Page 53 of Visions & Shadows

Right.

With the dream from hell rattling me, I temporarily forgot the training.

When I don’t say anything, he looks at me for a few seconds before asking, “Are you okay?”

“It doesn’t matter whether I’m okay,” I mutter, my tone harsh.

Raighne takes a step closer to me, a frown line appearing between his eyes. “It does.”

I shrug and turning away from him, I carry the clothes to the bedroom.

From the doorway, I hear him say, “Alchera?”

I still need to get used to the name.

God, I need to adjust to everything. Is it even possible?

A burst of cynical laughter escapes me, and shaking my head, I say, “Just drop it, Ry…Raighne. I’m a big girl, and I’ll get over it.”

I hear him move closer and as I glance at him from over my shoulder, he says, “You can talk to me about anything.”

Yeah, I don’t think so.

“I have to get dressed.”

So my sister can kick my ass.

Lifting an arm, he wraps his fingers around the side of my neck. “Things won’t seem so foreign for long. You’ll adjust.”

Feeling his skin against mine makes tingles rush over my body, and just wanting to end the conversation, I nod. “I’ll see you later.”

He stares at me for a moment longer before nodding.

When he walks out of the room, my eyes follow him, then I turn my attention to the clothes.

I listen for any movement, and when I’m sure I’m alone, I take off the nightgown and quickly put on the pants. It’s a little big but at least there’s a leather belt so I can tighten it around my waist.

The top looks more like a corset, and it gives me a cleavage I never knew I had. I pull the strings as tight as possible and make a double knot so it doesn’t come undone while I’m training.

Digging the boots out of the cupboard, I put them on before glancing down at my body.

I wish I had a full-length mirror.

Sucking in a deep breath of air, I decide to braid my hair so it doesn’t get in the way.

Just as I finish the braid, Fleur appears in the doorway. “Morning.”

“Morning,” I say as I turn to face her. “How do I look?”

She glances up and down. “Good.” A smile spreads over her face, then she asks, “Would you like breakfast?”

I shake my head as I walk toward her. “No. Let’s just get the training over with.”

“Shouldn’t we wait for Raighne?” she asks.

“No, he knows where to find me once he’s donewith his meeting,” I mutter, determined to get the training session over and done with. “Show the way to where I have to meet Brenna.”

“It’s just over the hill,” She tells me, and as we leave my living quarters, she asks, “Did you sleep well?”

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