Anika's POV
“Baby, it is a little too soon to start training,” Zeph argued.
This was the fourth time he had tried to stop me since breakfast.
I crossed my arms over my chest, ignoring the tug of pain near my ribs. “And for the fourth time, I’m telling you no. We need to be ready. Poseidon and Zeus aren’t just going to sit on their golden thrones and let us walk around breathing.”
Zeph dragged a hand down his face, exhaling sharply. “Anika… you almost died.”
“I didn’t.”
“Thanks to the Goddess's intervention.” His jaw clenched, a flash of raw fear breaking through his frustration. “You were seconds away from disappearing from existence, and you want me to see you push yourself right back into danger because you're stubborn.”
“I’m not being stubborn,” I snapped, though even I knew I wa
