Chapter 4: Maybe I Misjudged You

Aria's POV

I'm shoving my textbook into my backpack when someone clears their throat behind me. Turning around, I'm surprised to see Kael standing there, looking more uncomfortable than I've ever seen him. His hands are clenched, and he's got this expression like he's about to ask me to donate a kidney.

"Yeah?" I ask, slinging my bag over my shoulder.

"The afternoon training..." He starts, then stops. His eyes dart away from mine, then back. "Do you... I mean, if you don't have a partner yet..."

Is he seriously asking me to be his training partner? The guy looks like he'd rather eat broken glass than finish that sentence.

"Are you asking me to train with you?"

"Forget it. You probably already..."

"I'd love to."

His eyes widen like he didn't expect me to say yes. For half a second, something almost vulnerable flickers across his face before he shuts it down.

He nods once. "Two o'clock then."

And just like that, he's gone, practically sprinting from the classroom. I can't help grinning. For someone who can stare down bullies without flinching, he sure gets worked up over simple conversations.

When two o'clock rolls around, I'm actually excited. The training ground's buzzing with pairs of students, grunts and thuds filling the air.

Kael's already there, stretching in that careful way of his. He looks calmer than this morning, but I can still see tension in his shoulders.

"So what's the plan?" I ask, dropping my water bottle.

"I'll lead first, then we switch."

We start simple. Basic blocks and counters. But something weird happens as we get into it. It's like we're reading each other's minds. When he feints left, I'm already moving to counter. When I telegraph a high kick, he's right there to block.

"Not bad," he says after we nail a tricky sequence. There's something different in his voice. Not quite approval, but close.

"You're not so bad yourself."

For the first time since I've known him, Kael almost smiles. It's gone before I can be sure, but I swear I saw it.

That's when Ethan's voice cuts through our moment.

"What a sweet scene. The bloodline-less princess and her pet rogue."

The change in Kael is instant. His whole body goes rigid, that guarded look slamming back into place. I turn to see Ethan walking over with his usual crew of kiss-asses.

"Aria, didn't expect to see you here with... him." Ethan's eyes flick dismissively over Kael.

"It's a public training ground, Ethan."

"Teaching the princess some moves, rogue boy? Hope you're keeping it appropriate." The way he says it makes my skin crawl.

"We should go," Kael says quietly, already stepping back.

"Why? We were here first."

"Maybe because some people know their place," Ethan says, moving closer with that smug smile.

"Ethan, maybe you should show them what real training looks like?" one of his friends suggests.

Ethan's eyes light up. "Great idea."

He turns to Kael, and I already know where this is heading.

"How about it, Nightshade? A little sparring match. Unless you're scared."

"He doesn't need to prove anything to you," I snap.

"Let the man speak for himself, Aria. Or does your new pet need his owner to protect him?"

That hits its mark. I see Kael's jaw clench, his hands forming fists. He looks at me for a long moment, something apologetic in his expression.

"Fine. Let's do this."

Students start gathering as word spreads. Phones come out, voices get excited. This is turning into exactly the kind of show Ethan wanted.

"You don't have to do this," I tell Kael as we move to the sparring area.

"Yeah, I do."

There's something in his voice. Resignation mixed with determination. Like he's been carrying this weight forever and finally decided to set it down.

The first few minutes, Kael destroys him. His speed and technique are obviously superior. He lands clean hits while barely getting touched. The crowd's energy shifts, surprised murmurs rippling through the watchers.

But I can see what they can't. His breathing's getting heavier. There's a slight tremor in his hands between exchanges. He's still not fully recovered from yesterday, and our earlier training is catching up to him.

Shit. He should have rested more.

Five minutes in, Ethan starts noticing too. "Getting tired already? I'm just getting started."

Ethan's attacks get more aggressive. Kael's still blocking and countering, but there's less power behind his strikes. His movements are precise but lack that explosive force from earlier.

I want to stop this before it gets worse, but I know Kael would never forgive me. This isn't just about Ethan's challenge. This is about all the times he's had to back down, all the shit he's swallowed, all the strength he's had to hide.

