The training ground was silent the next morning except for the sound of Amara’s own ragged breathing.
Damian had woken her before dawn without a word of explanation, just tossed her the staff and pointed at the clearing. She’d assumed it was ordinary training. Two hours in, arms shaking, ribs aching from a strike she hadn’t seen coming, she understood it wasn’t.
This was punishment.
“Again,” Damian said, voice flat.
She bit back the urge to snap at him and reset her stance instead. He’s doing this on purpose, she thought. He hadn’t said more than a handful of words to her since she’d defended Kai at the fire two nights ago, but apparently training was where all of it had gone to live.
He lunged, faster than she expected, his fist grazing her shoulder before she managed to dodge. She s
