didn'

, purposeful strides. The echo of boots and careless l

nce, his pace measured, h

wolf w

's shoulders. This wasn't just about the drill. Darius had known that the moment Adria

ed the boys'

teeth, the air thick with the sharp scent of sweat, metal, and

ed inside and

oed louder than

sed your

aid, wasti

o the nearest bench and exha

n turne

allowed," he snapped. "On a h

drill," Dar

s not th

narrowed slightl

ressure rolling off him in controlled waves. The l

s," Adrian said. "One mistake. One human

tep back. "You trained us to survive among them-not to shrink

u ass

outsiders. Just boys desperate to believe in talent. Humans

tretched be

and turned away, dragging

though," he s

us went on, his tone casual, alm

sed deli

forgo

owly. "What do you

his head sligh

jaw tighten

oodie," Darius continued, unh

ing to do with t

. "Because I've never seen y

ed uneasily, sen

Darius went on quietly. "About risk.

pau

fraid. And it made me wonder... since when does our fear

ds landed

er room fe

low and dangerous. "You're

almly. "If we're measuring danger, we sho

eat p

," Darius said. "I think it was con

ashed down b

me, Adrian didn't

knew that Darius was

led his focus in a

Adrian hadn't calculat

t, voice ice-cold, "you speak abo

ned his head-n

now

the door open

here he was, a faint smirk li

time, Adrian wasn't guar

arding hims