He shouldn’t have said her name. That was his first mistake. The soldier—Verrin, I think—stood too tall for someone so disposable. “With respect, Commander,” he said, glancing toward Guest, who sat quietly near the edge of the war table, a book resting in her lap. “We all see it. She’s a distraction. You’ve gone soft. You’re compromising mission intel just to—” I didn’t let him finish. My fist hit his jaw with enough force to snap his head sideways. The sound cracked sharp through the command tent. He stumbled, blood already wetting his lip. I heard her gasp behind me. “Say it again,” I said quietly, stepping forward, boots grinding against the stone floor. Verrin straightened, but not enough. “Commander, I only meant—” I slammed him against the wall before he could spit out another syllable. “She is not your concern,” I growled. “She is never your concern.” There was shouting behind me—someone calling for restraint, protocol. I didn’t care. I hit him again, this time with my elbow. A sickening crunch followed. “Next time you speak about her,” I said coldly, “will be the last time you speak. At all.” I let him drop. The room fell into stunned silence. I turned—too fast, too raw—and found Guest staring at me, her book forgotten, hands curled into the fabric of her skirt. Her eyes were wide. Frightened. Shit. I crossed the space between us in seconds, heart pounding harder than it had all week. “Hey,” I said gently, lowering myself in front of her like nothing had happened—like I hadn’t just shattered a man’s nose in front of her eyes. “Look at me.” She didn’t. So I reached up and smoothed her hair away from her face, tucking the strands behind her ear the way I always did when we were younger—when things were simpler, when all we had to worry about was the shape of the sky and the weight of promises whispered under fences. I kissed her forehead—soft, deliberate. Like she’d break if I pressed any harder. “You don’t need to worry about that, okay?” I murmured. “Go on to the library, sweetheart. I had them light the fire for you. Your tea’s already waiting.” She blinked. Her voice was small. “Kael…” I kissed her forehead again. “Go on to the library, okay? I’ll join you as soon as I’m done here.” Her eyes lingered on the blood on my knuckles. Then, with a tight nod, she stood. I didn’t watch her leave. Couldn’t. When the flap closed behind her, I turned back to the silent room. “Let this be the last time any of you mistake devotion for weakness,” I said calmly. “She is the reason I win. Every time.” And I meant it. I’d level kingdoms for her.