Chapter 49
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
PHOENIX
I lounge on the comfortable leather armchair in the corner of Vera’s studio. Vera wastes no time—the day after we’re back in Jaakii from the mountains, she throws a huge celebratory party for me and all of my supporters.
“It’s a huge win for you, us, and everyone else who chose you as their champion. We must celebrate accordingly,” she tells me.
I don’t argue with her.
Even if I don’t show it, I want to celebrate my first win.
Nailing that damn challenge without slaying the dragon is a huge boost of confidence. One I couldn’t have anticipated.
Vera’s in Nobleman Uringi’s lap on the opposite side of the studio.
She throws her head back and laughs. The black diamond choker she always wears glimmers in the candlelight.
Uringi’s gaze is hungry as he watches her.
While Vera and I are like night and day, on two different paths, sometimes I wish I was more like her.
She’s so elegant, so intelligent, so effortless. And most importantly, she’s widely loved and admired. The world is hers. Everything she desires is within reach. All it takes is one glance, one smile.
I envy that.
The party is in full swing. A group of people still sits around the large dinner table full of the most lavish dishes Vera’s chef prepared for tonight.
Three Caetras are dancing next to the fireplace, their bodies moving graciously to the rhythm of the music.
I’m pretty sure they’re Ri’s girls. But Ri herself is not here tonight.
Jax and the rest of Vera’s crew lounge in the conversation pit. They’re playing cards. I watch them while I sip on my whiskey.
“I think you’re cheating,” Jax says, rubbing his chin. There’s a frown between his eyebrows. “You’re dealing me bad cards every single time!”
“No, Jaxy. You just have very bad luck,” Hojo says, and chuckles.
Jax runs a hand over his hair, a crooked smile on his lips. His eyelids are lowered, lush eyelashes casting a shadow on his pale cheeks. The fact that he’s this handsome infuriates me every single time I look at him.
Spirits of the gods have a wicked sense of humor.
Jax taps a finger on the table, licks his lips, and then puts another card on the pile in the middle.
There’s a brief moment of tension while they all wait for Tanaka to draw a card and lower it next to Jax’s.
Everyone erupts with laughter. Jax loses another round.
He growls in frustration and buries his face in his palms.
I can’t help the giggle that escapes my lips. It draws Jax’s attention even through the noise of the party. He glances at me sideways. I tilt my glass towards him in a mocking cheer. I swear, right before he turns back to the group, there is a tiny smirk at the corner of his mouth.
Something in my belly flutters.
I’m conflicted.
Jax leans forward and takes a wild strand of Tanaka’s blond hair.
He playfully twirls it around his forefinger.
A blush rises over her pale features. A weird feeling is pressing against my chest. I’m surprised a courtesan can blush.
Maybe Vera trains them to do it on command as part of the seduction?
When Jax whispers something into her ear, she giggles. I sigh and avert my gaze. What a sly motherfucker.
Before I can brood over Jax’s never-ending flirting with everything that moves, Vera approaches me. Tonight she wears a long deep red satin dress with an open back that flows down her frame like a bloody waterfall. It’s the first time I see her not in a tailored suit.
“This party is in your honor,” Vera says. “Yet, you don’t look as if you’re enjoying yourself.”
“I am enjoying myself. I’m just not the social butterfly you are.”
She smiles. Without asking, she settles on the arm of the chair close to me. The scent of her plum blossom perfume envelops me. It’s familiar and comforting by now.
“I know that very well,” she says after a brief pause. One of her hands rests on the back of the armchair, but she’s turned to the crowd. “If I can be honest with you, it’s one of the reasons I worried we’d lose. An Ezkai General must be a people person.”
I snort. “Good to know.”
She smirks. “You can’t blame me for having doubts. Your attitude is not an easy one to deal with. However, I must say, you absolutely outdid yourself during the Trial of Wisdom. Even in my dreams, I couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome. I’m glad you’re my chosen champion.”
I don’t know what to say. Vera notices my hesitation and surprise. She chuckles. “What? You think I can’t tell you a compliment when you deserve one?”
“Not at all. In fact, keep them coming.”
“Ah, Ezkai and their egos. Larger than life itself.”
