Chapter 74

CILLIAN

The soil squished between my toes as I raced through the woods. I wanted to make sure I got to the barracks before AP took off for his patrol. Knowing AP, there was a high probability that he wasn’t even up and around yet.

The birds sang overhead, and the sounds of the forest always calmed me. But there was more to it now, as if everything was brighter and so full of life. Of course, it could have been me, and how wonderful it was not to be thinking of the possibility of losing Ciara. With everything so permanent now, I was free to focus my attention on more pressing matters.

The huts of the barracks cut through the tree line, and I came to a stop. Sniffing the air, I hunted for one of the bags I had stashed around the place and quickly shifted to dress. The pack seemed in good spirits as I walked to the training arena.

Laya grinned at me when she saw me and jumped out of the sparring pit.

“Come on, let me see it,” she said, waggling her fingers at me. I stretched out my