The moment I step into my kingdom, the air feels heavier. The towering stone walls that once felt like protection now feel like a cage.
And waiting at the center of it all—Commander Rathos.
His dark eyes lock onto mine the second I enter. He doesn't waste time with greetings.
"You're back," he says. His voice is calm, but I don't miss the edge beneath it. "Where's his head?"
My throat tightens. "I didn't kill him."
Silence.
The kind that drowns out even the noise of the city behind us.
The commander's eyes narrow. "You had one task. One. And you let him go?"
I clench my fists at my sides. "I had no choice."
"No choice?" His voice sharpens. "You were trained for this. You knew what was at stake. You had one kill left, and now you stand here empty-handed?"
I replied, "It's not that simple."
Rathos takes a slow step forward. "Explain."
I exhale, forcing myself to stay calm. "I went there to kill him. But before I could, people from another kingdom attacked him. I had no choice—I had to stop them. Because if they killed him, I would never be free."
Silence. His expression doesn't change, but the air between us does.
I continue, voice steady. "But it's too late now. His kingdom thinks he's dead. They believe one of our soldiers killed him, and they're preparing for war. I had no other choice but to send him back—to stop them before they destroy us."
Rathos watches me for a long moment, unreadable. Then, in a voice so quiet it's almost a whisper, he asks, "And you trust him to do that?"
I meet his gaze, unflinching.
"No," I say. "But I trust that if he doesn't…Then I finish what I started."
A tense pause stretches between us. Then—Rathos nods.
"We'll see, Go Get some rest first."
I open my mouth to argue, but his sharp gaze stops me.
"That's an order."
I nod stiffly, before turning on his heel and walking away
I should feel relief that I wasn't punished for my failure. Instead, all I feel is the ghost of Killian's last words.
"Don't miss me too much."
I clench my jaw.
Idiot.