“Where do you think you’re going?” Vera asks.
Over my shoulder I spit, “None of your damn business. If Kazh thinks so little of me, if I’m such anunworthychampion, then she can go find another mentee. I’ll be fine on my own!”
I rush up the stairs and into my room as fast as my body allows. My mind is too loud, I can’t think straight. I want to scream and cry all at the same time.
Resting my hands on my hips and breathing heavily, I look around my empty bedroom. I need to blow off some steam or I’ll crumble to pieces.
It’s a good thing I know exactly how and where do to that.
I head downstairs, but the moment I throw the door open, my steps halt. An Ezkai stands there with a familiar envelope in his hand. He gives it to me, salutes, and leaves.
I don’t need to look inside to know what’s there.
My invitation to the Trial of Truth.
It’s happening tomorrow morning.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
PHOENIX
Clutching the envelope with the invitation, I make my way through the city towards Daegel’s estate. Vera’s spies cling close to me, which only fuels my frustration further. It takes me longer than usual to lose them in the crowd.
By the time I make it to Daegel’s, it’s already evening. As always, I scale the wall at the back and slip inside his library through the door from the garden side.
I left Vera and Kazh behind. I have no clue what’s next. Kazh has dropped me as her mentee, I have no doubt. If she thinks I am unworthy, it was only a matter of time, anyway. But how about Vera? Will she drop me as her champion, too? Now that I don’t have the legendary mentor training me? Everything is unraveling, one threat at a time.
I exhale and shake my head. Later. Those problems will be addressed later. Now, I have another one on my hands.
Daegel sits in the armchair, an open book in his lap. He doesn’t look surprised to see me. Before he can say anything, I snap, “I’m so fucking tired of you trying to force me to drop out and sacrifice my goals and plans for you.”
He blinks. “Phoenix?—”
I cut him off. “No. I’m so fucking tired of you lying to me. Keeping secrets. Pretending you do it to keep me safe when all you do is make me look like a fool.”
He rises to his feet. “Never. All I do is to?—”
I cut him off again. “All you ever do is to protect me. I’ve heard that before. Fuck you. I can protect myself. I don’t need your protection.”
I love him.
He feels like home.
He’s the enemy.
He’s the man who lies, schemes, and looks the other way when innocent children are sold into slavery for profit.
I shake my head, trying to clear my mind.
I glare up at him. “You didn’t say anything when your father contested my win.”
He steps closer. I push at his chest, but he doesn’t move.
“I couldn’t,” he whispers. “You know I couldn’t. Officially, we’re enemies. They already watched us help each other in the clearing, fighting the dragons.”
I scoff. “So, you’d sacrifice me to protect your precious image?”
He catches my wrists, securing them behind my back in one hand.
