Eya Verdane smiled like a painted temptress in a royal court—soft lips, bright eyes, pure mockery.
"Who would've guessed," she purred, "that the famous Young Warden of Dawnbreaker Hold would be stupid enough to fall for a demon's trick."
Hadrian Corvel hung six yards below the broken pit edge, cocooned in a wall of pale webbing so thick it looked like stretched flesh. He thrashed wildly, but every movement only dragged more strands across his arms and chest. The silk clung like molten tar.
"That thing…" he screamed, face white with terror. "What in the hells was it? You lied to me!"
Eya widened her eyes in false innocence.
"Lied? I told you nothing but truth." She tilted her head, pretending to think. "Ah... though I may have forgotten one tiny detail. That little Wine Spider has another name."
Her smile sharpened.
"Its real name."
Below them, the colossal tiger spider crawled slowly across its webbed cavern, each step making the entire pit tremble.
"It's called a Trick Spider," Eya whispered. "They're rare little creatures. Born from strange crossbreeding. They can't survive unless they attach themselves to stronger species. Just like ambitious nobles, really."
She pointed lazily toward the tiny beautiful spider now resting safely on a web strand far above the monster.
"You see? It lures prey. Its lovely wife protects it. A perfect marriage."
Hadrian stared at her in disbelief.
Kael felt a chill run down his spine.
The giant tiger spider crept closer.
Closer.
Its glowing eyes fixed on Hadrian.
"HELP ME!" Hadrian shrieked. "GET ME OUT OF HERE!"
He thrashed violently.
The web barely moved.
"Kael!" Selene grabbed his sleeve so hard her knuckles turned white. "Do something!"
Kael turned and stared at her.
"Do what exactly? You want me to jump down there?"
"You can pull him up with your whip!"
Kael barked out a humorless laugh.
"From here? Look how deep it is."
Selene leaned over the edge and froze.
Hadrian hung far below them.
Too far.
Even The Eight-Claw Flamescourge wouldn't reach from here.
Hadrian's voice cracked into desperate sobbing.
"Please! Please save me!"
Eya crossed her arms.
"What happened to that mighty The Adamant Ward-Net of yours?" she asked sweetly. "You seemed very proud of it earlier."
Hadrian's right arm was pinned completely by webbing.
He couldn't even move his fingers.
Even if he could—
What was a hunting net supposed to do against something the size of a house?
"You bitch…" Hadrian snarled through shaking teeth. "You set me up... and now you mock me?"
Eya shrugged.
"You're still alive enough to complain."
Hadrian turned toward Selene like a drowning man spotting shore.
"Lady Voss!" he cried. "Please—please save me!"
Sweat rolled down Selene's forehead.
"We'll think of something!" she shouted.
But her voice lacked confidence.
Kael saw the panic in her eyes.
And cursed under his breath.
Damn it.
He hated Hadrian.
Hated his smug face.
Hated how he hovered around Selene.
Hated the way Selene looked worried for him right now.
But seeing her like this...
That made Kael's chest tighten.
"I'll go down," he muttered.
Selene whipped toward him.
"What?"
"I said I'll go."
Her face turned pale.
"That thing is right there."
Hadrian nearly started crying from relief.
"Brother Kael!" he yelled. "Your skills are unmatched! I knew you could save me!"
Kael spat into the pit.
"Oh, shut your mouth. You think flattery works on the Little Saint-Lord?" He glared downward. "I'm only doing this because she asked."
He retracted The Eight-Claw Flamescourge around his arm and began climbing down the jagged pit wall.
Hadrian shouted upward.
"Yes! Yes! If I've offended you before, I'll apologize properly once we're out!"
Kael descended twenty feet before realizing his whip still couldn't reach.
He scanned the pit.
Then spotted a thick sideways-growing bamboo branch.
Without hesitation, he jumped.
Selene gasped.
Kael landed hard on the branch. It bent violently beneath him.
He windmilled his arms to keep balance.
Hadrian stared at him like a man watching salvation descend from heaven.
"You save me," Hadrian said quickly, "and I'll reward you handsomely!"
Kael paused.
His expression changed.
A greedy little light entered his eyes.
