“Who was it?”
“A guardant.”
My heart sinks like a stone and my whole body goes cold. I haven’t seen Leon since before I walked into the arena. I’d figured he was too angry with me for letting Baldric almost ruin my ankle.
“Which guardant?” I demand.
“Shhh,” someone hisses.
Cassius’s, Tolva mouths, and something in my chest releases even as I ache for Cassius.
I didn’t know Cassius’s guardant well. Her name was Kassandra, and she was a quiet woman who was incredibly fast with her throwing knives.
And now she’s dead.
Frustration drills behind my eyes, and I push my heavy woolen blanket away. Someone is culling us like we’re a herd of animals. And no one seems to care.
Tolva lies back down, pulling her blanket back over her head.
With a sigh, I haul myself out of bed, drag on my tunic and leggings, and head to the training hall, only to find that Tiernon isn’t there.
Most of the other imperiums are gathered, but they seem to be getting a slow start this morning, standing in small groups and murmuring among themselves.
“I could’ve slept in after all,” I mutter.
Lucius suppresses a smile and swipes two wooden swords from the stack near the door. The imperius train with steel and silver, but gladians and novices are forced to continue using wood.
Good news for me, since I’d probably be impaled by one of the imperium’s during sparring, and then who would save my brothers?
“Are you going to tell me where he went this time?”
“Some of the vampire rebels were sighted last night.” Lucius hands me a sword.
“Vampirerebels?”
Lucius gives a stiff nod. In my peripheral vision, I catch Neris curling her hands into fists, while Lucius lets out a sigh. “The sigilmarked may feel as if the emperor favors the vampires too blatantly, but there are some vampires who believe he doesn’t favor them enough. And others who feel someone else should sit on the throne.”
Someone like … Rorrik?
Vampire rebels. My mind provides me with a sudden memory. A vampire standing next to Bran the night we first met our potential sponsors. And the loathing on his face as he watched the emperor boast about his accomplishments. Realization floods through me. I already know Bran wants the emperor dead, but I’m now certain he’s working with the rebels. From the inside.
My vision speckles, and saliva floods my mouth. The emperor has a long history of quashing any threats to his power. I have no doubt that Bran has peppered the court with those loyal to him, which means I’m somehow at the center of a scheme so dangerous, so terrifying, the chances of me making it out alive are decreasing with every minute I spend in this place.
“Arvelle?” Lucius is frowning at me.
I take a deep breath, rolling my shoulders. Maybe this most recent attack is a good thing. Maybe Bran will change his mind and use his rebels to kill the emperor instead. I ruthlessly suppress the part of me that worries if Tiernon will make it back here.
“In that case, Icouldhave slept in.” My voice is tight, and Lucius narrows his eyes.
“Nope,” he says. “Ti left your training in my hands while he’s gone.”
Hearing Lucius call Tiernon “Ti” only darkens my mood further. Not only did the man abandon me without a word, but he formed a whole new family with his imperius. All whilemyfamily was falling apart.
Kissing him was a mistake. I was weak.
“I’m not sure why he cares,” Orna mutters, picking up her sword and swinging it. “She can’t possibly be worth everything he did for her.”
Everything he did for me? I open my mouth but Lucius is already moving toward her, murmuring something in his low voice.
