The silence in the chambers was different that night.
It wasn't peace.
It was contained tension.
Adara sat on the edge of the bed, slowly unwrapping the bandages from her ribs. The cloth peeled off with difficulty. The bruise left by the blow was dark, deep… almost black.
It hurt.
But not as much as it should.
And that was what worried her most.
—
Karan hadn't moved.
He was still standing by the window, watching the torches on the walls. He was still wearing part of his armor.
As if he couldn't let his guard down.
Not even there.
—
—What did you feel?—Adara finally asked.
Karan didn't answer right away.
Then he turned.
The candlelight cast harsh shadows on his face.
—It wasn't just the fight—he said.—It was the air.
He approached.
Slowly.
"It got heavier… like everything was pulling you in."
Adara lowered her gaze.
Karan raised a hand and gently placed it on her chest.
"And your pulse…"
Pause.
"It wasn't fear."
Adara felt her heart pound beneath his hand.
"It was hunger."
Silence.
Adara looked away.
She couldn't tell him the truth.
That for a second—
she hadn't wanted to defend herself.
She had wanted to destroy.
"It was adrenaline," she finally said. "I didn't want to fail."
Karan watched her.
Not convinced.
But he didn't argue.
"We leave tomorrow," he said. "Badlands."
Adara looked up.
"Why?"
"Inspection," he replied.
Pause.
"That's what my father says."
Another pause.
"But that's not it."
Adara understood without another word.
One test.
Another.
Karan gently squeezed her shoulders.
"If that comes up again..." he said softly, "I won't be able to stop what comes next."
Adara looked at him.
"I'll control it."
Karan didn't reply.
Because he didn't know whether to believe it.
That night, neither of them slept well.