Violet and her mates stepped onto the training ground, the wide field stretching beneath the pale glow of the Fae sky.
Annequin was already there.
She stood at the center of the field like a statue carved from ice, arms folded across her chest, lips pressed into a tight line. The moment she saw them, her eyes narrowed and a scowl deepened across her face.
"You’re late."
Violet frowned. "It’s only two minutes."
Annequin’s expression didn’t soften in the slightest. If anything, it hardened.
"I do not joke with my time," she said coldly. The air around her seemed to thicken with authority. "If I volunteer my time and energy to teach you how to manage your powers, then you will take it seriously."
She took a step forward, her gaze burning into Violet.
"You have a competition ahead of you and you are a ticking time bomb, Violet Purple. The least you could do is show a little dedication."
The words struck harder than Violet expected. For a moment she opened her mouth to snap back, but the protest died before it could form. Deep down she knew Annequin wasn’t wrong.
She had been acting like a brat.
Violet lowered her gaze slightly. She murmured. "It won’t happen again."
Annequin didn’t answer. Instead she stared at Violet with a look so intense it almost felt like a physical weight pressing down on her. Then she said flatly, "Run laps around the field. Give me twenty. Now."
"What?"
For a brief second Violet wondered if this was Annequin’s petty revenge. After all, the two of them were far from friends despite this strange training arrangement.
Annequin raised a brow.
"Need to get your blood pumping," she said lazily. "Rouse your powers. It won’t hurt to see how you perform physically either."
There was a hint of mockery in her voice.
Violet rolled her eyes.
"Fine."
Without another word she took off across the field.
The morning air whipped through her hair as she ran, boots pounding against the soft grass. But she knew the moment Annequin strolled over to her mates who were watching from the sidelines.
"Rough night?" she asked, making conversation.
None of the cardinal alphas answered her.
Pride swelled in Violet’s heart, relishing Annequin’s disappointment a little.
Nonetheless, Violet kept running. As she circled the massive grounds, her eyes caught the damage scattered from a section of the field to the palace landscape.
Entire patches of vegetation had been reduced to ash and sections of structures had collapsed. It was as if she had sucked the life out of them. Although the buildings had collapsed out of the force that had been created when Annequin’s powers collided with hers. But it didn’t eliminate the fact that this happened all because she had lost control of her power.
Even early that morning, Fae workers were already moving through the ruins, their magic weaving through the air as they rebuilt what had been destroyed, restoring the grounds with remarkable speed.
It was amazing but the sight still made Violet’s chest tighten. And that was exactly why she was here. Even if training with Annequin meant enduring her sharp tongue and unbearable attitude.
Violet pushed herself faster.

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