My eyes narrowed, though, when she glanced at Max.
He’d crossed his arms over his chest as soon as Kingston began his speech. I’d figured that was because Kingston was playing the role of King. Except, now, rage emanated off him so clearly it was like he had those squiggly lines around his head that they added in comics.
And when Vivian glanced at him, he shot a glare in her direction so palpably furious, evenshecouldn’t breeze past it.
She diverted her gaze, dropping her head and staring furiously at the floor.
What was it she’d said to me that first day? About how the best way to win was to know my adversaries?
Her reaction to Max’s ire told me very little. Same with her dejected pout aimed at the floor.
But when she realized she was doing it?
The way she stiffened, straightened up, and schooled her features revealed a lot more.
What she did when she noticed me staring at her?
Well, that was just predictable, but somehow, more telling since I’d been paying attention before that. Her eyes widened quickly before they narrowed. Lips parting in surprise before she snapped them shut and sneered at me from across the room.
“Don’t worry, Quinn. I’m sure we can find a place for you at the party, even though you’ll be the only one without parents.”
Deflecting.
Max snapped his head in her direction, but I shot back before he jumped to my defense. “I’ll have parents there that weekend, V. But your concern for my well-being is noted. Thanks.”
She examined her nails. “Hiring people off the streets to pose as family doesn’t mean you have one.”
“Please.” I scoffed an airy laugh. “I’m poor, remember? As if I could afford that.”
“I assumed they’d be homeless.Obviously. And therefore, in your budget.” She smirked, and her eyes darted around the room as I rolled mine.
“Guess you still don’t know everything, then.”
When I shrugged, her head whipped back toward me. “What the fuck does that mean?”
My hackles rose. “Why do you care?”
She snapped her spine straight again and shut her mouth.
I narrowed my gaze, observing her as she frowned and fixed her attention on Kingston. She didn’t look at me through the rest of the introduction.
But I couldn’t keep my eyes from circling back to her.
“Ladies, I understand tensions are high as we near the end of The Quest, but for this challenge, you’re on the same side. Your available resources include each other, and you’ll want to put aside old rivalries to get through it.”
Kingston ran a hand over his suit as he spoke, as if readjusting his appearance to slip into the role he had to play. Something I’d seen him do before at the Maiden Appeal.
I took it as my reminder that he’d said that for show, reined in my need for blood, and nodded at him.
He smiled at me, briefly and barely perceptible, but I caught it this time. When he turned to Vivian, she still had her nose in the air like a spoiled brat, but she adjusted her dress and nodded at him, too.
“Thank you, Ladies.” Kingston scanned the rest of the crowd before clapping once. “Alright, well. Then, it’s time to tell you what exactly you’ll be facing next.”
“Kingston?”
Elaine pulled everyone’s eyes to her, but her sickeningly sweet smile and eager gaze remained on Kingston.
“Yes, Elaine?”
