Sera's POV
I tiptoed around the dark bedchamber, pulling on the only pair of fitted pants I owned. Smoothing the fabric over my hips, I made a mental note to ask for a few more pairs now that we were starting actual physical training.
A twinge of guilt tightened in my chest. I hated lying to Gideon—even a lie of omission. But with all the political chaos and border logistics weighing on his shoulders, I knew he would try to talk me out of it or forbid it entirely out of protection. And even if he did agree to let me train, he would go far too easy on me. He loved me too much to push me the way I needed to be pushed. I needed to learn how to defend myself, for real.
I grabbed my sketchbook as a cover story and turned toward the door.
"You need pants to paint?"
Gideon’s deep, sleep-roug
