Chapter Sixteen
The silence of the house cuts sharper than any blade.
Nova’s voice still echoes in my head—mistake—and I can’t tear it out no matter how hard I try. I let her walk away, when what I wanted was to slam the door, pin her down, make her stay. The fury inside me churns with hunger, leaving me raw and restless.
If I don’t burn it off, I’ll break something I can’t fix.
The training wing is the only answer.
The place is massive, three floors stacked with sparring mats, shield chambers, and rooms full of wards meant to simulate combat. When I step inside, the hum of old stone and fresh magic greets me, like the walls themselves know every fight, every secret. Tonight, they’ll keep mine.
Hunter’s already there, rolling his shoulders, tossing a ball of raw energy from one hand
