Tavin let himself collapse in his bed. The day’s training had taken a lot out of him. Chalea’s guidance started out effective, but as the day progressed it felt like he had made less and less progress. Then Valina had run off not long after he started, and he’d hardly seen her all day. He couldn’t get her out of his mind—any spare moment brought her back to the forefront of his thoughts.

Tavin lifted weary arms up to observe his hands, clenching and unclenching them over and ...