Chapter 42

The first change was so small Althea almost missed it. It was early one morning, her second week into Kaden’s rigorous recovery plan. She’d just gotten out of bed, her body aching from the previous day’s training session. She stretched, wincing slightly as her still-braced ankle throbbed faintly. The pain was still there, but it wasn’t as sharp, wasn’t as suffocating. When she stood, placing her weight cautiously on her good leg, she realized something else: her balance wasn’t as shaky. Her movements were smoother, less hesitant, like her body was slowly starting to trust itself again. She frowned at the realization, standing a little straighter as she tested her weight against the crutches leaning by her bedside. The faintest flicker of pride stirred in her chest, but she pushed it aside, unwilling to let herself believe it too soon. “It’s nothing,” she muttered under her breath, brushing the thought away as she reached for her clothes. But even as she tried to dismiss it, the flicker