I tried to pull away as soon as some slack loosened the belt, but he held fast. “Make sure you do all thirty push-ups, I'll be counting.”
I half-stumbled forward when he released me, refusing to give him the satisfaction of looking back at him as I rushed to theother end of the Fitness center. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like anyone was paying attention to our interaction.
Though I didn't look back at him once for the remainder of the training, his heated gaze was like a physical touch on me. As he milled about correcting the posture of other trainees, I held myself to a textbook standard so he would have no reason to come near, all the way until I completed my final set.
Rather than risk further humiliation, I twisted the belt around to my front, undid the complicated knot, dropped it onto the ground, and fled. Like the coward I was.
Still, I felt him watching me.
Chapter 8
What are you Willing to Lose?
Thankfully, Sarina hadn't noticed, or had the consideration not to ask me about what happened earlier with Zevrial. It was a bad enough sign that my brain had already decided to refer to him by his first name instead of Instructor Tyrell. I didn't want to dwell on thoughts of him any longer than I had to.
We were both back in our room, readying for bed when I noticed a small wrapped box on her nightstand. It hadn't been there earlier today, maybe she'd unpacked it?
“What's that?” I pointed to the gift.
“Oh,” Sarina let out a halted laugh. “Nothing. It’s a present. I was born on Blessing Day.”
My eyebrow went up. “You're having a birthday tomorrow and you forgot to tell me?”
She waved it off, pulling out a plush toy and setting it next to her pillow. It looked well loved, and stood out among the excessive amount of clothing she'd brought with her to the outpost. “It’s no big deal. You know how many people havebirthdays on Blessing Day.”
I did. Blessing Day was yet another way that the Ascendancy maintained a constant population; by incentivizing couples to procreate. Any families with babies born on Blessing Day would be rewarded with additional gold and other perks. It was easily the most heavily celebrated week of the year, as so many citizens had their birthdays fall near, or on, Blessing Day. My own birthday was only two days after it.
Not that I could share that knowledge without inviting questions.
The day itself was treated as a national holiday, where no services were performed outside the essential.
And I hadn't even remembered that Blessing Day was approaching because of everything else that happened this week.
“Being born on Blessing Day doesn't make your birthday less special,” I countered. “We should celebrate tomorrow, if we don't have lessons or training.”
Sarina shrugged. “It’s really not a big deal.”
Birthdays had been a big deal in my household. Even in the Reformatory, the few friends I'd made had rallied what little we could to celebrate birthdays. Sarina deserved to feel special for one day a year. Everyone did.
“Mama is in Scullery service, and she’s taught me a little. If I can get enough ingredients, I’ll make something tasty for you.”
She let out an unenthused sigh, pulling a comb through her unruly curls. “Alrig—”
A quiet knock came at our door.
I glanced at Sarina. “Expecting someone?” She shook her head.
Cracking the door open, Henrik grinned on the other side. Most of the tension eased out of me, and I opened it wider, “What are you doing here?”
His smile was impish, a persuasive twinkle to his eyes. “Some of us are going to have a bit of fun in the Fitness center tonight, wanted to see if you'd be interested.”
“She absolutely is!” Sarina called out from behind me, and I glowered. Sleep sounded a lot more appealing. “I'm interested too!” she added.
“Good!” Henrik glanced around the hallway. “Meet us there in ten minutes? We're spacing it out so no one notices the...festivities.”
“Of course you are,” I deadpanned. What flavor of mischief would it be tonight? Henrik was a compulsive troublemaker.
“Bring some gold with you, not more than you want to part with though,” he said.
