Leaning down to whisper in her ear, he asked, “Would you like to sneak away to see the training yard?”

It wasn’t really a question, so she didn’t bother answering before she leapt off the bed, her legs carrying her straight to the door.

Chapter 18

VERA

The sharp clang and thuds of weapons clashing and bodies smacking into one another was like coming home. More so than anything else on the island had felt like.

An unexpected wave of homesickness crashed into her as Jaren led her down the last path leading to a large, empty field hidden within. She missed Elric. She missed the methodical motions of working with blades, the skill and concentration it took to perfect them, and the overwhelming smell of leather and steel.

She even missed the armory itself. Not being cooped up in it for hours, weeks, and years on end, but the comfort of waking up and knowing what the day would bring.

Even though she didn’t yet have the freedom she’d hoped for, she didn’t regret leaving. She’d spent her entire life wanting to see more of the world and go on an adventure of some kind, but she still missed the reassurance of knowing what was expected of her.

She had no idea what was expected of her here.

They pushed past the last line of trees, but she froze in her tracks when she set her gaze on the field of warriors training. Warriors of every shape, size, color, and sex stood and fought before her, mixed in together the way it should be.

Where some of the males were stronger, slicing their blades down with a power she could never naturally possess, the females were faster, darting out of the way before spinning back with their own strikes. It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.

Her eyes burned, tears threatening as a joy she didn’t know she could feel filled her heart, overshadowing every doubt that’d been coursing through her. She’d known she’d be treated differently here but being told and seeing it were two very different things.

Arms came around her, pulling her close and holding her flush against a firm chest. “You’re like a warm ball of light in my chest.”

“What?”

He grabbed her chin, arching her head back to look down at her. “You’re happy,” he said, smiling sadly. “And I didn’t realize until now that I’ve never felt it from you before.”

“I was already happy.”

He shook his head. “No, not like this. I have felt many things from you, Veralie, but never this.” He brushed his lips over her forehead and released her chin so she could look back at the field again. “I just wish I was the one who made you feel it.”

She didn’t know what to say to that, didn’t know how to put words to how she felt. He might have been able to feel her, but as a Magyki male, he’d never truly understand what it had been like to have no power, no freedom, and no voice.