Fieran’s gaze flicked to me. “Eat. You’ll need your strength.”
“For what, exactly?”
“I’m going to start your training this morning out in the arena.Maura will work with you this afternoon. And Anayla and I will see if we can concoct a cheat or two.”
Anayla’s eyes sparkled as if she were excited. Meanwhile, Maura sighed and rubbed her hand across her temple as if she were already exhausted by my presence.
“What is the point of training in combat exactly, when I’m five years behind everyone else?”
“Ten or so, I’d say,” Fieran corrected. “Fifteen compared to some of the better-trained recruits. But you’ll be one day less behind, and you do have a natural flair with a shovel.”
If I had to die here, at least death would be a welcome break from his smart mouth. He was smirking now, too, his lips quirked on just one side in a way that was unbearably handsome. I’d never despised the Fae and the shifters for being beautiful before; it was just a fact of life. They were lovely, and we weren’t.
But now, his good looks seemed pointed. Weaponized. He had to know the effect he had on me, which was humiliating. If I weren’t so foolishly mortal, I should see him as ugly for all his scheming.
I wish I did.
“As long as I survive long enough to make sure you keep your promise,” I said crisply.
Anayla and Maura exchanged the briefest glance. Understanding settled over me quickly, and I fixed mock admiration on my face.
“You didn’t tell your friends that you’re keeping my dying brother safe in your house?” I asked Fieran. “You’re so humble. Keeping it quiet that you’re saving his life by bartering with the Fae.”
Maybe I could shame him into helping Tay, no matter what happened to me.
“Is that so?” Dairen asked slowly, looking over at Fieran.
“It takes time to barter with the Fae.” He didn’t look as if he felt he had to explain himself. Rees brushed my legs again and as I stiffened, Fieran motioned to him under the table; Rees settled himself at Fieran’s feet with a whine of protest. “Her brother will be fine until we’ve gotten through the first leg of the Trials and I have time to negotiate.”
“Your brotherwillbe all right,” Anayla promised me, then smacked Dairen’s hand as he reached for the bacon on her plate. “Dair, if yousteal my food one more time, I swear to the gods, I will forget we were ever friends and stake your hand to this table with my knife.”
Dairen pointed a stolen strip of bacon at her. “You love me too much.”
“There is nothing in this world I love more than I love eating my own damn food,” she shot back, swiping for her bacon, but before she could, Maura leaned over and bit it out of Dairen’s grip.
Dairen leaned back, grabbing his hand. “Maura, you areferal.”
“It’s the only way to get you two to stop,” she said, through a mouthful of stolen food.
Fieran was the only one who was still watching me. I met his gaze evenly as they all kept bantering around us. His golden eyes were tranquil, and he leaned back in his chair as if it were a throne, as if he owned the world.
His friends seemed confident he’d keep his promises.
But they knew a different version of Fieran. Belonging to a family like theirs was a powerful thing. Of course Fieran would keep his promises tothem.
“Come on.” Fieran pushed his chair back. “You keep looking at me like you want to hit me. Let’s make your dreams come true.”
Fieran didn’t mention my attempt to shame him in front of the clan as he led the way out into the arena, taking me into the enormous stands so I could see the vastness of the arena.
Colossal rings of stone terraces wrapped around a sunken valley. Shimmering training fields rose up the outside of towering columns, linked by floating stairs that made my stomach drop as if I were already falling. Glassy pools reflected the swiftly-changing sky.
It was beautiful.
Terrifyingly beautiful.
Especially since it had all changed from the day before.
From where we were standing, other people would watch us in the future…and judge me.
