I chuckled. Milo was right. Cosmo’s attempt at distraction had had the opposite effect. Dante had come into my room on several occasions in the most recent days, ranting about what a waste of time these parties were becoming and how his grandfather couldn’t possibly be serious about forcing us to entertain guests if he had any intention of us actually being ready to succeed in the next Trial. I’d listened to it all, made comments alluding to the fact that I was on his side when necessary and nodded when it wasn’t. Then I’d distracted him my own way. It seemed to work better than this.
“Dante’s always angry.”
Don’t talk about me.
I looked up. Dante gazed at me out of his peripheral vision, eyes narrowed. I just gave him a wicked smile in return.
“I’m assuming this is a celebration of your engagement as well,” Milo murmured, staring into the depths of his own drink. “Congratulations, by the way.”
I turned slowly to face the House Avus scholar and, truly, one of my only friends in the First Ring.
“Don’t do that,” I told him, keeping my voice low so as not to be overheard.
“It was to avoid Olympia, wasn’t it?” He wasn’t smiling, and that alone caused me to hesitate. Olympia was, after all, Milo’s cousin.
“Cosmo gave us an ultimatum. Neither of us wanted to be pushed into it but, well, we have been getting closer lately. Besides, I can offer Dante things Olympia can’t.”
“Your connection.”
Freedom,I thought, but I simply nodded.
“You haven’t told your family, have you?”
My cheeks burned with equal parts shame and embarrassment. “I assume they heard along with the rest of Sanctuary.”
“Adrian,” he replied cautiously.
I sighed.
“Warren knows about what I had to bargain with Cosmo to keep him safe, to keep our whole family safe. He’ll blame himself for this. And I can’t…I just can’t face that, Milo. Not now. Not when so much is on the line,” I explained, doing my best to keep the tears at bay, to bite back what I really wanted to say.
“They deserve to hear it from you.”
He was right. I’d known the truth of that statement since I’d become engaged. But I was too much of a coward to face them. I’d used my training and these ridiculous parties as an excuse to avoid them. I’d sent Bria instead, with an apology and a promise to explain as soon as I could get away, but I hadn’t been able to face them myself. And yet, despite how right he was, there was no judgment in Milo’s tone. Just a sorrow and pity that matched the shame I felt inside.
“Adrian?” Bria stood elegantly to the side, hands clasped in front of her and prim smile on her face. How long had she beenstanding there, waiting to interrupt? “Might I introduce you to Osvaldo, the High Priest of House Lynx?”
The polite smile I’d pasted on my lips at her interruption slipped. I recognized him at once. The old man in the red robes who’d presided over the Culling that had taken Darius from me. He wore the same robes now. I could say nothing. I only stared until Milo elbowed me.
I cleared my throat. “I—yes, Osvaldo. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine, young Adrian.” He reached out to clasp my hand. With a bow of his head, he brushed his lips across my knuckles, and I resisted the urge to pull back. He seemed to sense my disgust anyway. “Forgive me. It is only…well, we have waited so long for you, you see.”
“What do you mean?”
“Osvaldo is certain you and Dante will be the next pair to complete all ten Trials,” Bria informed me happily.
“He and everyone else here tonight,” Milo responded, just as jovial.
“And I believe congratulations are in order,” Osvaldo added, an ominous grin on his lips. “Passing the seventh Trial together and now betrothed.”
My dress felt too tight, the zipper and straps pressing against my skin. I adjusted my neckline, but that only made it worse.
“Why is it you believe Dante and Adrian will pass all the trials?” Milo asked, scholarly curiosity getting the best of him. “I mean, obviously we’re all hopeful, but you seem certain.”
“Long ago, our prophets predicted that one would come. One from humble beginnings, most unexpected, and would give our people hope again.” The High Priest was still speaking, but I struggled to hear him. I was suddenly very hot. The room seemed to be spinning.
Passing ten Trials? Getting married? There were far more expectations weighing upon my shoulders than I ever thought there could be. I couldn’t breathe. But no one seemed to notice my plight.
