The moment stretched—tight, fragile.
Then I moved.
Fear was loud, but my training was louder. Kael’s voice echoed in my head, calm and infuriating even now as I remembered what he had told me while he had been training me. Forcing my body until my muscles had screamed.
Don’t think.
React.
Calen’s own instructions followed as I remembered them as well, sharper.
Use what they give you.
My hand slipped to the dagger at my thigh in one smooth motion. The first man laughed, just a breath too late.
I closed the distance.
Damn him for laughing at me...
The first man reached for me, cocky, expecting me to panic like any weak woman would. I ducked under his arm the way Kael had drilled into me a hundred times during our training sessions, my shoulder slamming into his ribs to throw him
