The next few days blurred together in a whirlwind of final preparations and strictly regulated recovery. True to his word, Demetrius hadn't let me touch a single magical dampening rune or thread a spell since my collapse, but he had allowed me back into the training pits for pure, physical conditioning. I had just finished an intense, solo sparring session in my brown wolf form, pushing through the lingering soreness in my muscles until my coat was damp and my lungs burned with a healthy, invigorating heat.
Now, back in our private chambers, I stood under the cascading spray of a steaming shower, letting the hot water wash away the dirt, sweat, and tension of the morning.
By the time I stepped out and towel-dried my hair, the stronghold was buzzing with a distinct, electrical kind of ene
