Kaelen didn’t stop. The moonlight cast long shadows across his back, accentuating the quiet defiance in every unhurried step.
That was the final crack.
Jodhar growled, the sound raw and guttural. His hand shot to his sword, blade sliding free with a hiss.
Elder Tasim’s voice rang out, sharp and panicked. “Stop this at once!”
Too late.
Jodhar lunged, his sword slicing through the air. Chaos erupted around them as the spectators leapt back, steering clear of the fight.
Kaelen was more than ready. He moved like lightning, his scimitar meeting Jodhar’s blade in a sharp metallic clash. Tasim’s shouts to stop were drowned beneath the fury of steel meeting steel. Jodhar’s strikes were heavy, fuelled by rage, but Kaelen was faster. Calculated where his opponent was reckless, precise where he was wild. Kaelen danced around each attack, his blade a blur as he deflected every swing with effortless precision.
Reiya’s heart pounded as she watched, torn between fear and awe. Kaelen’s expression remained maddeningly calm, almost amused, even as Jodhar’s movements grew more erratic. He was toying with the brute, letting him wear himself down.
“Is this the best you’ve got?” Kaelen taunted, his scimitar catching the firelight as he easily deflected another strike. “No wonder you need to terrorize women to feel important. You can’t intimidate a child.”
Jodhar roared, his composure shattering. He swung wide, overextending.
Kaelen seized the opening.
With a sharp, precise motion, he slipped past Jodhar’s guard and twisted—sending the blade flying from the mercenary’s grip, steel ringing as it struck the ground.
Silence fell.
Jodhar froze, chest heaving, Kaelen’s scimitar hovering dangerously close to his throat.
For a moment, Reiya thought Kaelen might go through with it and spray blood all over the dirt.
No one spoke. Only the sound of the whistling breeze and the dim noise from the market filled the clearing. Jodhar’s pride warred with his survival instincts, his lips curling into a snarl, but the sweat gathering at his brow betrayed his hesitation.
Kaelen’s voice cut through the silence, calm and cold. “Yield. Or do you need me to remind you what happens to men who mistake arrogance for strength?”
Jodhar’s lips parted, but no sound came. His gaze darted toward the crowd, searching for support, but most had averted their eyes. His knuckles flexed, his pride refusing to let him speak.
“Enough!” Elder Tasim’s voice cracked, though his hands still trembled. “Stand down, both of you!”
Kaelen didn’t lower his blade, his eyes never leaving Jodhar. “This fight ends with his expulsion, Elder. I will accept no compromise.” His gaze sharpened. “Or would you rather I take this further?”
Tasim hesitated, his eyes darting nervously between them. “Alpha Kai,” he began, his voice thin, “you’ve both caused enough disruption?—”
“No.” Kaelen’s tone was sharp, final. “You’ve seen what he is. Heard what he’s said. He was hired to protect this caravan, but instead, he’s terrorizing it.” His golden eyes flicked toward Tasim, unyielding. “If you continue to allow it, you’ll be as guilty as he is.”
Jodhar sneered. “You think you can dictate terms here, Sunborn? Tasim hired me, not you.”
Kaelen’s smile returned, razor-sharp. “In that case, he can undo it.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Jodhar’s jaw clenched, his hands trembling with restrained fury.
“Expelled?” he spat. “You’d turn on me that easily? After everything I’ve done for this caravan? You think this . . . mutt”—he jerked his chin at Kaelen—“deserves a place here more than I do?”
Tasim flinched but held his ground, his exhaustion plain.
“You’re a fool,” Jodhar muttered, his voice quieter but no less venomous. “You think you’re making the caravan safer, but you’ve just made it weak. Mark my words—youwillregret this.”
With a muttered curse, he sheathed his blade and turned sharply on his heel. Reiya watched the crowd parted around him, whispers trailing in his wake. He walked away, but not before giving her a scathing look that lingered for a beat too long.
She clenched her fists, pulse still racing as Kaelen finally returned to their side. His breathing was even, his posture relaxed, but she caught the tension still humming beneath his calm exterior.
