Rise of the Warrior Queen (Kaia and Silver) novel Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

KAIA’S POV

I didn’t plan on spending the whole morning at the training grounds, but Mia was still running late. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself to stay sane as I continued to wait and hope she’d show up. But I hated sitting still. So, I kept myself busy the only way I knew how–knife–throwing

I stood at the edge of the field, throwing dagger after dagger at the wooden targets. The thud each blade

made helped clear my head a little,

Focus. Breathe. Aim. Throw. Repeat

That did it for me for now, at least. It kept me from thinking too much.

Some of the warriors trained nearby. A few of them paused to watch, making small talk between their own

drills.

“Still got that deadly aim, huh, Kala?” Dax called out with a grin.

I smirked, lining up my next throw “You doubted me?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” he said, laughing. “Just making sure you’re not getting rusty.”

I let the blade fly, and it sank deep into the center of the target

“Bullseye,” Jace, another warrior, whistled “Remind me never to get on your bad side, Kaia. I’d love to live long

enough to find my mate, thank you very much.”

At the mention of the word mate, my smile faltered a little, but I quickly pushed away the unpleasant thought

I rolled my eyes, smiling faintly. At least the distraction was working. Until now, that is. Until he had to go and

mention that word.

I sighed and picked up another dagger, throwing it toward the target.

Then it happened.

“Look out!”

The warning shout hit my ears a second too late. My heart stopped as I realized what was happening.

I turned just in time to see someone stepping through the back entrance of the training grounds–right into the path of my flying dagger–and my eyes widened in horror,

Silver.

Time seemed to slow

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

The dagger flew straight toward his face, but before anyone could scream again, his hand shot up shock of everyone in the arena–including myself–he caught it.

He caught the blade.

With his bare hand.

Just inches from his nose

to the

CHAPTER

The entire training ground went silent.

I stared, mouth open. Every warrior froze. No one even breathed.

Silver looked at the dagger in his hand like it was a bug he’d just swatted away. Then he looked at me, one eyebrow raised.

“Trying to kill me already?” he said with a calm smirk.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, then rolled my eyes. “You walked right into the wrong entrance!”

“I didn’t see any signs,” he replied, giving the narrow gate behind him a quick glance.

Jace stepped forward, chuckling. “Yeah, man, that’s the death trap gate. Nobody uses that during training

hours unless they want to become a pincushion.”

Silver rubbed the back of his neck. “Noted.”

And just like that, the tension broke, and the whole field filled with laughter.

“You better. I’m Jace, by the way, Jace said, offering his hand. Tm one of the warriors. And you, my friend, have got some wicked reflexes.”

Silver hesitated for a moment, then shook his hand. “Yeah, thanks, man. I guess.”

More warriors started gathering around him, curiosity replacing their shock.

Dax walked up, nodding at him. “Welcome to Moonveil, Silver. Catching a knife like that? You’ve either got crazy luck or serious skill. Maybe both. You’ve got to show me how you did that.”

Silver gave a soft chuckle. “Yeah, as soon as I remember how.”

That got more laughter around the arena, but Dax looked thoughtful. “Well, either way, you should train with us sometime. Might help you feel more at home around here, you know?”

Silver’s gaze dropped. “Yeah, I’m not sure I’m ready.”

Jace smirked. “Too bad. Around here, dude, we don’t wait for ready.”

Then, without warning, he threw a light punch at Silver’s shoulder.

Silver dodged it like it was nothing.

“Hey,” he said quickly. “I told you, not now. I’m still recovering

“Sure you are,” Jace teased, throwing another playful jab. “Just a little warm–up, man. Nothing too heavy. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

Silver sighed, but I saw the flicker of a challenge in his eyes. He looked around, like he was testing the crowd, weighing the pressure.

Then, with a resigned groan, he pulled off his shirt and tossed it to the side.

My eyes landed on the tattoo on the left side of his chest, right above his heart. I tried to get a bel

it, but he was already moving.

“Alright,” he said. “You’re on.”

The warriors around us cheered, forming a wide circle as the two stepped into the center.

ok at

I found myself moving forward, drawn in despite myself. Something about Silver–the way he stood, the way

CHAPTCH

his muscles moved under his skin, the calm in his eyes it didn’t match the man who could barely remember

his own name.

The spar started slow

Jace went for quick jabs, testing him.

Silver dodged every one.

His movements were like water–smooth, flowing, and confident. Each dodge, each block, each feint–it was

like he didn’t have to think. Like he just knew exactly what to do.

There was no way this was his first time. He’d definitely done this before, of that I was sure.

I should know–I’m a warrior myself. A highly trained one. And the moves I was seeing from Silver? They weren’t anything regular

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who noticed. It wasn’t long before the comments started.

“Whoa…” someone murmured. “Did you see that?”

“Where’d he learn to fight like that?”

“I thought he wasn’t supposed to remember anything?”

Silver didn’t respond to the whispers. He was in the zone now–completely focused, yet still calm.

He moved like he’d trained his whole life–like this was second nature.

He didn’t just move like a fighter. He moved like a trained one. With so much skill and control.

My chest tightened.

If he doesn’t remember his past… how does he fight like this? How does he remember all the moves?

Jace tried to trip him with a low kick. Silver jumped over it, spun, and came around with a gentle push that sent Jace stumbling backward. Silver swept Jace’s legs from under him and caught his arm to slow the fall before Jace hit the ground with a soft thud.

Gasps and laughter filled the air.

Silver stepped back and offered Jace a hand to help him up.

“Good match,” he said simply.

Jace took it, grinning as he let Silver pull him back to his feet. “You sure you lost your memory, dude? Because that was no beginner move.”

Silver chuckled softly. “Thanks for the compliment. I guess. But yeah, I still can’t remember anything.”

The applause came next. Friendly slaps on the back. Warriors cheering him on

But I just stood there, watching.

Because something wasn’t adding up.

Silver wasn’t just good. He was trained. Highly. He fought like someone who’d been through real battles–not just drills.

He didn’t flinch. Didn’t stumble. Didn’t hesitate.

GHAPTER EIGHTEEN

And for someone who supposedly ended up in the woods half–dead. It made no sense to me.

What was going on?

Who was he?

Why did he end up here?

And what was he running from?

Who attacked him that day? Or was it an accident?

I didn’t have the answers.

But I had a feeling there was something I was missing–something important.

And I needed to stay alert if I wanted to find out what it was.

Comments