During and after every training session, I hunt for Phantom, desperate for even the briefest glimpse. Pathetic, I know. His absence convinces me he’s either out of town or simply excels at avoiding me. By Wednesday morning, the ache of missing him gnaws so deep I’m certain I’m going berserk. He haunts my dreams almost nightly, and in daylight every face I see blurs into his. I wonder if girls normally pine for boys who don’t want them, or if this cruel insanity is mine alone.
Two weeks later, I lean against the ornate fountain outside the castle, gulping cool water after another brutal session with Kelsa. The marble glistens under the morning sun, droplets scattering like shards of glass. My muscles throb, sweat clings to my skin, and the taste of iron lingers on my tongue. The courtyar
