Page 320 of Elemental Becoming

—VALEN’S JOURNAL

AMARA

Once we leave the training hall, Rowena takes my arm, turning me to face her.

“Well, Spiritborn, you have fire.”

She smiles warmly as she brushes a few loosestrands of hair away from my face. Sweat has plastered them to my forehead, escaping the braid sometime during the fight.

Her gaze travels over me, assessing.

Now that the adrenaline is fading, I can feel the soreness settling in. Every place Ardyn managed to hit me is beginning to ache, bruises already forming beneath my skin. The inside of my cheek, however, is nearly healed.

Rowena’s fingers brush my cheekbone, hovering over the cut there.

“You’ve got a nasty one.”

I flinch when she gets too close. She exhales and shakes her head.

“But you’re already healing. You’ll be sore tomorrow, but your body seems determined to fix itself.”

Then she sighs, long and full of resigned amusement. “What the fuck am I going to tell Thane? I was supposed to be looking out for you this afternoon.”

She shakes her head, laughing despite herself. Before I can answer, Lyra steps in for me.

“You’re going to tell him that Amara kicked that evil hag’s ass.” Lyra folds her arms, tilting her head as though this is the most obvious thing in the world. “And you’re going to tell him that, thank the gods, he’s finally making better choices about partners.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Seriously, Rowena. It’s not that complicated.”

I laugh, and immediately regret it as pain flares through my ribs.

“Ow. Shit.” I press a hand to my side, still grinning. “Laughing hurts. I’m going to go soak before one of you says something else funny.”

My friends leave me at Thane’s door.

Our door.

Our quarters.

As I close it behind me, I can still hear them in the corridor, laughing and talking over one another as they replay the fight move by move.

I strip down in the bathing chambers and lift a hand toward the basin. With a flick of my fingers, my power stirs and water begins pouring into the tub.

As I wait, my gaze drifts to the mirror. Bruises have already begun to darken across my skin, spreading over my ribs, legs, and cheek in shades of purple and blue. Some of the lighter ones are already fading at the edges, yellow replacing the deeper colors as my body begins repairing the damage.

I’ve grown used to it since my body healed itself during the ballroom attack. I always hurt immediately after training or a fight, but within a few hours, sometimes less, the worst of it is gone. By the next day, I’m usually left with little more than lingering fatigue.

I trace a fingertip over a bruise near my side, feeling the ache buried beneath it. I’ll give Ardyn one thing—she has power behind that fist.

I uncork a few small vials, letting drops of oil slip into the steaming water. Lavender for the soreness in my muscles. Rosemary to help the bruises fade. A touch of eucalyptus to clear my mind.

The scents rise with the steam as I step into the bath and sink beneath the heat. I ease deeper into the water, letting the warmth ease some of the ache from my body. For the first time since stepping into that ring, I exhale fully.

I just fought Thane’s ex.

The thought alone should send a flare of emotion through me. Anger. Jealousy. Satisfaction. Instead, I just feel light. Centered. And, perhaps for the first time since meeting her, completely unthreatened.