Chapter 43

The sun hung low in the sky, casting the training field in a soft, golden glow. The late afternoon warmth clung to the air, but the breeze that swept through the trees offered some relief. Althea was already sweating, her muscles burning from the drills Kaden had set for her that day. Althea wiped the sweat from her brow as she hobbled toward the wooden balance beam, her crutches tucked under one arm. The brace around her ankle felt heavy, but she’d grown used to it over the last few weeks. “Come on, Althea,” Kaden’s deep voice called out from behind her. “You’ve got this. Stop overthinking every step and just trust yourself.” She shot him a glare over her shoulder, leaning heavily on one crutch as she carefully maneuvered along the wooden balance beam. “Easy for you to say,” she muttered, her voice laced with irritation. “You’re not the one trying not to faceplant in front of an audience.” Kaden smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned casually against a nearby post. “The only audience