Jax scoops some noodle soup into his mouth and swallows. “He keeps me on a tight leash, and I’m only in his presence when he pleases it, under his rules. I’m not in his inner circle, so don’t have much to report at the moment.”
Vera hums, lost in thought. I glare at Jax with a thrashing heart. I feel like any moment he’ll tell Vera that I told Daegel about Jax’s deal with us. That he got punished for it, and that’s where that bruise came from.
To my surprise, Jax doesn’t say a word. It only makes me trust him less. What sort of game is he playing here?
“Phoenix, what happened tonight?” Vera asks me after a pause. Her voice is gentle. “You said there are only ten participants left?”
With a fork, I move my grilled octopus and vegetables around the plate. I try to find the right words to explain what happened earlier, but every time, I fail.
How can I articulate all that to someone who wasn’t there?
“I don’t know,” I finally say. “One moment we were all there, and then the ritual started…We—I—I don’t know what happened, but the next moment, I open my eyes and they’re gone. Limp bodies floating above the water, with empty white eyes.”
Vera hums. “Water? What kind of water?”
“The Well,” I say. “The Cleansing happened at the Well.”
“Ah,” Vera says. “Of course.”
“Not all the Decarios are worthy in the eyes of the spirits of the gods. But you, Phoenix darling, are.” Jax beams at me. It pisses me off so bad I want to punch him in the throat. “I knew you weretheperson to root for. You’re just the right woman to be the next winner.”
“I thought so as well. But now I’m not so sure anymore,” I murmur.
I sense the immediate shift in emotions in Vera even though usually I can’t read her. It must be the aftermath of the ritual and being so close to the spirit world. I roll my shoulders, trying to shake it off.
This shouldn’t be happening.
“What do you mean?” Vera’s words are clipped.
“It’s charming how humble you are about your abilities,” Jax says with his mouth full.
I glance between them and shake my head. They don’t get it.
My Decarios training at Wetra, my training at Ezkai Academy…nothing has prepared me to face this.
“I’m not being humble here,” I snap. “I was getting ready for aphysicalfight, a test of my Decarios skills. I’m a fighter, a soldier, a warrior. That’s what I’m good at and what I trainedat. I’m not good at all thatmumbo jumboshit that happened today.”
Vera arches her well-manicured eyebrow, but says nothing.
I throw up my arms. “What?”
Vera exhales dramatically and leans on her elbows. “You know, as a fighter, a soldier, and awarrior, you do complain a lot. Are you sure you’re not mistaken about your true identity? It sounds to me like you’re more of aprincess.”
Oh, no she didn’t.Rage bubbles inside me so quick I struggle to breathe.
“Oh, don’t give me that angry look,sweetheart. What, did I hurt your feelings? Not a fan of hearing the truth?”
“I don’t remember asking for yourtruth,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Oh, my apologies,princess. I can only hope you fight as well as you complain. Otherwise, we’re in great trouble. Should have placed our bets on Daegel, Jaxy.”
I’m stunned to silence. It takes everything in me not to unleash the beast that rages inside me on the world.
“Ouch,” Jax murmurs and purses his lips.
“Maybe you should have. Maybe I chose a wrong patron to help me win,” I say, words laced with venom. Vera doesn’t flinch. “Maybe Caligos would have told me that to expect instead of parading me around for nobles to see.”
The tense silence that settles between us is so thick, you can cut through it with a knife.
