Chapter 43
Elara's POV
I finished my last set of push-ups and collapsed onto the garage floor. My arms shook. Sweat soaked through my tank top and pooled on the concrete beneath me.
Six AM. The sun wasn't even up yet but I'd been at this for an hour already.
I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. My chest heaved. Each breath scraped against my lungs like sandpaper.
Tonight. Ten PM. North entrance.
I closed my eyes and ran through the scenarios again. If Ragnar's pack attacked from the east I'd need to position myself near the old oak cluster. Three escape routes from there. If they came from the west the terrain favored ambush tactics. I could use that.
"Elara?"
I jerked upright. Mom stood in the doorway to the kitchen. She had a dish towel in her hands and that worried crease between her eyebrows.
"Breakfast is ready sweetie."
I wiped the sweat off my face with my shirt and forced a smile. The kind of smile the original Elara would have given. Soft. A little embarrassed about being caught exercising.
"Thanks Mom. I'll be right there."
She hesitated. "You've been working out a lot lately. Are you feeling okay?"
My stomach twisted. I hated lying to her. Hated the way her voice got all gentle and concerned like I was something fragile that might break.
"I'm fine. Just trying to get stronger you know?"
The crease deepened. "You don't need to push yourself so hard. Your father and I love you exactly as you are."
I looked away. Swallowed hard.
If only she knew what I really was. What I'd done. What I was planning to do tonight.
"I know Mom. I just want to be able to protect myself better."
Her expression softened. "Oh honey. Come here."
She pulled me into a hug before I could step back. I stood there stiff as a board while she rubbed my back. Her hands were warm. She smelled like cinnamon and coffee.
I didn't know what to do with my arms.
"You're safe now," she murmured. "We won't let anyone hurt you again."
The words made something crack open in my chest. I pulled away carefully.
"I know. Thank you."
I escaped to the kitchen before she could say anything else.
---
School was a blur of avoiding eye contact and counting down the hours.
Between second and third period Chloe ambushed me at my locker. She was bouncing on her toes and waving a piece of paper in my face.
"Elara! Did you pack for the archery club camping trip this weekend?"
I blinked at her. "What?"
"The camping trip. We signed up together two weeks ago remember?"
My mind went completely blank. I rifled through the original Elara's memories but came up empty. When had she joined archery club?
Chloe's smile faltered. "You did forget. Oh my god you totally forgot."
"I'm sorry I've just been really distracted lately—"
"It's fine it's fine. We still have until Saturday morning." She grabbed my arm and squeezed. "But seriously Elara you need to relax. You've been so tense lately."
"I'll pack tomorrow I promise."
"Good. Oh and fair warning Sophia is in the club too so maybe stick close to me okay?"
My jaw clenched. Of course Sophia was there.
"Thanks for the heads up."
Chloe studied my face. "Are you sure you're okay? You look really pale."
"I'm fine. Just tired."
"Well try to get some rest tonight. You look like you haven't slept in days."
I forced another smile and watched her bounce away down the hallway.
Rest. Right.
The bathroom ambush happened during lunch.
I pushed open the door and immediately knew I'd made a mistake. Three girls clustered near the sinks. Sophia leaned against the counter with her arms crossed.
The door swung shut behind me with a soft click.
Sophia's eyes lit up. "Well well. Look who it is."
I evaluated the room in half a second. Three against one. No weapons. Sophia was the only real threat but the other two would back her up.
My hands stayed loose at my sides. Relaxed. Ready.
"Move," I said quietly.
One of the girls—a blonde with too much eyeliner—sneered. "Someone saw you with Kael Harrington last night. Getting around aren't you?"
"First Blythe now Kael," another girl chimed in. "Guess you really are a slut."
Sophia pushed off the counter. "I thought the combat class thing was just luck. But now I get it. You're sleeping your way to the top."
Something cold settled in my chest. The same cold I'd felt before every kill in my past life.
I looked at Sophia. Really looked at her. Saw the insecurity beneath the designer clothes and perfect hair. The desperate need to tear others down to feel powerful.
Pathetic.
"Are you done?" My voice came out flat. Bored.
Sophia's face flushed red. "You little—"
"Because if you're done I have places to be." I took a step toward the door. "And if you're not done then let's settle this properly. Combat class. You and me. Round two."
The blonde girl gasped. Sophia's hands clenched into fists.
"You got lucky once—"
"Then prove it." I met her eyes. Held her gaze until she looked away. "Fight me again. Show everyone it was just luck."
Silence.
I could see Sophia's throat working. See the calculation in her eyes. She was remembering the gym. Remembering how it felt to eat dirt in front of the whole class.
"That's what I thought." I moved past her to the door. "Next time you want to talk shit make sure you can back it up."
I left them standing there and didn't look back.
My hands were shaking by the time I got to the cafeteria. Not from fear. From the effort it took not to grab Sophia by the throat and—
No.
I forced myself to breathe. In through the nose. Out through the mouth.
The original Elara would have cried. Would have run away or apologized or broken down.
But I wasn't her anymore.
---
Dinner that night was torture.
I pushed food around my plate and tried to look normal while my brain ran through weapons checks and attack patterns.
"You're quiet tonight sweetie," Mom said. "Everything okay at school?"
"Just tired. Lots of homework."
Dad frowned. "You've been saying that a lot lately. Are your classes too hard? We could talk to your teachers—"
"No it's fine really. I just need to study more."
Ethan was watching me from across the table. His eyes were too sharp. Too knowing.
I avoided looking at him.
"Actually I think I'm going to turn in early tonight," I said. "Get some extra sleep before the weekend."
Mom brightened. "That's a wonderful idea. You do look exhausted."
Guilt twisted in my stomach. I stood up and brought my plate to the sink.
"Goodnight everyone."
"Goodnight honey. Sweet dreams."
I went upstairs and locked my bedroom door.
Nine PM. One hour to go.
I changed into black leggings and a dark long-sleeved shirt. Tied my hair back in a tight braid. Checked my weapons one more time.
Silver blade strapped to my right thigh. Rune bracelet on my left wrist. Small first aid kit in my jacket pocket.
My inhaler went in my sports bra. Just in case.
I sat on my bed and waited. Listened to my parents move around downstairs. Heard the TV turn on in the living room.
Nine thirty. The house went quiet.
Nine forty-five. I eased my window open.
The night air hit my face. Cold and sharp. I could smell rain coming.
I climbed out onto the roof. My sneakers found purchase on the shingles. I'd practiced this route three times already.
Down the trellis. Across the back fence. Through Mrs. Chen's yard.
My feet hit the sidewalk at nine fifty-two.
I ran.