THREE DAYS LATER
By dinnertime, I'm drained. I'm drenched in sweat. My fur sticks to me. But I refuse to complain. Because today I got through the hardest training ever. And Lightning is fine.
Panting, I slump down on the cool marble training arena floor for just a moment of rest before standing up and shaking the exertion off me.
Mr. Cool Under Pressure, that's me.
Kaline applauds. "Blaze, you did so well! I swear that Niall made it impossible."
Niall gets an innocent look. "Me?"
[He was supposed to.] I smooth my fur and toddle over to Lightning, who sits next to Kaline and Hans close by. [He was supposed to drive me hard. But not so hard that it would hurt Lightning.]
I nuzzle against my mate, and she bathes my face. She has forgiven me. She is far more understanding, even full of pregnancy hormones, than I deserve. My secrecy could have hurt her.
Kaline shakes her head, a fond expression on her face. "Yes, Niall, you pushed him harder than you had any right to."
