Page 11 of Angel of Ruin
"Better start praying to whatever gods you believe in," Sariel sneers. "You'll need all the help you can get."
As he walks away, leaving us to process the news, I feel a hand on my shoulder. It's Kai.
"You okay?" she whispers. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
I shake my head, trying to snap out of it. "I'm fine. Just... wasn't expecting that."
Mira and Lena join us, concern etched on their faces.
"We need to train," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "Now."
We spend the rest of the day in the practice arena, rigging up makeshift obstacles as high as we can manage. With each climb, each jump, my heart threatens to burst out of my chest. The height makes my palms sweat and my vision blur, but I push through, gritting my teeth against the fear that threatens to paralyze me.
"You've got this, Lyra," Lena encourages as I wobble on a narrow beam, my arms windmilling for balance. "Don't look down, just focus on the next step."
I nod, taking a shaky breath. One foot in front of the other. I can do this. I have to. The alternative - failure, shame, returning to the squalor of my family's hovel - is unthinkable.
With trembling legs, I force myself to take another step, then another. The beam creaks ominously beneath me, but I keep my eyes fixed on the platform ahead. Just a few more steps...
As the day wears on, my movements become more confident. The fear doesn't disappear, but it becomes manageable. A dull roar in the background instead of a deafening scream.
By the time we finish, exhaustion has set in, but so has a grim determination. Whatever Sariel and the other xaphan throw at us tomorrow, we'll face it head-on.
I wave goodbye to my friends as they head to the dining hall. My muscles ache, begging for relief after our intense training session. A hot shower sounds like heaven right now.
The communal showers are blessedly empty when I arrive. I strip off my sweat-soaked clothes and step under the steaming spray, letting out a sigh as the water cascades over my sore body. For a few blissful moments, I forget about the trials, about my fears, about everything.
But reality crashes back as I shut off the water and towel dry. My stomach growls, reminding me I haven't eaten since breakfast. I quickly dress and head towards the dining hall, hoping to catch the tail end of dinner service.
The corridors are eerily quiet, the silence pressing in on me from all sides. I'm so lost in thought, replaying the day's events in my mind, that I don't notice the figure rounding the corner until I slam into a solid chest. The impact knocks the breath from my lungs, and I nearly lose my footing.
"Watch where you're going, human," a familiar voice snarls, dripping with disdain.
I stumble back, my heart racing as I look up into Sariel's golden eyes. They're as cold and unyielding as ever, narrowed in irritation. His wings flare out behind him, silver-white feathers catching the dim light of the corridor.
They're breathtaking, a reminder of everything I'm fighting for - and everything that sets us apart. I swallow hard, trying to find my voice as I shrink under his imposing presence.
"I'm sorry," I say, the bite in my voice unable to ignore. It comes out more as a threat than an apology. "I didn't see you."
Sariel's lip curls in disgust. "Clearly. It's a wonder you pathetic creatures manage to survive at all with such poor awareness."
His words sting, reminding me of the cruel nature of the xaphan. But as he steps closer, looming over me, I feel a different kind of heat rising in my cheeks. It's clear he's trying to intimidate me, and I refuse to let him, not yielding a step.
"Tell me, little human," he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear. "Do you really think you have what it takes to earn wings?"
I should be repulsed. I should be angry. Instead, my traitorous body wants to lean in at his proximity. His scent – something crisp and otherworldly – fills my senses.
"I'll prove myself," I snap back.
Sariel chuckles, the sound sending sparks down my spine. "Will you now, little nexari?" I fight a snarl at the insult of the baby animals. "Or do you just have a weak roar and too little claws, can't even fight back when you need to?"
His hand brushes my arm, and I can't suppress a gasp. What's wrong with me? Why am I reacting like this to someone who clearly despises me?
But before I can process these conflicting emotions, Sariel steps back abruptly. His eyes, for a moment, seem to burn with something other than contempt. Then his mask of disdain slides back into place.
"We'll have to see, won't we?" he says coldly, then turns and strides away, leaving me breathless and confused in the empty hallway.
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