SERAPHINA’S POV
I sat at the edge of the sparring mat, still breathing a little hard from my final round of drills with Maya.
Most of the other trainees had already left for the day, so the cavernous training hall felt strangely quiet—just the faint hum of the ventilation system and the muted thud of someone working a punching bag in the distance.
Maya finished her set of push-ups, springing to her feet with the kind of grace that came from years of discipline.
She swiped a towel across her brow, then planted herself in front of me, grinning at me like I’d just told her the best gossip she’d heard all week.
“So,” she said, tossing her towel onto a bench, “you’re actually going to see Daniel. About damn time.”
“Yeah,” I laughed. “I can’t wait. I’ve missed him so much.”