"Oh?"
Above them, Selene shouted.
"Watch your footing!"
Kael ignored her.
"What kind of reward?"
Hadrian looked up in disbelief.
"Are you negotiating right now?!"
Kael folded his arms.
"I'm risking my life."
The giant spider moved closer.
Its fangs clicked.
Hadrian began hyperventilating.
"Anything!" he screamed. "Treasures! Gold! Spirit artifacts! Whatever you want!"
Kael leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Then give me your The Griffin Carriage."
Hadrian froze.
"What?"
Kael smiled pleasantly.
"If you didn't hear me, I can repeat it slower."
Hadrian looked physically ill.
"No... no, ask for anything else. That carriage is a family heirloom."
"I want the carriage."
"Gold?"
"No."
"Rare treasures?"
"No."
"Women?"
Kael's face darkened.
"No."
Hadrian looked ready to vomit.
"Please... anything but that."
Kael shrugged.
"Then die."
He turned and began climbing upward.
"YOU FILTHY THIEF!" Hadrian screamed. "THIS IS EXTORTION!"
Kael kept climbing.
Then everything exploded into motion.
The giant tiger spider launched itself upward.
Far faster than anything that large should've been capable of moving.
Its hooked legs slashed toward Kael.
Selene screamed.
She instantly began circulating the Water-Spirit Art—
But Eya moved first.
Her hand flicked.
A white ward-script vanished from her fingers.
A pillar of freezing light crashed down from above.
BOOM.
The spider was instantly entombed in massive ice.
Cracking frost raced across its body.
Its front half froze solid.
Its rear legs remained exposed, thrashing violently.
Kael stared in shock.
What kind of ward could freeze something like that?
And if Eya possessed power like this—
why had she acted helpless earlier?
Eya shouted down at him.
"My ward won't hold long! Move!"
Hadrian screamed.
"Don't leave me!"
Kael hesitated.
Then looked up.
Selene's face was full of fear.
Not for Hadrian.
For him.
Then—
CRACK.
One section of ice shattered.
A spider leg burst free and stabbed toward Hadrian's skull.
It missed by inches.
Hadrian finally broke.
"I'LL GIVE YOU THE CARRIAGE!"
Kael's grin returned instantly.
Now we're talking.
"You expect me to trust you?"
Hadrian nearly fainted.
"How am I supposed to hand it over from here?!"
Another leg smashed through the ice.
Hadrian screamed.
"I SWEAR IT! I SWEAR! If I go back on my word may lightning strike me dead and end my bloodline!"
Kael laughed.
"That's a proper oath."
He released his grip and dropped another thirty feet.
He landed above Hadrian on a slanted branch.
The giant spider continued breaking free.
Kael snapped The Eight-Claw Flamescourge outward.
The fiery whip wrapped around Hadrian's waist.
Kael pulled.
Nothing.
Hadrian remained stuck.
The web stretched—
but refused to release him.
"Pull harder!" Hadrian screamed.
Kael pulled again.
And again.
His muscles burned.
The web still held.
Above them, cracks spread through the frozen prison.
Another spider leg punched through.
It hovered inches from Hadrian's face.
"Eya!" Hadrian screamed. "Freeze it again!"
Eya laughed.
"Oh? I thought you were going to do terrible things to me."
Hadrian nearly cried blood.
"I was wrong! I was blind! Please!"
Eya's face turned cold.
"I've dealt with men like you my entire life."
Her fingers produced another ward-script.
"This is mercy. Don't mistake it for weakness."
She flicked her wrist.
Another pillar of white light slammed down.
The spider froze again.
Its movements slowed.
Selene lay flat at the edge of the pit.
"Kael!" she screamed. "You can do it!"
Hadrian screamed too.
"MOVE!"
Kael glared at him.
"The web's too sticky. If I use full force, you might lose a few organs."
Hadrian nodded frantically.
"DO IT! My body can take it!"
Kael snorted.
"Still bragging while you're wrapped like an insect."
He inhaled sharply.
Then activated the Sundering Flame Art.
Fire Vitae roared through his channels.
It flooded into The Eight-Claw Flamescourge.
