I yanked Valkaryn from my hip, savoring the chill in the air as the blade cleared its sheath.
He met my gaze with something close to sorrow. “Because in the trial, she didn’t help you. Not once. Without me, you would’ve died. That means you’re not ready. I can’t go after two people. Stay here.”
The final two words hit me like a blow.
Stay here.
I gasped, anger and shame battling inside me. Weak?
But he was right, Valkaryn hadn’t helped me. Not even once.
Why?
'I know what I’m doing,'Valkaryn whispered in my mind, but I was too hurt to reply.
Cassian appeared then, looking groggy but awake. I imagined these night shifts were taking their toll on him. Kaelric didn’t wait another second. He mumbled something to Cassian, and then he was gone.
“Kaelric had a family emergency,” Cassian saidwith a yawn. “Get some rest. We’ll train in the morning.”
I nodded and returned to my room, but instead of lying down, I stared out the window, gripping Valkaryn.
The jerk called me weak. I’d prove him wrong.
Chapter Eighteen
Over the next few days, I trained harder than ever before. Cassian and I lifted weights in the morning, followed by weapons drills and swordsmanship for three hours, breaking for a large lunch, and then finishing with magical defense tactics.
I was worried sick about Elia. I’d tried to mentally check in with Kaelric a few times, but he never answered back, and I didn’t push. I didn’t want to bother him while he was on a lifesaving mission.
After dinner, I did an obstacle course with rope climbs, wall scaling, and enemy dummies with marked weak spots. My accuracy was getting better, but Cassian did the course in half the time I did.
“Okay, now I want you to try the course again, butI’m going to throw in some magical interference,” Cassian ordered.
I groaned. “Is an obstacle course really what I should be spending my time doing? I think I need to work on my swordsmanship more, or deflecting magic, maybe shielding.”
He shook his head quickly. “No. I spent all morning building this.Thisis what we’re working on.”
He was very set on this course, and the training room he’d blocked out just for me over the week had now been completely transformed. I didn’t know if he had magical help or what, but the plain floors and walls were now a full-on obstacle course made of expensive-looking wood. Monkey bars, rope climbing, a balance beam, and even two walls that smashed together with a hydraulic press. I hadn’t run fast enough on one round, and it had clipped my elbow.
“Okay,” I sighed, gearing up for another round.
Valkaryn had been quiet all day, but now I felt her stirring.
‘Say you feel sick and go back to your room,’she commanded in such a forceful tone I winced.
‘What? Why?’
‘Do it.’
I grabbed my stomach. “Actually, I feel sick all of a sudden. I think I need to head back to my room and hit the sack early.”
Cassian’s brows drew together. “Do you need a healer?”
“Nah, just cramps,” I lied, waving him off and climbing down from the small platform.
His blond brows relaxed, and his expression softened. “Okay. No worries, we will keep the obstacle course set up all week so we can hit it hard at first light.”
I nodded, and he followed me back to the dorm, making sure I got inside safely. He said he’d be back later to take the night shift guard duty. I had no idea when the guy was sleeping, or if he was magically staying awake, but I was grateful for his kindness.
