Lyra's POV
Saturday night arrived with the familiar tension that had become routine between Ash and me.
The distant thunder of music and voices from Xander's party across campus hit my ears before we even started sparring. My stomach clenched immediately. The incident was still fresh enough to make my skin crawl whenever I heard crowds celebrating. Every laugh carried on the wind felt like a threat.
Ash caught on to my distraction faster than I hoped he would. During what should have been an easy defensive sequence, his elbow connected hard with my cheekbone. The impact sent me stumbling backward, my palm flying to cover the throbbing spot.
"What's happening with you tonight?" His voice carried an unusual softness that made me look up. "You've been blocking that move perfectly all week."
