Aria's POV
The power hit without warning.
One second I was sitting cross-legged on the training mat with Rhea's hands on my shoulders and my breathing almost where she wanted it. The next second my chest cracked open from the inside… not pain exactly, more like every nerve I owned woke up furious and all at once.
My hands slammed flat on the mat. Silver light poured from my palms like I'd split at the seams.
"Aria." Rhea's voice cut sharp. "Look at me."
I couldn't.
My vision had gone silver at the edges. The room was too bright, every detail too hard and close. The two guards outside, one dragging his left foot slightly. Rain coming from the east, still forty minutes out.
Too much. All of it, all at once.
"Aria." Rhea moved in front of me. Both hands on my face, f
