a place of music and grandeur, it now echoed with sweat, struggle, and the crackle of will. Marco

t exhaustion. She'd been at it for hours. Every failure was met with an

cled her.

ed to the left. Not fast enough.

Marco sa

her teeth

at Marco, but he

, pivoted, and caught the guard of

"But in the field, hesit

n't he

t. Trust the insti

ghs burned. But beneath the

missed a session. He said it was to ensure progress, but in truth, he could

er more with ev

ing like violets on her skin. She traced them absently, marveling at how her

the knock

in," s

d, carrying a fol

in Rome. He'll be attending a masquera

cascading down her

answer i

my men," he said. "You still ne

her, part relief,

a mask?"

oftening. "I had

herself in a silk

sappoint yo

kno

brushed her shoulder-

gardens. The woman she used to be would've run from this

idn't fee

elt a