce and unwavering."No one targets you — or your recruits — while I'm here."
Thalia's heart stuttered in her chest.The protectiveness in his tone, the determination etched into every line of his face — it stirred something deep within her, a longing she thought she'd managed to bury during their months apart.She was acutely aware of his proximity, of the scent of forge-fire and pine that clung to him, of the calloused hands that rested just inches from her own.
Words deserted her, caught somewhere between her racing heart and her dry throat.The moment stretched between them, taut as a bowstring, heavy with unspoken feelings and possibilities that neither of them dared to voice.
Kaine's eyes flickered over her shoulder, and something in his expression shifted, closing like a door against a winter storm.He straightened, pulling back as his gaze fixed on something — or someone—approaching from behind her.
"I should go," he murmured, rising from the bench in a single fluid movement."We'll talk more tomorrow."
Before Thalia could respond, he was gone, striding away with purposeful steps that carried him out of the mess hall.The space he'd occupied seemed to hollow out in his absence, leaving a void that the hall's ambient noise rushed to fill.
"Was that Kaine?"Luna's voice came from behind her, curious and lightly teasing."He left in quite a hurry."
Thalia turned to see Luna and Ashe approaching, each carrying a tray of food.They slid onto the bench across from her, Ashe's eyebrows raised in silent question.
"He wanted to discuss what happened with Daniel's shield today," Thalia said, aiming for casual and missing by several leagues.Her voice sounded strained even to her own ears.
Ashe snorted softly."Must have been a fascinating shield to put that look on your face."
"What look?"Thalia demanded, heat rising to her cheeks.
Luna grinned, her dark eyes twinkling with mischief.She nudged Thalia's untouched bowl toward her."You should eat.Pining on an empty stomach leads to poor decision-making."
"I'm not pining," Thalia protested, but the words rang hollow.She stabbed at a chunk of potato with unnecessary force."He's concerned about the pattern of sabotage targeting my squad."
"Of course he is," Ashe agreed, her voice suspiciously neutral."And I'm sure his concern is purely professional."
"Entirely," Luna added solemnly."Just as I'm sure the way you stare at the forge door every time we pass by is purely about your love of metallurgy."
Thalia opened her mouth to defend herself, but no retort came.Her mind was still tangled in the intensity of Kaine's gaze, the fierce promise in his voice, the charged space between them that seemed to crackle with possibilities.How could she explain what she herself didn't fully understand?
Instead, she took a bite of her cold stew, chewing methodically while her friends exchanged knowing glances.The flavors barely registered through the lingering warmth of Kaine's presence, the echo of his words reverberating in her mind:No one targets you — or your recruits — while I'm here.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Thalia stood among the sea of students in Frostforge's main hall, the usual drone of voices muted to a nervous hum.Bodies pressed closer than comfort allowed, their collective breath fogging the frigid air despite the heat pipes running beneath the stone floor.She sensed the undercurrent of unease, felt it in the way shoulders tensed and eyes darted — something was wrong.Unscheduled assemblies at Frostforge never heralded good news.
The stone walls loomed overhead, adorned with banners bearing the academy's crest — a forge hammer crossed with an ice-forged blade.Normally, the emblems inspired pride, or at least determination.Today, they felt like omens.
The heavy tread of boots against stone silenced the murmurs.Instructor Wolfe strode onto the raised podium, her emerald eyes sharp as she surveyed the gathered students.Her presence commanded immediate attention, back straight as a forged blade, shoulders squared beneath her ice-metal pauldrons.The scar running from her jaw to her throat caught the light, a silvery reminder of battles survived.
"Fourth years to the front," she barked, voice echoing against the vaulted ceiling."First years at the back."
Bodies shifted, reorganized.Thalia found herself near the front, close enough to see the tight set of Wolfe's jaw, the subtle tells of tension that most wouldn't notice.
"I'll be brief," Wolfe said, once the shuffling ceased."Our scouts have reported increased Isle Warden activity along the coastal regions — some sightings disturbingly close to Frostforge's inlet fjord."
A collective intake of breath rippled through the hall.Thalia's pulse quickened, her mind immediately racing to Verdant Port, to her mother and Mari.If the Wardens were growing bolder near Frostforge itself, what might they be planning for the Southern coasts?Had her mother decided to flee the city, to seek safety inland — or was she still hesitating, still clinging to the roof over their heads?
"Effective immediately, we're implementing additional security protocols," Wolfe continued, her voice cutting through the worried whispers."Curfew starts an hour earlier.No one leaves the academy grounds without an instructor escort.All training sessions on the Crystalline Plateau will have additional guard rotations."
Thalia's fingers curled into fists at her sides.The last time security had tightened like this was after Maven's betrayal, after the Isle Wardens had breached Frostforge's defenses and left bodies in their wake.
"Remember," Wolfe's eyes narrowed, scanning the crowd with deliberate slowness, "our enemies are cunning.They've proven capable of infiltration.If you notice anything suspicious — anything at all — report it immediately."
Her gaze lingered on the Southern students for a beat too long, the implication clear.Thalia felt her stomach twist.The suspicion was always there, lurking beneath the surface.Southerners were viewed as weaker, more likely to break, to betray.And if anyone discovered Roran's secret, his storm magic….