The whip glowed red.
Then white.
Kael roared.
And yanked upward with everything he had.
The web finally tore.
Hadrian ripped free.
He flew upward—
straight into Kael.
Hadrian wrapped both arms around him like a drowning man clutching driftwood.
And beneath them—
the frozen spider prison began to crack again.
Kael clawed his way up the wall of the pit with Hadrian wrapped around his neck like a dying parasite.
"Loosen your grip!" Kael choked out, face turning red as Hadrian's forearm crushed against his throat. "Are you trying to strangle me to death?"
Hadrian either did not hear him or refused to let go.
His arms locked tighter.
Kael's vision blurred. Sparks burst behind his eyes. He nearly lost his footing twice on the slick stone wall, one hand clinging to strands of burning web while the other dragged both their weights upward.
Above them, Selene lay flat on her stomach at the edge.
"Kael! Faster!"
Eya knelt beside her, arm extended.
The frozen spider beneath them gave a violent shudder.
Cracks exploded through the massive block of white ice.
The Colossal Tiger Spider was waking up.
"MOVE!" Hadrian screamed directly into Kael's ear.
Kael bared his teeth.
"If you scream one more time, I'll drop you myself."
He made one final desperate pull.
Selene grabbed his wrist.
Eya seized Hadrian's shoulder.
Together, the two women dragged them over the edge.
Kael rolled across the ground and landed hard on his back.
Hadrian still clung to him.
Still choking him.
Kael slapped weakly at his arm.
"Get... off..."
Selene and Eya rushed over.
It took both of them prying at Hadrian's fingers to finally peel his iron grip away from Kael's neck.
Kael sat up coughing violently, rubbing his throat.
"That bastard was trying to murder me on the way up."
Selene burst into relieved laughter despite herself.
"You're alive. Stop exaggerating."
Eya covered her mouth as she giggled.
Hadrian blinked as if waking from a nightmare.
Then his expression changed.
He looked down.
Half his belt was gone.
So were large portions of his robes.
The Eight-Claw Flamescourge had burned clean through his clothing during the rescue.
His trousers barely remained attached.
He let out a strangled noise and immediately clutched himself with both hands.
His face turned crimson.
For the first time since meeting him, he looked like a humiliated fool instead of an arrogant noble heir.
Kael's eyes lit up.
"Good. Since everyone survived…" He held out his hand. "Hand it over."
Hadrian stared blankly.
"What?"
"The Griffin Carriage."
Hadrian looked as though someone had stabbed him.
Selene frowned.
"What carriage?"
Kael pointed accusingly.
"He promised me his carriage if I saved his life."
"I did not—"
"You absolutely did."
"You extorted me while I was trapped in a spider nest!"
Kael shrugged.
"Business is business."
Hadrian's face turned green. Then white. Then red.
His jaw flexed violently.
For one brief moment, murder flashed through his eyes.
Then he glanced toward the pit.
The spider below slammed against the cracking ice prison.
The little jade-colored Trick Spider crawled near the edge of the shattered frost.
Hadrian shuddered.
He swallowed his pride along with what looked suspiciously like blood.
Live today. Revenge tomorrow.
His expression twisted into something resembling politeness.
Slowly, he began reciting the command binding for the Griffin Carriage.
Kael listened with forced casualness while his heart pounded wildly.
A spirit artifact with transport capabilities?
That was worth far more than whatever dignity Hadrian still possessed.
When Hadrian finished, Kael immediately tested the command.
The carriage vanished into the Wardian Satchel.
Success.
Kael nearly screamed with joy.
Instead he flashed a grin bright enough to insult saints.
"My thanks, Young Warden."
Selene finally understood what had happened.
Her eyes widened.
"Kael!"
"What?"
"You cannot rob someone you just rescued!"
Kael looked offended.
"Rob? Such ugly language."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"I risked my noble life saving him. A token of gratitude is only fair."
Selene glared at him.
Then turned toward Hadrian.
"Don't worry. He'll return it after a few days."
Kael immediately looked betrayed.
"A few days?"
Hadrian's eye twitched violently.
He forced a smile so strained it looked painful.
"It's... fine."
