Across the room, I catch Bran studying Calena, a tiny smile on his face. I give him a hard stare, and the vampire merely raises his cup in a mock toast.
“Arvelle.”
Leon’s voice is low, but his cheeks are flushed. He’s holding a cup of wine in his hand—clearly not his first.
He was nowhere to be seen after the third challenge. And honestly, I can’t blame him. His life is on the line too. If the emperor decides I’m too much of an annoyance to be allowed to live, Leon could easily be killed right next to me.
“Did you talk to your brothers?” he asks.
“Not yet. But Ev … Ev …” A lump forms in my throat and Leon smiles. It’s the first time I’ve seen him smile for six years.
“He’s being healed.”
I nod, and Leon turns to face the mural, allowing me a moment to pull myself together.
“I know you didn’t want to come here,” I say, when I can finally speak. “But … I couldn’t have done this without you. So thank you.”
Our eyes meet, and emotion flickers over his face. I steel myself against whatever he’ll say next.
“You responded well today. You listened to your instincts. You’ve always performed well under pressure. When you allow yourself to truly let go.”
The words feel like a hand outstretched between us.
I don’t speak. I don’t want to ruin it.
Leon raises his cup, taking a sip. Finally, he sighs. “Kassia—”
“I know.” My eyes sting. “You don’t have to tell me what Kas—”
“She would be proud of you,” he finishes.
I stare at him. “What?”
“You heard me.” Leon turns and walks away.
I’ll never understand him.
A hand wraps around my elbow and I jolt, my own hand slipping down. But my dagger is in my boot, hidden beneath the long folds of my gown.
“Relax.” Tiernon’s voice is filled with amusement. “No one is going to try to kill you in here.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I mutter.
“I didn’t think I’d get a chance to talk to you.”
“Everyone seems to want to chat tonight.”
His eyes laugh at me. “Still prefer silence to people?”
“I likesomepeople.”
He watches me, and I wonder if he’s remembering how we used to sit in comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other’s company.
I can’t help but let my eyes wander across the impeccably stitched tunic stretching across his chest. His crimson cloak is fastened at his shoulders with two gold brooches shaped into Umbros’s mark. It’s the first time I’ve seen him out of his black armor and it’s disconcerting.
“Arvelle?” Tiernon’s staring down at me, his eyes dark.
I force a smile. “Thank you for the gown.”
