32
Firian
Firian’s muscles strained as he pushed himself up. Power flowed through his arms, his back, his shoulders pinching together. Riding horses only worked out a couple muscles and left him feeling sore but not strong. The morning routine he’d had back at the Academy made him feel more like himself.
In the middle of the barn floor, Kiria rolled over and sat up, woozy from sleep. She leaned over her knees in an easy motion that reminded him of the grace he’d seen in her glorious dream. Though he might want to, he couldn’t forget the burning beauty he’d witnessed. If he forced her to show him, though, he would only gain an enemy. The greater challenge was winning her trust and inspiring her to become beautiful of her own free will. And he never shied away from the greater challenge.
