Her face turned toward me again, steady and expectant.
“Are you ready to train with me?”
The question felt heavier the second time.
Like it wasn’t just a question anymore—
But a challenge.
I instinctively looked at Thumper for help, hoping she would step in, soften the moment, give me something to hold onto.
But instead, she asked me something else, and it made something inside me shrink.
“You don’t want to train with her?” she asked gently. “I promise she’s not cruel in her training. When I had to keep up with mine, and when Ariel started hers, she was amazing to both of us.”
Her voice was warm, reassuring.
“I’ll be watching from the sidelines when you’re ready. But right now, I need to take these two to their daddy. He’s been going crazy waiting for them in his office so I can f
