“That’s enough. Crimson. Calix. See me after we’re done,” Rowan snaps.
“I told you not to,” I say.
“And I did it anyway. You should know by now that I don’t always listen to you.” She raises her brows at me before going to see her brother.
We all break off into the tentative friendship groups that have begun to form. I hang back and watch, but with nothing to keep my focus, my mind wanders to the girl with the auburn hair. That lingering look we gave each other as she stalked past me seems seared into my mind. She wanted to know about me just as much as I wanted to know about her.
“Everyone!” Rowan booms, pulling our attention. We all gather just outside the training ring and wait for his next instruction. “I know we’ve not had our usual schedule today. We’ll resume tomorrow. But before I dismiss you, we have a new trainee to introduce you to.”
The girl from the Great Hall steps forward from the entryway to the classroom building.
She looks right at me, and it’s like I can feel her anxiety through the look in her eyes alone. Gone is the fire and anger from earlier, and I instantly miss it. But as I stare back at her, I’m struck by how easy it would be to read every emotion in those expressive eyes alone.
“…Ever Hart.”
I miss what Rowan said, but I catch her name at least.
Ever.
It sounds like a promise inside my mind, and I watch her as she offers a glimpse of a smile but doesn’t say a word as she looks at us all.
Kyra is behind her, as is the same unfamiliar woman from the hall earlier.
“Hi, I’m Micah Star.” He steps forward and nods his head towards her with a big fucking smile on his face.
She smiles back and steps towards him in greeting, holding her hand out. He looks a little confused and ignores it, and Ever’s eyes turn angry, now my favourite shade.
“We don’t shake hands here, Ever,” the woman with her whispers, not quietly enough.
“You’re not Kirrian,” Crimson tosses it out like an accusation.
Ever drops her arm and takes a small step away from Micah.
“No.”
I watch as her spine stiffens, and she raises her head to meet Crimson’s glare. And I swear the air around us all cools, clouds pulling in to block the sun.
“Well, welcome. If you’re training with us, I’ll happily show you around.” Micah cuts the tension and pulls Ever’s attention.
“Thank you.”
“Ever will be joining our lessons but won’t be doing any physical training tasks until after her Transference,” Rowan explains.
That’s strange. All trainees participate in all training tasks, even before their Transference. My eyes stay close to her, watching her hand clench and relax at her side as she shifts her feet in the sand. Her anxiety is written all over her body, which I can’t quite pull my thoughts or eyes from.
“If we’re done, I can show you the training centre now,” Micah offers. Rowan nods.
“Calix, Crimson, wait for me outside my rooms. I’ll be there shortly,” he adds.
I watch as he turns back to the woman who’s been at Ever’s side, and they walk off in conversation.
“This should be fun,” Calix grumbles as he passes me. I nod. But my attention is on Ever, and I keep watching her until Micah takes her inside the building and out of sight.
eight
. . .
Ever
