Evaline:
My lungs burned. My arms ached. And my pride - well, that had already taken a beating about five minutes ago.
With a loud thud, I hit the ground again. The cold, hard earth beneath the training field welcomed me like an old friend, though I would rather it didn't. Dust puffed around me, catching in my hair and mouth as I groaned and rolled onto my back.
For a long second, I just lay there, staring up at the pale blue sky above. My breathing came in short, frustrated pants, my pulse still racing from the sparring session that had lasted way longer than it was supposed to.
And then, as if things weren't already bad enough, my gaze drifted to the sidelines... and there he was.
Draven.
Standing tall, arms crossed, a storm in his emerald eyes that made me want to sink straight into the ground and never get up again.