His voice sounded like bones grinding together.
"My family owns many such treasures."
Kael grinned wider.
"What generosity."
A violent cracking sound interrupted them.
All four turned.
The frozen prison below ruptured further.
The Colossal Tiger Spider smashed another limb through the ice.
The jade Trick Spider skittered along the cracks.
Hadrian's face drained of all color.
"We need to leave now. That ice won't hold much longer."
Kael stared down at the enormous beast.
Then looked at Eya.
"You have another freezing ward?"
Eya smiled knowingly.
"You still want to kill it?"
Kael's eyes gleamed.
"If you freeze it one more time, I think I can take both of them."
Selene spun toward him.
"What?!"
Her voice rose sharply.
"We barely escaped alive!"
"They're rare."
"That is not a reason!"
"It's an excellent reason."
Selene stepped closer and jabbed a finger into his chest.
"No."
Kael blinked.
"No?"
"No."
He looked toward Eya.
"Tell her she's being unreasonable."
Selene immediately turned.
"And you are absolutely not helping him."
Eya looked between them.
Then smiled sweetly.
"Of course. I'll listen to elder sister."
Kael stared at her in disbelief.
"You too?"
Even Selene looked mildly surprised by how obediently Eya agreed.
"It's too dangerous," Selene said firmly. "We're leaving."
Eya nodded like an innocent child.
"Yes."
Hadrian had already begun backing away.
Then he turned and outright fled.
Kael sighed dramatically.
Both women stared at him.
Selene folded her arms.
"Well?"
Kael looked longingly toward the spider pit one final time.
Then groaned.
"Fine. Fine. Everyone run before I change my mind."
They left in a hurry.
---
Hadrian ran in front like a man fleeing the end of the world.
He constantly looked over his shoulder.
His half-burned trousers required one hand to keep from falling off entirely.
The mighty young heir of Dawnbreaker Hold now looked like a terrified beggar sprinting through the forest.
Kael walked behind him, swearing under his breath while flicking sticky webbing from his arms.
He kept shaking his hands.
Then stomping his feet.
Then scratching at his neck.
Selene noticed.
"What's wrong with you?"
Kael grimaced.
"I need water."
He tugged at a strand of web stuck to his shoulder.
"That damned spider coated me in this filth."
Selene's expression softened.
After a quiet moment, she spoke in a much lower voice.
"You were very brave back there."
Kael grinned instantly.
"Well obviously."
He lifted his chin.
"That's the natural dignity of the Little Saint-Lord."
Selene rolled her eyes.
But her voice turned softer still.
"I know you dislike Hadrian."
Kael snorted.
"That's putting it mildly."
"You still went down there because…" She hesitated. "Because I asked you to."
Her face turned red.
"I was very happy."
Kael felt warmth spread through his chest stronger than any flame technique.
"If you're happy…"
He smiled.
"Then I'm happy."
They looked at each other.
Everything around them seemed to fade.
The forest.
The danger.
The webs.
Even Hadrian's panicked stomping ahead.
For one fragile moment, only the two of them existed.
Then Kael noticed Eya jogging beside them.
She was openly smiling at Selene.
Selene instantly turned scarlet and looked away.
Kael laughed.
Then suddenly froze.
His eyes widened.
"There!"
He pointed ahead.
A narrow stream shimmered through the trees.
"Water!"
He sprinted toward it.
While running, he began ripping off his outer robes.
Hadrian turned in confusion.
"What are you doing?!"
Kael kicked off his boots.
"Bath time."
Before anyone could stop him, he stripped down to his underclothes and dove into the stream.
Splash.
Cold water exploded everywhere.
Kael surfaced with a groan of relief.
"Oh, that feels incredible."
He waved lazily.
"Give me a moment!"
Selene and Eya immediately turned around.
Both girls had caught sight of far too much bare skin.
Their faces flushed.
Hadrian stared in disbelief.
"This is not the time for bathing!"
Eya gave him a flat look.
"We're far enough away."
Hadrian flushed awkwardly.
"I'm not afraid."
Selene raised an eyebrow.
He coughed.
"I simply think caution is wise."
