The next day
The training yard was empty when Margie found him.
Lucian was running drills alone, his blades cutting arcs through the cold morning air. He didn't stop when she approached, didn't acknowledge her presence. She waited. She'd learned patience over the past few months—Amazonian trials taught you that.
He finished the sequence, sheathed his blades, and turned.
"You're up early."
"Couldn't sleep."
"Training does that."
She stepped closer. Her posture was different now. Straighter. The old slump in her shoulders was gone. The Amazonians had hammered that out of her, along with a dozen other bad habits.
"Margaret approved my trial run."
Lucian's expression didn't change. "What kind of trial run?"
"Haunted warehouse on the south side. Low-level revenant. Grey Hunter reconnaissance flagged it two days ago." She paused. "I want you and Cora to come with me."
"Why me and Cora?"
"Because you're the strongest. And Cora owes me."
"She doesn't owe you anything."
