Chapter 13 Shadows Of Doubt

• The crisp morning air carried the scent of pine and damp earth as Celeste stood in the training grounds, her muscles burning from the relentless drills Rafael had put her through. He wasn’t going easy on her—not today, not ever. But something about him felt… off. His commands were sharp, precise, yet there was a weight behind his gaze, a flicker of something restrained.
• "Again," Rafael ordered, his voice gruff. Celeste gritted her teeth and lunged forward, dodging his attack at the last second. Sweat dripped down her temple, her breath coming in short gasps.
• "You hesitate too much," he said, his tone bordering on frustration. "In a real fight, hesitation gets you killed."