“I guess I’ll see her at training.”
“Training is postponed for a few hours. The emperor has ordered a few novices to fight in the arena first.”
I sigh, and Brenin’s gaze sweeps over my face. “Maeva told me what happened. Is everything …”
“I’m fine.”
He shakes his head at me and turns to go.
And I’m doing it again.
I catch his arm and suck in a shaky breath. “Leon’s really hurt, Brenin. I’m scared.”
Warmth reenters Brenin’s eyes. “You’d be stupid not to be scared. But Leon’s a tough old goat. You know he once told me his dead grandmother could swing a sword faster than me?”
My laugh bubbles from my chest. “That sounds like him. Thanks.”
Brenin lets out a low, annoyed sound. Hester saunters down the corridor toward us, wearing a wide grin. “Shouldn’t you be spreading your legs for the Primus?”
“My inner thighs are chafed. I needed a break.”
Brenin snorts a laugh, and fury flickers across Hester’s face. But it’s immediately replaced by that same smug smile.
A leaden chill seeps into my bones, anchoring me to the spot.
Hester leans close. “You killed my cousin. You left her to bleed out in the Sands.”
This again. My skin turns hot and prickly. “I didn’t kill her. But I wish Ihad. She killed my best friend.”
“Well, now it’s my turn.” Hester stares at me as if waiting for me to understand.
A group of novices walk past, their laughter loud, grating.
Taking a deep breath, I force myself to meet Hester’s eyes. “I’m sure we’ll face each other in the arena soon enough.”
She smiles, but her eyes are dead. “You misunderstand. For my brother, this is all about the way you humiliated him with that griffon.But for me, it’s about blood. You and your friend took someone from me. And now it’s my turn to take someone from you.”
Take someone from—
Maeva.
A slow smile spreads over Hester’s face.
I’m already moving, sprinting down the corridor. Behind me, Hester lets out a mocking laugh. “You’re too late.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
No. Gods no.
Dodging past a group of novices, I slam into a guardant, who curses, shoving me off him. I bounce off the wall and hurtle around the corner. The corridor between the ludus and the arena yawns open in front of me.
Just stay alive, Maeva. Please, just stay alive.
The roar of the crowd reaches me before I even hit the stairs, the screams of elation freezing my blood. Joy from the emperor’s favored subjects means someone is suffering.
I trip on the first stair, and catch myself with my hands. Pushing up, I lift my knees higher, my wrist screaming in protest.
Exultant shouts pound into my ears, and I dash up the last few stairs, swallowing a sob.Please be alive. Please.
