**Gaia's POV**

I arrived at the training grounds before dawn, desperate to exhaust myself through physical work. Sleep had been impossible after leaving Astrein's room last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt his hands on my skin, heard his voice, remembered the heat of him before Owen's knock shattered everything.

Training. I needed to train. To focus on becoming stronger.

The other warriors were already gathering in the pre-dawn darkness, their breath misting in ...