Ella's POV
The moon hung low, casting a cold silver sheen across the training grounds. Everyone else had cleared out hours ago. Only the sound of my steady breaths filled the air—until I heard his footsteps.
Remo.
I didn't need to turn. The ground seemed to hush beneath his boots, like even the forest around us knew who had arrived. My pulse ticked faster, not with fear, but anticipation.
"You stayed," he said, voice deep and crisp.
"I wasn't done."
"I can see that."
I turned slowly. He stood just beyond the torchlight, his arms crossed, eyes sharp beneath the fall of dark hair. A shadow carved from stone.
"You came to train me?" I asked.
"I came to see if you'd stop punishing yourself."
I bristled. "I'm preparing."
"For what? Bleeding out in front of the witches? Or letting you
