. Colder. It bit into my skin like it d

fast my hear

e climb. Bu

y

oo closely during training. Who spoke to me like

cliff like some lost cub waiting for his shadowy guide. S

something I couldn't make out. Her lips moved in

n caught something in her eyes,

aid like she alre

ke someone who wast

, barely. Not quite a smi

start whatever she had planned. "I've trained, yeah.

Not like a servant. Like a blad

aid. I didn't believe

adapt

ng final in the w

do I feel like there's

ose-and said, "You're strong, Kael. Stronger than mo

d what's wrong

rcling me like a predator,

t s

yes locked on mine. "You're a

," I muttered. "I d

ng colder. "Then learn to cont

elp me, I b

said. "T

idn't

b to my ribs-sharp and fast. I stagger

hell?" I

idiculous. "Lesson one. Never trust your

ghtened. Okay. So this wasn'

," she

rely even dodged-just shifted her weight and brushed p

ut you're not. Not entirely. Stop clinging to

ger flaring. "And w

unreadable look. "Someon

ose higher. And I... didn't know

this felt right. D

" she w

, I didn'

ime in my life, I s