Page 14 of Veiled

I’m in third place as I pivot at the final flag, but a few steps into my last descent, I stumble, barely catching myself before I hit the ground.

When I straighten, Korr’s staring at me, arms folded, and a deep scowl souring his face.

“Rolling down the hill will not be counted, Corvin,” he barks, his eyes still locked on me. “Clean it up!”

What could I possibly have done to get on his bad side already?

Unwilling to fall too far behind, I push myself harder, hoping my knee doesn’t give out entirely.

When I cross the finish line, I don’t need to be a doctor to know I’ll be icing a very swollen and angry knee tonight. Trying to relieve some weight—but knowing better than to sit and risk not being able to get back up—I lean against the closest tree, crossing my legs in hopes it looks casual. The last thing I need is for anyone to find my weak spots and mark me as their target.

Of fucking course, Captain Korr steps in front of me, arms crossed again, and looking too good for someone so infuriating.

“Not bad,” he says before lowering his voice to a volume meant only for me, “Don’t lose that stubborn streak. It suits you.”

His words shouldn’t excite me and make my pulse skip, but they do.

“Yes, Sir.”

As he turns away, clipboard tucked under one arm, I swear there’s the faintest hint of a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth…one I wasn’t meant to see.

I start to imagine the kind of praise that could come from that gorgeous mouth if I were laid out beneath him, my hands pinned above my head while he strokes his—

He suddenly starts coughing. Like, full-on choking-on-air coughing.

Oh gods.

No. No way.

There’s absolutely no way he can read minds…right?

Shit, I’m going to have to ask Sasha if there’s some spell that gives people that ability later.

Chapter six

Annalise

We’ve barely started Combat Medicine, and I already know it’s going to be a struggle not to fall asleep during Healer Alric’s lessons.

We begin with an agonizingly slow tour of the infirmary, where the air carries the sharp tang of copper, layered beneath an almost aggressive sting of bleach. The walls are that glaring, clinical white that makes your eyes ache if you stare too long and keeps you from ever truly getting comfortable.

Eight beds, each separated by thin off-white privacy curtains, line both sides of the room. Every treatment bay is fitted with a small table of healing potions, tools, and, unnervingly, a set of iron restraints that were permanently attached to the bed.

“Kinky, I like it,” Matt mutters under his breath, forcing Sasha and me to smother our laughter with poorly disguised coughs, ones we quickly blame on the pungent smell.

We all have to take turns peeking into a supply room where rows of shelves line the walls. Every shelf is packed with potion bottles, herbs, and mystery vials of liquid—some glowing, while others are dull and muddy, together creating a conflicting smell that I can only describe as a combination of chamomile and tar.

As we circle back toward the front door, my hope for a breath of fresh air is quickly dashed. Instead of leaving, we turn right and pass through a door into a circular room lined with tall medical tables for lab instruction, each paired with two stools.

This is where we’ll spend most of our time for both Combat Medicine and Arcane Healing, should we decide to continue down that track after we submit our choices. In a nice contrast to the infirmary, the walls in here are covered with standard and spelled anatomical diagrams—some disturbingly realistic and constantly shifting between the muscular and skeletal systems.

“Over the next two weeks, we’ll be splitting our time between lectures and practical demonstrations, so for now, you may sit wherever you like,” Healer Alric announces, his voice carrying but smooth.

“At the end of the week, you’ll be assigned your lab partners—and before anyone asks, no, I won’t change them so you can work with your friend. Yes, you will be sitting beside the same person for the rest of the year. And yes, your lab work will be graded jointly.”

Clearly, he’s been teaching for a while.

No one questions him, but everyone looks around, passing quick judgment on their potential partners.