Hades' Cursed Luna novel Chapter 89

Eve

The next session was awareness training. Kael stood in front of me with a padded training stick, twirling it dramatically like it was some ancient weapon of legend.

"Your job is to dodge and block," he explained. "Think fast. React faster. And try not to get smacked, because that’ll be embarrassing for both of us."

"Got it," I said, raising my hands.

The first few swings were slow, deliberate, giving me time to adjust. I dodged left, then right, my movements tentative but improving with each pass. Kael’s running commentary didn’t let up.

"Good! Now keep your eyes on me. Don’t look at the stick—unless you want to give it a hug, in which case, by all means."

I laughed despite myself, narrowly dodging a swing aimed at my shoulder. "You’re supposed to be helping, not distracting me!"

"Multitasking," he said cheerfully. "It’s an advanced skill. I’ll teach you that next week."

I laughed and pushed me him back with all of my strength and he actually allowed himself to fall over, laughing. Then my eyes caught something. There was bruising around his neck and my eyes widened when noticed a few finger prints. Realisation dawned on me, like a rock in my stomach; he had been strangled.

I knew a thing or two about Lycanthropic healing. Shallow wounds and bruises did not last on them, they heal and fade within seconds but only if the injury was inflicted by someone of lower rank. So it was already sickening that he was strangled but the it even odder that the bruising had remained. Unless...

Kael was up again, but I was caught off guard and put my weight one ankle. Pain lanced through the abused joint and it was my turn to fall over.

Kael was on his feet in an instant, his hand reaching out to steady me. "Ellen! What did I just say about your ankle?" His tone was sharp, but the concern in his eyes softened the words.

"I’m fine," I muttered, wincing as I tried to shift my weight. His grip tightened on my arm, keeping me from moving.

"You’re not fine," he said, dropping into a crouch. He gently pulled my injured leg out, his fingers lightly grazing my ankle. His touch was careful, almost clinical, but his jaw clenched as he assessed the damage. "You shouldn’t even be standing on this."

"It’s just a sprain," I said, trying to downplay the pain. "I’ve had worse."

He looked up at me, his green eyes narrowing. "Don’t give me that. How did this happen?"

I swallowed, the weight of his question settling heavily in my chest. I couldn’t tell him—not yet. Not when the truth might lead to questions I wasn’t ready to answer. "I just landed wrong during warm-ups," I lied, avoiding his gaze.

Kael didn’t buy it for a second. His eyes hardened, and his grip on my ankle loosened as he straightened to his full height. "That’s not the whole story," he said quietly. His voice wasn’t accusing, but there was a resoluteness to it that made me feel cornered. _{freēwēbnovel.com}

I bit my lip, unsure of what to say.