I laugh. “One of the very few flaws we have. Many nobles are here tonight. Noire isn’t joining us?”
Vera shakes her head. “He has too much on his plate right now, no time for pleasures. Noire does send his best wishes and congratulations to you.”
I lift my glass and then take a drink. “Thank you.”
Vera’s demeanor shifts. “There is something I wanted to talk to you about.”
I look up at her calmly, but my heart races in my chest.
She doesn’t look at me when she says the next words.
“When Ezkai participate in these trials, they fight for themselves, even though that goes against everything they believe as part of the Order. To win, they must turn their backs on their brothers and sisters. During the Trial of Wisdom, every Ezkai watched their own backs, and fought their own fights. Every Ezkai except two.”
My heart sinks. But I remain silent.
“Daegel helped you, and you helped him. If not for that, you might be dead. He certainly would be, because before you interfered, he was losing the fight against the dragon. While I’m beyond happy to have you alive, I don’t think helping your enemy during the trials is the best strategy, Phoenix.”
I don’t like the tone she uses with me. Once again, I feel like she’s scolding me for misbehaving, as if I were a troublesome child. Anger rises to the surface and I grip the glass in my hand hard.
“We’re not savages. We’re honorable soldiers, or have you forgotten about that? An honorable soldier respects their comrades,” I say through gritted teeth.
Finally, Vera looks at me. “The moment you signed up for Val’taz Ezkairin, other Ezkai stopped being your comrades.
They turned into deadly competitors. Besides, don’t give me this honor crap.
I didn’t see you help other Ezkai. The only one you aided was Daegel.
” She pauses. We stare at each other for a long, silent moment.
“Now, part of our deal was that I offer my support if you forfeit all your ties with Caligos, including your boyfriend. So, let me ask you, Phoenix—have you let go of your past so you can build the future? Or will we have a problem?”
It takes all my will to force myself not to react to her words. To not let my worry show. It was stupid of me to aid Daegel when all eyes were on us. Now, Vera’s suspicious.
Vera presses her lips into a thin line when I don’t answer. I swallow.
“Ladies, everything good?” Jax approaches us with a careful smile. “I sense some tension from all the way over in the conversation pit. Right now I might be the only one, but others will soon catch up, I’m sure.”
I ignore him.
“We made a deal and I respect it. I have cut all my ties with Caligos,” I say quietly to Vera. “However, just because Daegel was born into his family, a family he didn’t choose, it doesn’t mean that he’s just like them. Like Caligos.”
I expect Vera to argue with me. Instead, she sighs. “Oh, Phoenix. I know what I asked of you is a lot. It’s hard to tame our hearts’ desires, even when they’re bad for us. But thinking that Daegel is not like the rest of his family, the rest of Caligos, is naive. It’ll get you killed.”
I scoff. “Don’t patronize me.”
Her gaze softens, which surprises me. “I’m not. I’m trying to help you see the truth.”
I bristle. “And what’s that truth, huh?”
“I don’t think I can tell you. Even if I did, you would not feel the impact of it as you would if you witness it with your own two eyes.”
“Then show me.”
She regards me with sadness that turns into determination.
Jax scratches the back of his head. “What are we talking about here?”
“Fine,” Vera finally says to me. “It so happens that I was planning on sneaking out at the end of the party tonight, because I have something time-sensitive to take care of. Taking you with me might prove useful, actually.”
“I can be useful too,” Jax says.
Finally, both of us turn our attention to Jax.
“I thought you were too busy flirting with everything that moves to be of any use tonight,” I snap at him.
A lazy grin spreads on his face. “Do I sense jealousy, Phoenix? Ah, I’m flattered.”
I scoff. “Keep dreaming.”
My cheeks are burning. Jax’s eyebrows rise all the way to his hairline and his smile deepens. But he says nothing.
“Enough bickering,” Vera says with a sigh and a roll of her eyes. “Both of you are insufferable when you’re in the same room. Jax can go with us. More hands are always useful.”
Jax curtsies. “Always a pleasure to serve.”
Vera eyes him. “Yeah. Remember that later tonight. What you’re about to see won’t be pleasant or fun.” To me she says, “You want to learn the truth about your lover who you’re trying to protect? Let me show you.”