A shade of lilac catches my eye, revealing Blair standing at the top of the stairs, peering down from the railing. Forest green fabric hugs her waist, her figure, before billowing out at her feet. Her hair is pinned and twisted out of her face, a sly grin already spreading across it when she spots me.
“Good luck, Brother,” Kitt mutters, and I don’t miss the amusement in his tone.
After being cornered before dinner a few nights ago, Blair insisted we go to the ball together. And seeing that I didn’t have a choice in the matter, a reluctant yes was the only answer I could give.
I shove my wine glass into Kitt’s hand with an annoyed sigh. “Take care of that,” I nod down to the cup he now clutches. “I’ll definitely be needing it.”
Kitt’s deep laugh follows me as I make my way to the bottom of the stairs, meeting Blair there just in time. I hold out an arm to her which she clutches greedily. “You look stunning, Blair,” I say softly, because she does, in a cold and sharp sort of way.
“Why, thank you, Kai,” she muses, her darkened lashes lowering as she takes in my attire, my hair, my face. “As do you.”
I lead us to the table, now mostly filled with the contestants sitting stiffly around it. When I take the seat beside Jax, he shoots me that bright smile of his that never fails to make me return it.
“Look at you, J. You cleaned up nice,” I say, surveying his crisp suit and dark pants that are actually long enough to cover his ankles for once. “You can’t even tell I whooped your ass in the ring this morning.”
I hear Andy snort on the other side of Jax before she leans in to add, “You’re not the only one.”
Jax rolls his eyes at our teasing, but the grin never leaves his face. “Where’s Kitt? He’s the only one of you who’s nice to me.”
Andy presses a hand to her chest, feigning offense while I don’t even bother trying to deny that he’s right. Instead, I simply say, “True, but you know I’m far more fun.”
Jax opens his mouth to respond, but it’s a cold female voice I hear instead. “Are you? Because I’m bored.”
I slowly turn to face Blair, having forgotten she was even there. I’m a terrible date, though I suppose she signed up for this when she asked me to be her partner, so I don’t waste my time feeling bad about it. “So sorry I’m not entertaining you, Blair.” I hear Andy snort before I add, “How are you this evening?”
She smiles, seemingly pleased that I’m providing her my undivided attention. And that is all she needs to begin complaining about the uncomfortable pins in her hair before going on to discuss the material of her gown, insisting I should feel how soft it is.
Jax snickers beside me through it all, unable to stifle his laugh each time I hum in agreement or nod my head at words I’m not entirely listening to. But I’m snapped out of my bored daze when a goblet is set before me.
“Thought you might want that back, Brother.”
I turn my head to find Kitt standing behind my chair before my eyes slide to her shimmering beside him.
She is every bit the Silver Savior.
Shining, silver fabric clings to her body. Thin straps wrap over her shoulders, holding up the dress with its plunging neckline, revealing her tanned skin and sharp collarbones. It melds to her waist and hips like melted coins, reminding me of the ones she stole when we first met.
Paedyn’s coal-lined lashes sweep over me as I take her in. Her hair is like a curtain covering her dress, making it difficult to tell where the silver strands end and the shiny dress begins. Fabric fans out around her ankles, displaying a large slit sliding up the length of her leg, mirroring the one I tore in her dress that day of the interviews. And there, strapped to her thigh, is a silver dagger for all to see. I fight my smile at the sight of her deadly weapon paired with her dazzling attire—so lovely, yet so lethal.
Every bit of her is draped in silver.
Not green. Not expected.
Beautiful, bold, not blending in.
A statement. A reminder of who she is and what she did.
The women aren’t necessarily required to wear green to these balls, and it seems Paedyn took advantage of that little detail.
Her eyes briefly meet mine before Kitt leads her to the other side of the table. And that’s all it takes to have me downing my own drink and desperately wishing this night was over. My eyes flick up, meeting Paedyn’s across the table where she’s now sitting. She holds my gaze, only breaking it when Kitt says something softly beside her, turning her attention from me and pinning those ocean eyes on him.
I shamelessly watch them interact, not caring who sees me staring. Paedyn seems tense as they talk quietly, her eyes continually straying to the collar of his shirt rather than meeting his gaze. I watch as she slowly spins that ring on her thumb, almost smiling at the sight of it paired with her gown. But she nods while Kitt does the same, no doubt very aware of the dozens of eyes watching them from the surrounding tables.
Servants begin pouring into the ballroom, carrying trays piled with steaming plates of food. It’s not long before we are eating seasoned salmon and buttered asparagus in silence, the only sound the scraping of forks and the chattering of guests surrounding us.
And I would have loved to keep it that way, might have even enjoyed a ball for once if we could have sat there and let the silence swallow us. But instead, my date decides to open her mouth.
“That’s a lovely gown you’re wearing, Paedyn.” Blair’s tone is mocking, her mouth curving into a smirk.
I sigh, looking up from my plate to see Paedyn smiling slightly. “Why, thank you.” Her eyes skim over Blair and her green attire. “And your dress is so very…unique,” she says with a pointed look at the rest of the ballroom and the women wearing similar shades.
Blair’s eyes narrow. “I don’t know if you were taught this in the slums, so let me enlighten you. Ilya’s kingdom color is green. Not silver.”
I stiffen at the way she spat out the word slums, drawing even Sadie and Braxton from their quiet conversation to cast warry glances around the table. We all seem to be holding our breath, awaiting Paedyn’s response.
And she never seems to disappoint.
After taking a slow sip from her glass, she meets Blair’s burning gaze. “Hmm. And did living in the palace teach you how to be a bitch?”
Blair snaps.
Before I can blink, the knife placed beside Paedyn’s plate is now raised in front of her chest, its point aimed at her heart.
The sight sends a shock of anger through me, but my voice is far cooler than my sudden rage as I say, “Easy, ladies.” Borrowing the Tele ability, I push the knife back down onto the table with a clatter while ignoring the glare Blair shoots me. “I’m not normally the one breaking up fights, but let’s not try to kill each other before the Trials even start.”
Guests murmur around us, watching their contestants with eager expressions. I can’t even begin to imagine how entertaining this must be for them, watching our feeble attempts to be civil with one another when we will be anything but tomorrow.
Ace laughs, the sound haughty and humorless. “Is that what you intend to do Kai? Kill us?” When I finally deign to look at him, I don’t miss the gleam in his eyes to accompany the challenge in his voice.