Page 16 of Ocean of Silver

“What’s a gymnasium?”

He looked at me, puzzled, before he answered. “Think of it as a training ground, but it’s purely designed to build strength instead of just fighting people. Different machines target specific muscles, so you can focus on any weak spots you might have in your form.”

I nodded, not really sure what he meant by machines, but I guessed I would find out soon enough. The athletic arena in LakeWood was just a large, open room with mats, and when I trained with Peter, we were always outside.

“This entire space is closed off to the public, so only you and I can enter. We will be able to practice here without fear of someone seeing us or noticing that you have abilities or recognizing you as the Tennebrisian ex-Princess.”

“Goddess forbid our kind knows the truth for once,” I grunted under my breath. His lips tightened into a thin line, but he didn’t comment or give any other indication that he heard me as I followed him through the door. My eyes widened as I took in theprivate gymhe was referring to. It was massive and had two stories. An open stairwell gave way to a circular loop on the top level. I recognized some of the free weights and weapons that were scattered across the bottom level, but there were a lot of things I’d never seen before. It must have been the machines he was talking about. It was all foreign, except… my eyes snagged on the fighting arena in the far corner.

Tezya didn’t give me time to fully ogle. “Go to the upper level. It’s an indoor track. Run until I tell you to stop.”

“Running inside?” I’d never heard of that before, and I desperately wanted to go outside again after I was on his balcony. “Can’t I run outside?”

“No.” He nodded toward the staircase, and when I didn’t move, he sighed. “You can’t go outside because one, you aren’t allowed. And two, your body can’t handle it right now. Even if I were to let you, it’s too hot, and you’ll give yourself a heat stroke. You’re too malnourished and dehydrated.”

I glowered at him but did as I was told. My thighs felt heavy by the time I finally climbed the stairs and made it to the track. A bead of sweat had already started to drip down my forehead, and I didn’t even begin yet. I glanced down at Tezya. He hadn’t moved from his position on the lower level. His arms were crossed over his chest, exposing bulging muscles. His head was tilted slightly up as his clear eyes pinned me to my spot. He arched his brow, and I realized that I was staring at him. Again.

With that embarrassing thought, I started to run, or I tried to. I was slow, too slow, but I kept moving my legs. I doubted anyone would call it a run. I was pretty sure that Tezya couldwalkfaster than my poor attempt at it.

I huffed in frustration. I used to fly across the ground. Running was my escape every morning back at LakeWood. I loved feeling the breeze on the back of my neck, although I always wished it was a warm breeze instead of the harsh winds of Tennebris. And here I was, finally in Lux, running—walking—but I was stuck inside. In here, it was too stuffy, and I was all too aware of the pale, blue eyes that kept following my steps.

Just when I almost made it one lap around the track, I tripped over my own feet and stumbled forward. Stretching my arms out, I tried to catch the fall but landed flat on my stomach. My face planted into the weird texture that made up the floor.

Scolding myself, I slowly peeled myself off the ground, that was neither hard nor soft but still managed to hurt. A quick glance down at my knee told me that I had landed hard. I ripped a hole through the ridiculous pair of too-thin pants I was wearing. Red started to bubble around the hole. A subtle burning sensation spread across my forearms and cheek, and I was sure without looking that I had abrasions growing there too.

I shook my head and started running again.Smooth, Scottie.When Tezya finally ordered me to stop, I was embarrassed. I was wheezing from the effort and completely drenched in sweat. My clothing clung to my body as I walked down the stairs, gripping the railing with all my weight. I sat down on one of the benches on the lower level as Tezya handed me a glass of water.

“That was pathetic.”

“Yeah, well, I couldn’t exactly go for a run in my cell, so I would really, really appreciate it if you stopped with the comments,” I snapped back as I gulped down the water in one go. Most of the contents missed my lips, adding to the watery mixture of sweat over my shirt.

“You didn’t eat breakfast.”

“What?” I replied, startled. How did he even know that?

“You’re starving.”

“How do you know that I’m starving or that I didn’t eat?” I seethed.

“One, I can hear your stomach gargle, and two, your entire body is shaking. Besides not being able to workout in your previous condition, you shouldn’t bethatweak. I told you that you needed proper nourishment and rest to keep up with my training. So you need to eat. You are in control if you remain weak from now on, but your body needs fuel.” He paused for a moment, seeming to think something over before adding, “And besides, I just know. I have a sense about that sort of thing, so don’t question me again. You have to eat, then we will continue.”

“You have a sense for when people are starving?” I snapped, unable to hide the sneer in my voice. It pissed me off that he was mocking me for being weak when his people and his King made me this way. And I really could have used hissenseswhen I was locked in the cage with nothing to eat for twenty-seven days.

“I have a sense about a lot of things. Let’s go,” he said as he stalked out of the gym. I stumbled after him on shaky legs, my mind puzzling over what the heck he meant by that, but I was too tired to ask. He led me toward the middle of the three doors in the main area. It was the smallest room yet. It held one table with six chairs tucked around it. Along the wall were cabinets that made up a miniature kitchen.

Tezya opened one of the doors and grabbed an apple out of it before tossing it over to me. I bit into it. The crunch and my chewing seemed too loud for the awkward silence that followed. Neither of us took a seat, and he just watched me eat. His weird, unrelenting gaze gave me the chills and would come off as creepy if he wasn’t so attractive. I hated to even admit that in my head. He was just here to train me, so why did I keep staring at his muscles, his eyes, his scar… and worse, he was a Luxian soldier. This man probably killed the Advenians who fought for a fair and just life. A soldier who, according to Sie, foughtagainstthe rebellion, against everything I wanted.

An ache formed in my gut as I thought of Sie. His abandonment felt worse than my time in the dungeons. It left a huge gaping hole in my heart. It hurt me more than I’d like to admit. I took a breath and pushed him from my mind like I did many times before when my thoughts drifted toward him.

After I ate the apple down to the core, I followed Tezya back out of the kitchen, but to my dread, we stopped there and didn’t go into the gym again. He halted in front of the large trap of water.

“I told you that I’m not getting into that bath.”

His mouth quirked into a half smile. “And I told you that it’s not a bath. It’s a pool, but to be honest, you could really use a bath.”

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. I noticed him following the movement before he met my gaze.

When I didn’t answer, he added, “If you can give me an honest answer as to why you won’t go in there, I won’t make you. For today, at least.”

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