Crowned in Shadows.

The underground city smelled of damp stone, smoke, and desperation. Lanterns flickered along the crumbling walls, casting eerie shadows over the winding alleyways. Here, in Ravaryn—the forgotten city buried beneath the kingdom—strength meant survival. And Kael Veyne had learned that lesson the hard way.

Perched on a rooftop, Kael exhaled softly, adjusting her grip on her bow. Her dark cloak billowed slightly as a gust of air swept through the ruins, carrying the distant sound of drunken laughter from the lower levels of the city. The warlords who ruled Ravaryn didn't care for law or order—only power. And that meant someone like her, an outsider who had learned to navigate their world, was either an asset or a threat.

She preferred the latter.

"Target approaching," a voice murmured through the darkness.

Kael didn't look away from the alley below. "I see him."

Bast, her mentor and the closest thing she had to family, crouched beside her. His grizzled features were hardened from years of fighting, his single remaining eye scanning the shadows. "He's quick. If you hesitate, he'll slip past you."

Kael's lips twitched slightly. "I don't hesitate."

Bast huffed. "Don't get cocky, girl."

She ignored him, focusing on the figure moving through the alley—a man dressed in dark leathers, hood pulled low over his face. He was moving too easily, too confidently for a common thief. Kael narrowed her eyes. She didn't like it. Something about the way he walked, the way his fingers brushed the hilt of his sword, made her wary.

"That's no ordinary runaway," she muttered.

Bast grunted. "Then take him down fast."

Kael exhaled slowly and drew an arrow, aiming for his leg. If he was valuable enough to be hunted, she wanted him alive.

Then, just as she released the string—

The man moved.

Too fast.

He twisted at the last second, the arrow barely grazing his arm instead of pinning him in place.

Kael's breath caught.

Impossible.

He turned toward her, and for the first time, she got a good look at his face.

Even in the dim light, she saw the smirk.

"That's not very friendly," he drawled.

Her stomach twisted with irritation.

Great. He was one of those.

Kael didn't reply. She never wasted words on people who didn't deserve them. Instead, she nocked another arrow, aiming straight for his heart.

The man sighed, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I get it. Not in the mood for conversation."

Kael released the arrow.

He dodged again.

She gritted her teeth. No one moved like that. Not in Ravaryn. The people here were quick, sure, but they weren't trained. Not like this.

He was playing with her.

His smirk deepened, and he tilted his head as if studying her. "Y'know, I expected someone a little... Sacrier. The warlords made it sound like their best hunter was some ruthless assassin." He gestured vaguely at her. "But here you are. Small. Kind of sweet-looking, actually."

Kael almost shot him out of pure spite.

Sweet-looking?

She dropped from the rooftop without a sound, landing in a crouch. He barely had time to blink before she was on him, swinging her bow in a wide arc. He barely managed to duck, her weapon missing his head by inches.

"Woah-okay, not sweet," he amended, laughter in his voice.

Kael didn't let up. She pivoted, striking again, this time aiming lower. He twisted away, but she saw the brief flicker of surprise in his eyes. He hadn't expected her to be this fast.

Good.

She pressed her advantage, forcing him toward the dead end of the alley. If she could pin him there-

Then, somehow, he was behind her.

She spun, but he caught her wrist, twisting her own bow from her grip.

Kael's heart slammed against her ribs. No one disarmed her. No one got this close.

Before he could gloat, she slammed her knee into his ribs.

He let out a sharp breath, but instead of anger, he grinned.

"That's more like it," he said, voice raspier now.

Kael wrenched free, grabbing the dagger at her waist. She pressed the blade against his throat before he could move again.

The smirk finally dropped from his face.

For a moment, there was only silence. His chest rose and fell, his breath warming the space between them. She could see him clearly now-the sharp angles of his face, the glint of mischief in his dark eyes. He looked... out of place here. Too clean. Too comfortable.

He wasn't from Ravaryn.

And she had the sudden, sinking realization that she wasn't dealing with a simple thief.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

His lips curved again, slower this time. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Her grip on the dagger tightened. "I don't have patience for games."

"Good thing I love games then. His voice was low, almost amused despise the blade at his throat. "Go on, sweetheart kill me if you want. But I promise it won't be worth the trouble.

She didn't know why she hesitated.

Something about him-it itched at her, like a puzzle she hadn't solved yet. And Kael hated unfinished puzzles.

A sharp whistle echoed through the alley.

Kael's body tensed.

Bast.

That meant company was coming.

She cursed, stepping back. The man didn't move, even when she lowered the dagger. He just watched her, curious.

"Let me guess," he said. "That was your boss?"

Kael didn't answer. She was already turning, already sprinting into the shadows. She had wasted too much time. The warlords would be coming, and if they found him, things would get complicated fast.

She didn't look back.

Didn't see the way his smirk faded as he watched her disappear.

Didn't hear the words he murmured to himself as he rubbed at his throat, where her dagger had pressed only moments before.

"Interesting."