Maya's POV
The training ground was soaked with blood and sweat. I watched from the platform as two of my potential lieutenants sparred below, Derek against a former Silvermoon warrior named Cassandra. Both had taken modified versions of the serum, carefully calibrated by my mother's medical team to enhance without destroying. Both were faster, stronger, deadlier than they'd been a week ago. But they were still holding back.
"Again!" I shouted down at them. "And this time, Cassandra, fight like you actually want to win!"
Cassandra shot me a frustrated look. "I could hurt him!"
"Good! He needs to learn to take damage!" I jumped down from the platform, landing in the center of the ring with barely a sound. "Derek, defend yourself."
Before he could react, I swept his legs out from under h
