Ivy’s POV

“Up, Rune.”

I jolted awake, my muscles still sore from yesterday’s loss of control. Mae was still half-asleep beside me.

“Do I get a few minutes—”

“You get one,” he barked.

I scrambled up and followed him outside. The sky was gray, thick clouds swallowing the sun. Rael walked fast, leading me past tents, through the dying trees, and out toward a wide, bare patch of ground.

“This will do,” he said.

“For what?” I asked.

“Your training.”

He turned, arms ...