The end comes fast. Kael tries for one final combination, but his exhausted body betrays him. Ethan catches his overextended punch and uses Kael's momentum to sweep his legs.

Kael hits the mat hard.

The crowd explodes.

"Holy shit, Ethan won!"

"Guess the rogue prince isn't so tough!"

"Blackstone power!"

Ethan stands over Kael, arms raised. "Good match, rogue boy. Maybe train harder before challenging your betters."

Students crowd around Ethan, congratulating him, taking selfies, treating him like some conquering hero. Meanwhile, Kael sits on the mat, chest heaving, staring at the ground.

Ethan pushes through his fans and walks over to me. "See, Aria? This is the difference between real strength and fake power."

I look at him with complete indifference. "Are you done?"

Without a word, I walk past him and kneel next to Kael. "Can you stand?"

He's struggling to get up, pride keeping him from accepting help even though his body's clearly finished.

"I'm fine," he says, but his voice is rougher than usual.

"Aria, what are you doing?" Ethan demands. "He lost. Fair and square."

I help Kael to his feet, letting him lean on me more than his pride wants to allow. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

"What do you mean? I won! I'm the winner!"

I don't even look back. "So what?"

"Aria! You'll regret this!"

We leave the training ground in silence. Kael doesn't speak the whole way to my apartment, and neither do I. What's there to say? That he fought well but ran out of steam? That Ethan's victory feels hollow? That I'm proud of him for standing up anyway?

"I should head back to my place," he says when we reach my door.

"With those injuries? Don't be stupid."

"I don't need..."

"Your help, yeah, I know. You've said that before. But you're getting it anyway."

He looks at my expression and finally gives up, following me inside.

"Sit down, let me see where you're hurt."

"Just some bruises."

I examine his injuries carefully. "And a sprained wrist. And possibly bruised ribs."

As I work, cleaning cuts and applying ice, the silence stretches between us. Finally, I can't take it anymore.

"Why did you accept his challenge? You knew you weren't at full strength."

Kael's quiet for so long I think he won't answer. Then: "Because I'm tired of running."

"From what?"

He takes a deep breath, like he's about to jump off a cliff. "You want to know why I was such an asshole when you first tried to help me?"

I pause in my work. "If you want to tell me."

His eyes focus on something outside. "There was this group of students. They seemed... cool. Invited me to eat with them, study together, even stuck up for me against bullies."

Something in his tone makes my stomach drop.

"For two weeks, I thought I finally had friends. People who didn't give a shit about my father's reputation." His voice gets quieter. "I was so fucking grateful. So desperate to belong somewhere."

"What happened?"

"It was all a bet." The words come out flat, emotionless. "Who could get the rogue boy to trust them the most? They had a scoreboard. Points for every time I said thanks, every time I smiled, every time I let my guard down."

Those bastards. The words burn in my throat, but I don't interrupt.

"The worst part? I found out when they were deciding how to 'cash in' their points. Some wanted to humiliate me publicly, others wanted me to do their homework. They were arguing about which would be more fun."

His voice wavers slightly, and I can hear the pain he's tried to bury.

"So when you started helping me, putting expensive stuff in my food, treating my wounds... I thought it was happening again. Another game. Another bet."

I reach out and touch his hand gently. "Kael..."

"But you kept doing it. Even when I was a dick to you. Even when I pushed you away. You never asked for anything back." He finally looks at me. "I know you're not them. That's why I took Ethan's challenge. I'm tired of being afraid. Tired of letting the past make me weak."

"You're not weak. You're the strongest person I know."

"But I lost."

"One fight doesn't define shit. And anyone who thinks it does isn't worth caring about."

We look at each other for a long moment, and something shifts between us. The wariness in his eyes fades, replaced by something that looks like hope.

He lies back down, and I reach for yesterday's healing salve. As I begin applying it to his new injuries, gentle and careful, I can feel him finally, truly relaxing under my touch.