I planned to drink and dance until I had no choice but to forget.
We danced to several songs, clapping and cheering for Graham’s little brother, Harrison, between each one. Sophie stayed with me the whole time, moving her body to the rhythm beside mine, trying to hide the concern in her eyes every time she looked at me.
“How long are you going to make First Ring hunk over there suffer?” she asked after a while.
“Until he learns not to follow me around.”
She snorted. “Maybe it’s a good thing, though? You’ve seen how crazy people get when they see Dahlia around the rings. Maybe it would be good to have some backup. People know your name now, Adrian.”
“Mine and half the other participants who made it through the first Trial.”
“Not half,” she said. I stilled, and Sophie stopped dancing too. “Graham worked for the administration that day. He ran the numbers. Not even a third made it through, the lowest amount ever.”
I frowned.
“And none of theotherThird Ringers or Deckers got paired up with a First Ringer. Not even Second Ringers typically get paired with them. Only First Ringers ever get paired with First Ringers, at least ever since Valin and Prima. So the fact that you and him—”
“Lucky me,” I grumbled sarcastically.
“Maybe you are lucky, though,” she said and gripped my arm. “They’re better prepared for this sort of thing. If he can help you get farther—”
“No one makes it far enough to advance, Sophie.”
“Dahlia might.”
The song ended, and everyone cheered. The band had finished their set.
I frowned, taking a step away from Sophie. But as if she could see it in my eyes that I considered bolting, she tightened her hold.
“I know you only joined for Darius,” she said, and the breath left my lungs. Why was everyone determined not to let me forget, just for one damn night? “But if it’s possible to win advancement for your family, to give them a better life, you’ve got to try, don’t you? My money’s still on you, Adrian. Always.”
I wrenched out of her grasp. Hurt flashed in her eyes, but before I could speak, someone bounced to our sides.
“There you two are,” Graham chattered excitedly, oblivious to the heaviness between his girlfriend and I. “I tried to make my way over, but once the music started, I couldn’t push through. They were great, don’t you think? Harrison said they’ve got a few gigs lined up at all the parties the candidates from the first Trial are throwing.”
Who’s the dweeb?Dante’s voice in my mind was like a splash of ice water.
I blinked and peered over the shoulders of the people around me but saw no sign of him.Where are you?
You didn’t appear to desire my company.
Yeah, well, now I want to leave.
Coming.
“Adrian? Did you hear me?” Graham asked. He had an arm around Sophie and grinned broadly. I faked a smile for his benefit and avoided Sophie’s gaze.
“They were amazing,” I assured him. “But Harrison always is.”
“I told him that if he could earn enough to get him and the boys some real instruments, maybe I can convince some Second Ringers to—”
Graham’s words died on his tongue as everyone around us pushed farther away, clearing the way for a looming presence. I knew who was behind me even without the gasps and comments.
“It’s been fun,” I said without turning around. “But we have to be going back up.”
“Up?” Graham repeated, eyes wide and lips parted in shock. “To the First Ring?”
“Can’t stay out too late or his mommy won’t tuck him in for the night.”
