Stars of Fortune (The Guardians Trilogy 1)

On the god’s scream of rage, the jewels shattered.

And the walls ran with blood.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Rising at dawn was one thing. Rising at dawn for some yoga stretching was actually rather pleasant. But following that rather pleasant stretching by being whipped into squats and lunges changed the entire complexion.

She kept up, well enough, but squats, lunges, jumping jacks with Annika smiling, even letting out an occasional laugh, as she herself struggled through them—without even a single hit of coffee—made Sasha want to try out her right jab on her friend’s beautiful face.

Then came the dreaded push-ups.

She was the only one of the six who couldn’t manage more than two. One and a half if she was honest. Even with her knees down in what Riley called (with a definite sneer) girl push-ups, she struggled.

She would get stronger.

Pull-ups—not even one. Crunches until her abs screamed. More stretching—thank God—then a jog down the cliff steps, along the beach, then back.

Where she just collapsed on the grass in a gasping heap.

“I hate you.” She could barely pant it out. “Especially Doyle, but all of you.”

“That’s a start. Who’s on breakfast detail?” Doyle asked.

“The chart’s in my room. Someone who can still walk should go get it.”

“

I’ll get it.” Annika, barely winded, dashed off.

From her prone position, Sasha bared her teeth. “Maybe I hate her even more than Doyle.”

Moaning, she rolled over, made herself stand on wobbly, vibrating legs. Actively scowled when Annika bounced back with the chart.

“I cook with Sawyer today. I can make the coffee. I know how. It’s so pretty!” She turned the chart around for all to see.

Sasha had color-coded it, and since she’d been in a fine mood before this morning’s torture, had illustrated the chart.

Pretty little drawings of pots and pans, a lawn mower, a garden, pecking chickens, the pool, and so on—along with sketches of everyone beside their names.

“I want that,” Sawyer said immediately. “I want that when we’re done. It goes in the kitchen for now, but I’m calling dibs. Let’s go cook, Annika.”

“Can I break the eggs?” she asked as they headed toward the villa. “It looks like fun.”

“There’s a woman who makes her own fun. Let’s find out if she can make coffee.”

“Hold on a minute,” Doyle said to Riley. “You got any Tai Chi?”

Riley tapped her right fist to her open left palm. “Sure.”

“Take Sasha through a beginner’s session.”

“What! Why? No.” Though it shamed her, Sasha was weak enough to look at Bran for help. But he only smiled, gave her arm an encouraging pat.

“It’ll help with your balance and centering,” Doyle said. “You want to catch up with everyone else, you need a little extra. Twenty minutes should do it. How about you show me some of what you’ve put together,” he said to Bran, “while they’re cooking.”

“All right.” Bran took Sasha’s face, kissed her lightly. “Twenty minutes,” he repeated, and left her.

“I want coffee,” Sasha insisted. “I want to sit down. I think I want my mommy.”