He grips my shoulders, twisting me around to where my back slams against his chest and his head rests against mine.
My lips part as they tremble and I lift my chin, steadying my breathing and rapid heart rate.
I suck in a deep, shaky breath as his hand slides down the side of my ribs, gently yet firmly. His fingertips trace along my suit as if it is a map. Without hesitation, I slap the shit out of his hand and he lets out a deep, teasing laugh.
“Do not touch me,” I hiss.
The warmth of his breath tickles against my face as he takes the strand of my hair to pull it behind my ear. His fingertips brush against my face so tenderly that it makes my knees buckle.
“I told you to wear your hair up more,” he whispers against my skin. “Make sure you have it up while riding one of the four. Your eyes have to be glued to the horses at all times, not glued on me.”
My elbow swiftly beats against his ribcage, and I hear a moan escape his lips. I quickly reach in my thigh sheaths and rip my dagger out. My boots grind against the small pebbles as I stand in an attack position.
He holds his side, laughing yet groaning in agony all at the same time.
“Don’t worry, if I am looking at you it’s because I am plotting my revenge on you,” I snarl.
He shrugs. “As long as I get to have those eyes on me, plot your revenge all you want, little Spark.”
“Well at least you didn’t kill him.” Florian chuckles as he crosses his arms. “The Queen needs you, Koen.”
Koen tilts his head before rolling his shoulders. I can hear the bones crack with his movements.
“Of course she does,” he scuffs. "Good luck with training.” He tilts his head towards me. “You need it.”
My lip rises, and I roll my eyes, turning away from him to throw my dagger straight into one of the wooden frames of a horse. My dagger slices through the air with a high, piercing whistle sound and strikes the wood, right in the middle of the bullseye.
“I don’t need luck.” I glance over my shoulder towards him. “That was your face I was imagining.”
His lips roll together as he laughs quietly. “As long as you were thinking of me.”
I swear steam shoots through my nose as I yank another dagger from my sheath. This time, I aim for his face, but Florian shifts in front of me.
“Leave, Koen, before she actually throws this dagger directly into you,” Florian yells.
I watch as Koen leaves. His curls bounce with each step to leave, but a woman slams into his shoulder as she scurries into the pit.
“There she is!” yells the woman as she bursts through, her deep, teal hair whipping in the wind from the approaching storm. “I'm so going to kill you!”
As she charges through the archway, storming towards me, I pause. I don’t fear this woman. I don’t even fear death anymore. I suppose I am broken.Cursed.
Knowing the man my heart is beating for might kill me,is far worse than death.
I catch sight of a few small piercings on top of her nose and a hoop piercing under, linked to the piercings on her left ear, which are visible through her half-up hairstyle. She is dressed in a similar uniform as ours, with no pin on her chest like the chosen eight have.
However, I thought women weren’t allowed to be a part of the games or the chosen eight.
“Ah shit,” mutters Ivker, slamming the hilt of the sword into Octavian's chest to try and stop the woman who fiercely strides towards me. “Klayra heard she was here.”
“You forget she burns people to ash, Klayra!” The man from the sea rests against the wall, kicking up his foot and crossing his arms. “This shall be interesting.” His words are muttered under his breath, but I can hear him so clearly.
“I don’t give a shit!” Klayra screams, yanking out daggers from the sides of her pants. “She must die! She killed Layken!”
“Who the hell is Layken!” I throw my arms out, staring at Florian and Koen, hoping for some help with the incoming crazy woman.
“My brother who you turned to ash!” She slices the blades in the air, getting ready to pounce any moment. “He was supposed to make it here with me! And now because of you, he is gone!”
“Stand down,Kly.” Koen darts in front of me, his hand gripping around his danger so tight I catch the sight of his veins in his arms through his suit. “She has nothing to do with this.”
