Poor, Sad Little Claire

Downstairs, Claire stood in the training room, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The makeshift punching bag in front of her swung violently as she struck it again and again, the sound of her fists connecting echoing through the otherwise empty space.

Her chest heaved, sweat dripping from her brow as she glared at the bag, envisioning Tessa's face on it. But no matter how many times she hit, the memories of her losses wouldn't go away. Tessa's smug grin, her mocking voice, the crushing weight of her telekinesis pinning her to the ground—it was all too much.

"She's using him," Claire growled under her breath, delivering another powerful punch that tore the bag from its chain, sending it crashing to the floor. "And I let it happen."