"He said he'll be quick," Selene replied.
Hadrian gritted his teeth and said nothing.
Then Eya sniffed the air and frowned.
"You're covered in more spider slime than he is."
Hadrian stiffened.
He suddenly became aware of how foul he smelled.
Rot.
Venom.
Wet silk.
Burned fabric.
He looked horrified.
"…I'll wash too."
He hurried to another part of the stream where a large boulder gave partial privacy.
Once there, he stripped.
And immediately regretted existing.
Spider silk had soaked through his clothes and glued itself to his skin.
When he peeled fabric away—
Pain ripped through him.
It felt like skin being torn off.
He hissed through his teeth.
"Filthy monster…"
He ripped another patch free.
"May your entire bloodline rot in hell."
A cheerful voice floated through the water.
"Which bloodline? The giant spider's?"
Hadrian looked up.
Kael had swum closer.
Grinning.
Hadrian glared at him and ignored him.
Kael noticed the large rock providing cover.
Then casually removed his underclothes as well.
Hadrian sneered internally.
Shameless idiot.
Then Kael muttered while inspecting himself underwater—
"How did spider silk get in there?"
Hadrian smirked.
Then, with deliberate arrogance, he removed his own final garment as if accepting some absurd contest of masculinity.
He glanced downward toward Kael.
His smug expression vanished.
His entire body froze.
Kael noticed.
He looked over.
Then looked downward at Hadrian.
Silence.
Hadrian's soul nearly left his body.
He snatched his clothing up with panicked speed and covered himself.
Then dressed as fast as humanly possible.
Kael blinked.
"…what just happened?"
Hadrian said absolutely nothing.
---
Selene and Eya waited with their backs turned toward the stream.
Time passed.
Too much time.
Selene shifted awkwardly.
"How long does washing take?"
Eya pointed toward a shaded bamboo grove nearby.
"The sun is strong here. Let's wait in the shade."
Selene nodded.
They walked into the bamboo grove together.
Selene sighed.
"He said one moment."
Eya smiled faintly.
"Men say many things."
Selene gave her a skeptical look.
Eya was staring at her very intently.
Selene immediately grew guarded.
"What?"
Eya's expression softened.
"You're very beautiful."
Selene blinked.
Then answered politely.
"So are you."
Eya stepped closer, studying her face.
"Your skin is lovely. Like peach blossoms."
Selene's defenses weakened instantly.
Few women disliked sincere praise.
A reluctant smile touched her lips.
"Your skin is beautiful too. It's so pale it almost looks like ice."
Eya looked down.
"It isn't."
Her voice carried real insecurity.
"It has no color. Sometimes I think I look sick."
Selene's expression softened.
"That's not true."
She gently touched Eya's hand.
"It's rare. And very beautiful."
Eya looked at her.
Then sighed quietly.
"If only I looked more like you…"
Her gaze turned distant.
"No wonder he likes you so much."
Selene froze.
"…what?"
Eya pointed toward the stream.
"Him."
Selene's face turned bright red.
"You asked him?"
Eya nodded.
"On the way here."
Selene leaned forward urgently.
"What did he say?"
Eya smiled mischievously.
"He was worried about you the entire time."
She paused deliberately.
"So I asked if you were the woman he loved."
Selene's breathing stopped.
"And?"
"He didn't deny it."
Eya laughed softly.
"He turned red."
Joy burst through Selene so suddenly it almost hurt.
Then she frowned.
"That's all he said?"
"Yes."
Selene huffed softly.
Coward.
Eya watched her carefully.
"But I could tell he truly loves you."
Selene's heart fluttered wildly.
For the first time since meeting Eya—
she felt no jealousy.
Only warmth.
She smiled.
"Do you… have someone you love?"
Eya's expression changed.
For a moment, she looked lost.
Then very quiet.
"Yes."
Selene blinked.
"He must treat you well."
Eya stared into the distant bamboo shadows.
Her voice became strangely soft.
"When we first met…"
"He wiped sweat from my face."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"He hooked his little finger with mine."
Her eyes grew distant.
"And promised…"
Her voice dropped to nearly a whisper.
"That nothing would change for a hundred years."