The entrance to the speakeasy was hidden behind a moss-covered gate and a crooked stone path that twisted beneath one of the oldest trees in the castle grounds. Elle whispered the password to a bored-looking guy in black robes, and the tree trunk shimmered — revealing stairs descending into amber light, drums, and loud music.
Nova blinked in surprise.
It was warm down here. Glowing lanterns lit the curved stone walls, and every table pulsed with low conversation and clinking glass. The smell of spiced cider, sweet liquor, and smoke drifted in the air.
"Welcome to the Underglow," Elle said, tugging her toward a table. "Unofficially the best place to break the rules and get away with it."
Nova scanned the room and spotted a few familiar faces from combat training and classes.
Rael was the first to call out. "Moonveil! Varrin!"
Milo, Rael, and Ash waved from a standing table near the back, already deep into a pitcher of dark ale.
Nova glanced at Elle, then followed her over.
Rael patted the seat beside him. "Thought you were still nearly dead."
Nova smiled wryly. "I'm still halfway there."
"You look amazing for a corpse," Ash slurred, raising his glass.
"Don't mind him," Milo said. "He's on drink number five."
"You're not far behind," Elle grinned, sliding in next to Nova. "We're here to celebrate survival, apparently."
Nova let the music settle into her bones. It was loud but in the right kind of way. She almost forgot about the stab wound, the river, the heat of Jax's chest under her palms.
Until she noticed a pair of warriors at the bar.
They were watching her.
One leaned in and whispered something to the other before standing. He walked toward her slowly, casually, like he wasn't being watched.
"You're Moonveil, aren't you?" he said, his voice low. "You sparred against Helga."
Nova stood straighter and she swallowed. "Yes."
The warrior smiled — not unkind, but cautious. "You fight like someone trained outside the pack."
Nova blinked and grinned. "Like a human trying to not get her ass kicked by a werewolf?"
He laughed. "I'm Taren. If you ever want a real fight…" He winked, then turned and walked away.
"Was that flirting?" Elle whispered with a smirk.
"Yes." Milo answered.
Before Nova could respond, another person approached her. Familiar.
"Moonveil," came a familiar voice behind her. Low. Confident.
She turned slowly.
Captain Hunter Ryker stood there, clean and composed in a dark tunic that did little to soften the storm behind his eyes. He extended a hand—surprisingly formal.
"Captain Ryker," she said, her tone level as she took it.
His grip was firm, fingers wrapping around hers with a deliberate steadiness. "Didn't expect to see you here," he said. "After what happened on the field."
Elle raised a brow. "You mean the scrimmage where she laid you flat?"
But all of them know exactly what he was referring to and it wasn't the scrimmage she did with him the day before.
His smile twitched. "She did," he admitted, giving a slow nod. "Not many can say that."
He didn't let go right away. His thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles before he finally released her hand. "That last move… the flip and pin—impressive. Brutal. But impressive."
His grin stretched wide. "Nasty finish. You're lucky I like it rough."
"You grabbed my neck," she reminded him.
Elle, Ash, Rael, and Milo were all watching the exchange now, their eyes snapping back and forth between Nova and Ryker like spectators at a tense match.
"And you kicked me in the balls," he said, chuckling. "I haven't stopped thinking about it."
She stared at him, unreadable.
He smirked, eyes glinting. "You're quicker than you look."
"I'll take that as a compliment. You usually only think about yourself." She said not faltering.
"Not true," he said lightly, grin widening. "I'm thinking about you right now."
Elle's jaw dropped and she started laughing.
"Careful. Wouldn't want you hurting yourself by thinking too hard." Nova said, rolling her eyes.
The corner of his mouth twitched. "Don't worry, I'm tougher than I look. And better looking than you remember."
"Then you've improved — marginally." She said flatly.
"Marginal, hmm? Then maybe you should measure again — up close this time."
He gave her one last look, equal parts challenge and invitation, and walked away, melting into the crowd. Leaving behind tension like static in the air.
"Did you give him a concussion?" Elle asked, voice low but clearly amused.
"Believe me," Nova huffed, exasperated, "I'm not getting anywhere near him to measure anything."
Annoyance was written all over her face, clear as ink.
Elle chuckled and pulled Nova's hood up, and Nova tucked her hair inside, trying to disappear.
They slipped into the next room, Nova keeping the hood low over her face to avoid any more unwanted attention.
It didn't work.
Ash spotted her immediately and, half-buzzed, reached over and tugged the hood down without a second thought.
"Nova, why do you have your hood up?" he asked, clueless and grinning.
The floor was uneven, the rhythm intense. It was packed. But it felt normal. Fun. She was smiling, even laughing as he spun her too quickly and caught her before she stumbled.
For the first time in days, she felt like a girl just having fun.