Sera's Pov
The days passed in a haze of exhaustion.
Training had always been grueling, but now it felt merciless. Every single trainee was on edge, their movements sharper, their eyes constantly scanning. Fear was a silent presence among us—an unspoken truth that only grew louder as the competition loomed closer.
For most, this wasn't just a test. It was life or death.
And I wasn't an exception.
Kael had kept his word. Every night, after I had already endured a full day of training with the others, he would meet me on the grounds again. He pushed me harder, faster, smarter. While the rest of the camp slept, I fought against exhaustion, muscles aching, lungs burning.
At first, it was tolerable. But as the days turned into a week, the wear and tear caught up with me.
I was barely sleeping.
Barely thinking.
Just moving.
Survive. Survive. Survive.
But no matter how much my body screamed, I kept going. I had to.
Enzo was too strong. And Lucian? He wanted me gone.
I couldn't afford to lose.
Kael noticed, of course. He wasn't stupid.
He still trained me, still pushed me, but in the moments between fights, he would try to lighten things up. He'd crack a joke, make a snide remark about the way I moved, or just… mess with me.
One night, after I had nearly collapsed from exhaustion, he had dramatically thrown himself onto the ground beside me, sighing as if he was the one dying.
"This is it," he groaned, lying spread-eagle on the dirt. "I've trained you so hard, I think I might have aged a decade."
I shot him a look. "You're not the one bleeding."
Kael hummed, lifting his hand and poking my bruised cheek. "You'll live."
I swatted his hand away, too tired to do more than glare.
But still… he kept me grounded. Even when I didn't want to be.
And that was the worst part.
Because Lucian had been silent.
For weeks.
Not a single dream. Not a single trace of him in that strange dreamscape we used to meet in.
And despite myself, despite everything, I couldn't help but feel the ache of that absence.
The camp was buzzing with tension.
The competition was tomorrow, and everyone felt it.
The air was thick with anticipation, desperation even, as trainees pushed their bodies to the brink. The training grounds, which were usually abandoned by sunset, were still filled with the sounds of grunts, the clash of weapons, and the dull thuds of bodies hitting the dirt.
Everyone wanted to survive.
Everyone wanted to win.
Because losing meant death.
Despite the brutal training schedule we had already endured for weeks, no one held back today.
Blades flashed faster. Fists landed harder. The ground was stained with blood from sparring matches that had gone beyond what was necessary.
The trainers let it happen.
They watched, stone-faced, as we tore into each other. As if they wanted to see who would break first before the actual competition even began.
I knew I should be out there, fighting alongside them, pushing myself the same way.
But Kael had strictly forbidden it.
"You're done for the day," he had said firmly that morning. "No sparring. No drills. Just light training."
I had tried to argue, but he didn't budge.
"You need to be at your best tomorrow," he said, crossing his arms. "Not broken before you even step into the ring."
So instead of sparring, we spent the day going over technique. Kael drilled me on footwork, reaction time, and ways to counter Enzo's attacks.
And after training, when he saw how restless I was, he didn't tease me.
Instead, he ruffled my hair and nudged me lightly. "You'll be fine."
It wasn't just words.
It was conviction.
I exhaled sharply, giving him a half-hearted glare. "I hate that you're so confident in me."
He smirked. "What can I say? I know talent when I see it."
He escorted me back to my room as usual, but this time, he walked slower, like he wasn't in a rush to leave. When we reached my door, he hesitated for a moment before reaching out and bopping me gently on the forehead.
"Get some sleep," he murmured.
It was softer than usual.
Then he turned and walked away, disappearing down the hall before I could respond.
I let out a long breath and turned to open my door—
And then I heard it.
"Pathetic."
I froze.
The voice was low, cutting through the air like a blade.
Cold. Sharp. Familiar.
Lucian.
I turned slowly, my heart pounding in my chest.
He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching me with unreadable golden eyes.
The shadows clung to him, giving him an almost ghostly presence, like he had been waiting in the darkness just for me.
I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to stay steady. "What do you want?"
Lucian pushed off the wall and took a slow step forward.
"You tell me," he said casually, though there was something dangerous beneath his tone. "You're the one letting him paw at you every chance he gets."
I blinked, thrown off. "What the hell are you talking about?"
His lips curled into a mockery of a smile. "Kael."
The name dripped with something ugly.
"You seem to enjoy his attention." He tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was something he was trying to figure out. "Does he whisper sweet words to you after training? Hold you close when no one's watching?"
I clenched my fists. "You're delusional."
Lucian's gaze darkened, and he took another step forward.
"No," he said smoothly, "I think I see you clearly now." His voice dropped lower, colder. "It didn't take you long, did it?"
Something about his tone sent a chill down my spine.
"Didn't take me long for what?" I shot back.
Lucian smiled, but it wasn't kind.
"To spread your legs for him."
Something inside me snapped.
I took a sharp step forward, my vision going red. "Say that again."
Lucian didn't flinch.
He wanted this reaction.
He leaned in slightly, his silver eyes gleaming with something taunting.
"You heard me."
I stared at him, breathing hard. And then—
I laughed.
A sharp, bitter sound.
"Oh," I said mockingly, "I see what this is." I took another step closer, tilting my head. "You're angry. Jealous, even."
Lucian's jaw tightened.
"Poor Lucian," I went on, voice dripping with mock sympathy. "The big bad Alpha is mad because the girl he tossed aside is getting attention from someone else." I smiled sweetly. "Do you miss me? Is that it?"
Lucian's expression didn't change, but the air did.
It grew heavier.
Darker.
Dangerous.
"Careful, Sera." His voice was quiet. "You're standing on thin ice."
I smirked. "Oh, I hope it cracks."
Lucian's eyes flashed.
I expected him to snap, to lunge, to lash out in some way.
But instead, he just stared at me.
And that was worse.
Because there was something there.
Something I couldn't place.
Something that made my heart race for all the wrong reasons.
I forced myself to hold my ground.
"You're pathetic," I whispered, matching his earlier insult. "You threw me away, and now you're angry I moved on?" I let out a sharp laugh. "Get over yourself."
Lucian's expression didn't change.
Didn't falter.
But the air between us was thick with something unsaid.
Something dangerous.
And I knew if I stayed, if I let this conversation go on any longer, something would break.
So I turned away.
And slammed the door in his face.
I was still fuming as I collapsed onto my bed.
Lucian was infuriating.
Arrogant. Selfish. Cruel.
I wanted to scream, to tear something apart—
But my body was too tired.
Too drained.
My eyelids grew heavy.
And then—
The world shifted.
A familiar darkness wrapped around me, cold but oddly comforting.
I knew this place.
I had been waiting for it for weeks.
I opened my eyes.
And there he was.
Dream Lucian.
Waiting for me in the shadows.