Then he turned and walked out.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
I stood there long after he was gone, staring at the empty space he’d left behind.
For the first time since Darkmoor, the plan didn’t feel solid.
It felt fragile.
And for reasons I didn’t want to name, I couldn’t stop thinking about the look on Seph’s face when she’d smiled at Ash in the corridor — like she’d already chosen something I wasn’t part of anymore.
Chapter 9
Seph
When I opened the door to the training room, Sable was already there.
And so was Jess.
I paused at the entrance.
The two women were sparring on a large blue mat in the middle of the room.
“Keep your arms up. Protect your face!” Sable snapped, lunging at Jess, who caught the blow to her elbow.
I slipped into the room quietly, moving along the wall.
Sable moved with a lithe grace I had never seen before. She was fast, like lightning. She was dressed in black from head to toe, wraps on her fingers. Her long blonde hair was pulled back tight.
I had never seen her move like that before.
Jess, on the other hand was slower. She was dressed in a simple black tank top and pants.
And she was smiling.
Beside me, Ash and Dev stood. Kieran followed after a pause. We watched as Sable dodged one of Jess’ moves and flipped her on to her back.
She finished her off with an elbow to the chest. “Do you yield?” Sable demanded.
“Oof.” Jess said, trying to catch her breath.
“I said do you yield? Tap out!” Sable ordered.
Tap, tap.
Sable rolled to her feet and offered Jess a hand.
Jess took it without hesitation.
“Good,” Sable said. “You’re learning.”
Jess laughed breathlessly. “Feels like it.”
She glanced toward us then — and when her eyes met mine, there was something new there.
Freedom.
“Hey,” Jess grinned wolfishly. “What do you think? Badass or what?”
