I stepped forward. “Nice moves. Both of you.” I looked at Sable, who glanced at me and smiled.
“Well, I’ve been doing it for years.” Sable said.
My chest twinged. “Have you?”
Instinctively I wanted to look down. But I held.
Jess moved to the side to check her face in the mirror. When she saw the blood dripping from her nose, she wiped it away with the back of her hand, still smiling like it didn’t matter.
“I didn’t realise you were training today too Jess.”
“We all want to be useful, I guess. Besides. It’s a good way to burn some energy.”
At her comment, Sable and Jess caught eyes. Something unreadable flicked between them, like a private joke. I watched Jess head to the changing rooms, feeling uneasy.
I swallowed quietly.
Sable stepped up and threw me a bag of clothes. “Here put this on, then come back. You’re next.”
I looked in the bag. Inside was a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, leather gloves and a face covering. I paused, looking at Sable.
She just met my eyes. “It pays to be careful.”
But I didn’t miss the flick of a glance she sent to the guys. Like she was reminding them.
Don’t touch her skin.
My fingers closed around the bag. “Fine.” I muttered.
Ash stepped forward, his eyes concerned. “Seph? Are you okay?”
I gave him a quick smile that didn’t quite hold. “I’ll just be a minute.”
I ducked into the changing room and pulled on all the clothes. She’d even given me socks with grips.
I stared at them in my clenched fist. Then I pulled them on.
When I was dressed, I tied my long hair back in a tight braid.
But I didn’t cover my face.
Instead, I walked out, defiant. Sable was talking with Kieran in the corner. When she saw me, she frowned.
Sable’s gaze flicked from my uncovered face to the gloves, the long sleeves.
Her expression smoothed.
“Ready?” she asked.
I stepped on to the mat and shifted my feet. I raised my chin.
“Yes.”
Whatever she’d intended to prove to them —
I knew exactly what I was proving to myself.
“You and I will fight,” Sable said. “K and Dev need to see where you’re at.”
