“Well, if we’re making introductions,” a deep voice carries from the other end of the table, “I’m Braxton.” I look up to see a huge, dark-skinned boy tipping his head towards me.
Brawny.
I nod at him as a higher male voice calls out, “I’m Jax!” I look down the table at him, taking in his shy smile. Names are now being shouted across the table. Other than Hera and Ace who came from the slums, it’s obvious that everyone else is well acquainted.
“I’m Sadie.” I turn towards the voice to see a girl with warm skin studying me. Her stare is assessing, curious. The girl beside her tips her chin up and clears her throat, drawing my attention her way.
“Blair. Pleasure to meet you, Paedyn.” She spits out the words like they leave a vile taste in her mouth, all while looking down at me like I’m something sticky on the bottom of her boot. I get the immediate impression that this girl wants nothing to do with Mundanes, let alone anyone who calls the slums their home. Her lilac hair spills over her shoulders, contrasting against the brown eyes glaring at me. She’s stunning, yet startlingly cold.
“The pleasure is all mine, Blair,” I say coolly. The hungry look in her eyes makes me feel as if I’m going to be her next meal.
And then a deep and annoyingly amused voice comes from the end of the table, directly across from me.
“And I’m Kai. But you already knew that.”
Chapter Twelve
Kai
She’s here.
Kitt was howling with laughter when he discovered exactly who Paedyn Gray was, though, a flick of one of my knives shut him up real quick. But even while raising his hands in surrender, he couldn’t stop babbling about how funny the whole situation was.
And he’s right. It is laughable. The Psychic girl who unwittingly saved a prince she clearly couldn’t care less about is now rewarded for it by being forced into Trials that could kill her.
And now she’s sitting right in front of me.
After washing my body of the sweat and blood that accompanies a long day of training and torturing, I made my way to the throne room. Soon after, Braxton shuffled in, followed by Jax who’s still bouncing with excitement.
The rest of the familiar group followed shortly after, along with a boy and girl I hadn’t recognized—the ones from the slums. The seats around the table filled up, leaving the two at the head for the king and queen and one beside me for Kitt.
But right as we all get comfortable and begin idle conversations about the same regurgitated conversations we’ve spoken of for years, something happens.
She happens.
She walks in.
Taking the seat across from me, not even glancing in my direction, she says, “So, what’s for dinner?”
She speaks confidently, even as her fingers fidget, spinning the ring on her thumb.
Interesting.
Introductions are quickly exchanged between Andy, Braxton, Jax, Sadie, Blair, and the newcomers Ace and Hera. And yet she still hasn’t even bothered to look at me.
That just won’t do.
“And I’m Kai. But you already knew that.”
That finally gets her attention. The corner of my mouth twitches with the ghost of a smile when her eyes lock with mine. Her lashes are darkened with makeup, contrasting against the bright blue of her gaze. Soft, silver waves tumble over her shoulders and into her face, and I have the sudden and annoying urge to push the strands out of her eyes, if only so I can see them better.
“Yes, unfortunately, I did already know that.” Her soft smile is in total contrast to the sharpness of her gaze.
Our eyes snap to the large doors when they groan open, my attention now fixed on Father and Mother striding through them. No, the king and queen striding through them, looking every bit the part. They glitter in the sunlight that streams from the huge windows surrounding the throne room, light reflecting off their crowns and jewels as they make their way to the table. I’m used to this formality, the king in a fine suit while the queen shimmers in an elegant dress. Father looking stern and severe, while Mother looks serene with her shining smile.
Kitt follows behind them, looking casual and yet every bit the future king. His gaze finds mine before flicking to Paedyn with a knowing smile on his lips. He takes the seat beside me as the king pulls out one of the heavy wooden chairs for his queen.
“Welcome to the sixth ever Purging Trials,” he booms down the table.
Mother sweeps a strand of black hair out of her eyes, saying, “And congratulations to all of you for making it here.”
“It is an honor to be chosen,” Father says. “An honor to your kingdom, your family, and yourself.” He repeats the words that have been drilled into my head since before I could understand them. “I suggest you spend your time wisely to prepare for the Trials. You never know what might be thrown at you.” His eyes land on me, silently and less than subtlety reminding me of my mission to win. “I would urge you to use your remaining time before the first Trial, as well as each week in between the next ones, to train.”
And to watch your opponents train.
I can almost see the unspoken words in his eyes. Knowing how your competition fights, learning how to read their movements and maneuvers, could be the difference between life and death.
“As well as practicing your dance steps!” Mother says warmly, as she’s always enjoying the balls far more than the bloodshed of the Trials.
Father smiles at his wife. It’s a genuine gesture, the kind he only gives away to her. “Enough talk of the Trials. Let’s eat.”
And with that, the procession of servants begins, all carrying steaming trays to the table. Dozens of dishes piled high with food are set before us. Seasoned turkey and heaps of beans are being shoveled onto plates. Gail herself brings out a tray of gooey sticky buns, setting them before Kitt and me to tease the two of us. I give her a quick wink as she walks away, rolling her eyes at me before bustling out of the room.
Kitt and I talk idly as we pass trays of food around, shooing away servants when they offer to serve us. I’m in the middle of piling turkey onto my plate when my eyes snag on Paedyn, sitting rigidly across from me. Her jaw is locked tight as if she’s trying her hardest not to let it fall open. Curious, I look down the table at Hera who is wearing a similar look of awe on her face. Even Ace, who seemed to be the better off of the three, can’t help but silently stare at the amount of food placed before us.
My gaze slides back to Paedyn who’s too busy blinking to bother eating. I can only imagine what is going through her head. Probably something along the lines of how disgusted she is at the amount of food we waste while she barely had enough to survive. As I look at the masked anger growing on her face, something tells me she’d rather go hungry tonight.
And that won’t do.
Just because we are competing against each other doesn’t mean I want to beat her by default due to her starving to death. So, I stab a piece of turkey with my fork, reach across the table, and plop it onto her plate.
Her eyes snap to mine, her face a cross between annoyance and shock. “Do you like beans?” I ask casually, and when she doesn’t answer, I pile them onto her plate anyway. “Well, I guess I’ll find out.”
I lean over the table, adding potatoes to the growing pile of food on her plate as I murmur, “Are you going to make me spoon-feed you too, or can you handle feeding yourself?” With that, I smile at her in a way that will undoubtedly make her want to throw her beans, and a punch, at my face.