“Of course, sir,” I whispered, “You’re correct. I have not known suffering.”
Lothaire’s ability to forget that he’d left me with my mad mother was inspiring and convenient. He claimed he cared. Yet he didn’t care enough to see the truth right in front of him?
Bullshit.
There was no room for him in my life.
Some relationships require a lot of patience and forgiveness. Sadly, I’m not a good person and I don’t care.
Sadie had shown me what it was like to be unequivocally cared for, loved without expectation, and accepted without judgment.
Lothaire wasn’t offering that.
He was nothing to me.
Lothaire huffed exasperatedly like I was a na?ve child who was too impatient to understand I just had to fight for my life one more time, then I’d be happy.
I didn’t bother to argue.
Lothaire whispered, “I’m proud to call myself your father.” He crossed the middle of the room and walked toward me.
The other recruits shifted uncomfortably at his desperate, pathetic words.
I stepped back.
“It doesn’t matter what you think,” Lothaire said as he reached for me. “No matter what you say or feel, I will always be there for you.”
“Okay, sir. Sounds good.” My voice was icy. Normalize gaslighting men.
He sighed heavily.
A sudden thought hit me, and I looked up at him. “Sir, I need to go back and find my enchanted ring and disguise myself before anyone else sees me as a woman.”
Malum made a rude noise and I ignored him.
“No,” Lothaire said. “The Legionnaire Games are a showcase for the gods. You don’t hide yourself before a god if you want to live. They already know everything about your identity.”
I shook my head. “But, sir, everyone at the academy thinks—”
Lothaire cut me off. “It doesn’t matter what the sheep think. You should be concerned about the gods.”
We stared at each other.
A monster screamed in my mind, but the emptiness in my chest was more demanding.
I lowered my head respectfully and stared at the floor. “Yes, sir.”
Lothaire reached a hand forward like he was going to touch me, but then it fell away back to his side. Lothaire whirled around and ordered, “Fall in line, soldiers. We need to announce the games to the rest of the academy.”
We moved into formation.
Malum stood in front of me, and his wide shoulders blocked my view of Lothaire. A hand rested comfortingly on my shoulder. I looked back to find John smiling at me sadly.
Leaning into his touch, I closed my eyes.
Took a deep breath.
The last sliver of a child’s hope that her father would shield her from harm turned to ashes.
Died.
And there was nothing left.
Just a gaping hole in the center of my chest where my heart should have been.
The Legionnaire Games
“The games douse legions in kerosene,
And set their relationships on fire;
The loyal few emerge stronger,
Most die on the pyre.”
—Lyla the Witch
Chapter 9
Aran
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Legionnaire Games: Day 5, hour 5
We stood before the tree that split the great hall in two.
Commoners sat at their long table on one side, wearing green finery, and royals wore purple on the other.
The seven of us wore black.
It matched our souls.
It also had the unintended consequence of making us look skinny. Sun god forbid the elite assassins appeared bloated.
We had a reputation to uphold.
I stood hunched forward with my hood pulled low over my head, concealing my face.
Yet again, we were given no time to adjust to horrible circumstances.
After Lothaire had told us we’d all be competing in the Legionnaire Games, an emergency announcement had been broadcast through the academy. All students had been ordered to leave the party and change into their designated wardrobes.
All the guests had been RJE’d away.
The servants who worked in the shadows of the academy had removed all evidence of festivities.
Most students swayed drunkenly in their seats.
Lucky bastards. The demon brew had burned off days ago when I’d murdered my friend for murdering my other friend. Tragic.
I picked at the blood crusted beneath my nails.
Stared blankly at the floor.
Lothaire stood in front of us and spread his arms wide. “I’ve brought us all here because I’ve received exciting news.”
His voice echoed off the high, arched ceiling.
The hall was dead silent as Lothaire said, “The High Court has chosen Elite Academy to host the Legionnaire Games, and our very own assassin recruits will compete as the academy legion.”
I startled when the hall exploded in cheers.
Students shouted, hugged one another, stood with excitement, and stomped their feet.
The stained-glass windows rattled as the floor shook.
Of course they were excited; they weren’t the ones who had to compete in an infamous supernatural competition.
I knew little about the games, but what I did know wasn’t good.
History books said it was extremely important and dangerous. That was it. They never elaborated.
Apparently, the rest of the hall knew something I didn’t.
A royal student squealed to my left as she fanned herself and said, “Oh my sun god, can you believe we’re so lucky? I’ve heard it’s a hunk show.”
At the other table, a commoner student clapped his friend on the back. “Dude, my family’s going to be so jealous.” He smiled widely. “It’s going to be so bloody.”
The students’ voices jumbled together.
I stretched my neck to the side to relieve the discomfort. Their voices were like gnats biting my skin as they all spoke at once.
“The most brutal showcase in history. Who would have thought we’d see it in our lifetime?”
“I can’t believe we get to see the kings fight in person!”
“I’ve heard the competitors fight shirtless.”
“Really, I’ve heard they fight naked.”
“This is going to be wild because I’ve heard they make competitors do crazy, fucked up punishments.”
“Holy shit, imagine the carnage.”
“The assassins are going to be so horny after competing, I bet they’ll go wild. I’m gonna be all over the kings.”
“I’ve noticed John looking at me recently, and I’ve already gotten with him twice. He’s just one orgasm away from the alliance father wants so badly.”
“I call dibs on the new legions that arrive.”
“My parents will definitely want me to get married to one of the competitors. Sun god, imagine the power.”
“I heard the gods watch the games.”
“I heard the gods have their representatives attend and they watch through their eyes.”
“Wait, does this mean war is coming? That will be great for business.”
I dragged my gaze around the whispering hall.
A gorgeous woman sat with her shoulders hunched low. She stared at me.
The corner of my lip pulled up slightly in a tentative smile. “Are you okay?” I mouthed.
Her eyebrows scrunched and her face darkened with pure malice. Disgust. Her eyes were filled with hatred.
She sneered at me.