Chapter 20 #2
I remember the children digging their parents’ graves in the picture frames—a fate Rhythe narrowly escaped.
He might hate the Benevolent—or be completely loyal.
I tuck my hands under my thighs, feeling exposed and dirty all of a sudden for even speaking to him.
Either way, Rhythe is trouble; Caelus is right.
“Two minutes,” a guard shouts.
I lean forward. “Rhythe’s alliance is after something. He says they’re planning to rob your father.”
Caelus rubs the bridge of his nose. “Slow down. Start from the beginning.”
I explain everything—how Rhythe approached me before the trials started.
I tell him about the meeting and who all was there and how Dorian is now their target, which required explaining Dorian’s proposal to me and the awkwardness after.
The light from the candles catches on the edge of Caelus’s cheekbones and light the curve of his temples.
Tension pulses at his jaw, as if his mind has sunk into a dark calculus.
“Did he hint at what they plan to steal?” he asks.
“No. Do you think it’s what we’re after?”
“No.” He leans back in his seat. His broad shoulders are wider or stronger than I remember. His white hair is silvery today, his long braid roped over his shoulder, dangling to his waist. Rogue flyaways soften the harsh angles of his face.
“Can you tell me more about the magic?” I ask.
He shifts. “I’ll tell you more when the time comes. Just trust me on that.”
Why not now? I want to say, but our time is winding down and I have so many other questions.
“Okay, well, whatever it is, how can you be so sure that’s not what Rhythe is after?” I ask.
A Mercyenforcer passes closely, and Caelus says, “Go on, it’s your turn.” I look at the card I’d almost forgotten I was holding.
Share a brutally honest confession
that you’ve never told anyone.
My heart knocks into my ribs.
“You first.” I push the card back his way.
When the Mercyenforcer is out of earshot, he says, “I am sure it is not the same thing we are after. No one knows it exists except my father and I. It’s somewhat of a family secret.
Rhythe probably wants the treasure on display at the ceremony reception, gold, jewels, that sort of thing.
That’s enough to make anyone rich beyond their wildest dreams.”
My heart ticks.
“About Dorian,” he goes on. “It’s obvious that he likes you. You should lean into it. Maybe Rhythe will back off if he pairs with you.”
I laugh, a deep belly laugh. It feels foreign and yet desperately comforting.
“I’m serious,” Caelus says. “He believes in all this, it seems. I could see him putting his whole heart into the tournament and making it to the end. You might actually be able to feel things for him.”
“Wrap it up,” a Mercyenforcer shouts.
“I’m going to make it to runner-up because I’m more cunning than anyone here,” I say. “Not because I love someone. Your time would be better spent figuring out how you are going to survive this.” The words slip out, and I wish I could call them back. I don’t mean them as cruel as they sound.
He doesn’t speak. But I see a flicker, a pause that lasts a beat too long. His hand on the table curls into a loose fist before relaxing. He nods emptily. I’ve struck a wound.
“We have to disrupt the alliance,” I say to change the subject to something actionable. Something we can fix.
“We do,” he agrees. “I want Rhythe out of here. I don’t want anyone in our way.”
“If we get rid of him, Talia and Lira are toothless.”
He nods, pensive.
“And about Dorian, he and Mae can make it to the end. They are the best match. We need to protect them, push them together, even. Because—” My lashes flutter. Why do I care what happens to him?
“Are you feeling guilty for turning him down?” He eyes me curiously.
“I don’t know what I’m feeling half the time. I just know that I like feeling things and I’m trying to trust it more. Dorian and Mae should win. Me and someone else just need to make it to the end to be at the Ascension Ceremony.”
“Then you need to figure out who that someone else is soon.”
“I will.” My skin prickles as if it’s suddenly too tight.
“Today, Axira. You need time to get to know them, develop some kind of pretend bond, start practicing relying on each other. All of that in place before the second trial. Today, promise me.” Something in his gaze pleads with me, and it tugs the answer out of my mouth before I can even think.
“Right, yes. Okay, I’ll pick someone today.” My throat goes dry, and I have to swallow twice.
“Good.”
“Excellent.”
He folds his arms over his chest. “I feel better already about our plans.”
“Me too,” I say. Then, to cover the sudden awkwardness between us, I ask, “What do you know about the second trial?”
“It’s in Grainfolk,” he says. Another bell chimes, freeing us just before my heart beats out of my ribs.
I scoot into a nearby seat and find myself across from Kade.
“And we meet again,” he says. We sit in silence for the longest time.
An infectious Scent looms in the air, fraying my senses.
If I could get past his secrets, perhaps I could pick him.
After all, I don’t care if he makes it out of here.
But Kade seems interested in Lira. Very interested in Lira. So maybe I’d be wasting my time?
After using most of our time in awkward silence, Kade grabs the card and reads it. It’s the same card Caelus and I had. “So, tell me your confession.”
“I know you’re lying about why you’re here,” I say.
He doesn’t move. He’s denying me any kind of reaction. Whatever he is hiding is locked in a vault.
“And yours?” I ask.
“I know why the Benevolent spared your life.”
A chill slithers down my spine because his words ring like a threat. I convinced the Benevolent to let me compete. That’s why he spared me…Right? Kade’s lips curl wickedly, but the bell chimes. And I’m nudged out of my seat by Lira. But I can’t take my eyes off him. What does he know?
Dorian is up next for me. He won’t stop talking about Mae, and it makes my heart squeeze. We don’t even make it to my confession, which is a relief. When the time nears an end, I tell him, “Dorian, you’re doing well with Mae. People will envy that. Watch your back.”
He presses me to tell him more about myself, but the bell chimes and I’m face-to-face with Jace—Talia’s bedmate and the Stonebound who helped everyone on the beach after the first trial.
His giant stature, his arms alone, make me squirm in my seat.
He’d be intimidating if I didn’t know that inside he’s a jellyfish without the sting.