Chapter Twenty-Three – Sparks in the Dust
Evandra
Her body ached in places she hadn’t even known existed the day before, but the ache felt good. It felt alive. By dawn, the bruises had faded to faint shadows, her wolf knitting her wounds faster than most. When she stepped into the training ring, she felt stronger. Clearer.
The sentries were already assembled, stretching and sparring. The moment her boots touched the packed dirt, whispers rose. She ignored them, chin high, braid tight against her back.
Today, she wouldn’t just endure. She would win.
“Evandra,” Liora called, eyes glinting with something like approval. “With Garron.”
The warrior who stepped forward was a mountain of a man. Broad shoulders, thick arms, a cruel grin plastered across his face. He cracked his knuckles as
