“I get it, your favourite word of the day is fucking. Something we actually have in common. But for the love of all things good left in this world, can you calm down!” I yanked my arm out of his grasp. “And if you’re serious about staying alive, don’t grab me like that again.”
Kai shivered on the spot. Every muscle trembling with rage.
Rule one, never tell an angry person to calm down. Especially not a redhead. I was almost going to ask what his star sign was, but I got the impression it started withScorand ended inpio. And if star charts were anything to go by, a Gemini and a Scorpio weren’t the most compatible at the best of times.
Let alone lost in a grave-site with no idea what to do to stay alive.
This was going to be one hell of a bonding session.
“Kai, I understand how you are feeling, okay? But let’s discuss how we navigate the next few minutes. A focus will help?—”
“Ourfocusis finding Romy and making sure that witch doesn’t hurt her,” Kai spat.
“Is it a trait of yours to also not listen to suggestions?” I asked, unable to help the sarcasm. I didn’t know what it was about Kai; he really coaxed it out of me. “Verena can’t hurt Romy. Not only on the basis of Bahmet’s rules, but if anything, Verena is far too weak. You saw her, in that state she couldn’t hurt a fly, let alone Romy. As long as she is with her partner, she is safe.”
Tears welled in Kai’s eyes. I didn’t know if they were born from anger, or panic… perhaps both emotions mixed as one.“How can you be sure Verena won’t try something to get back in Tomin’s good graces?”
“Weren’t you spoon-feeding her only a few minutes ago? Verena can barely lift a hand, let alone be a threat to Romy.”
“Fuck you!” Kai’s face had turned a beautiful shade of red. “Fuck all of this!”
“No thanks to the first comment.” I brushed his offer off. “I’ve had my fill last night after I saved your arse from being a snack for Bahmet.”
He tipped his head to the blanket of stars and screamed. I gave him the time he clearly needed. When Kai finished, he looked back at me with his beetroot-red face. “Urgh. You are one of the most insufferable people I’ve ever met.”
I placed a hand over my heart, smiling softly. “That might be one of the nicest things someone has said to me in a long time.”
Kai, the usually sweet-faced and freshly undead, started at me like he wanted to tear the skin from my body with his teeth. I was almost surprised when steam didn’t spit out of his ears.
“Is this the moment you try and punch me?” I asked.
“Wait until we get out of this trial, and you’ll see.”
“Oh, because we are forbidden to harm each other. Isn’t that good? I can’timaginehow this would have gone if you were allowed to raise your fist against me.”
Kai huffed, spun on his heel, and began pacing off in a line between two rows of gravestones. Since his back was to me I didn’t bother hiding my smile, but that didn’t last long when he began to shout.
“Romy!” Kai shouted, voice cracking like the chamber of a gun. “Romy, can you hear me? If you can… I don’t know… shout my name back or something.”
Deafening silence responded, all until Kai shouted for her again.
My feet kicked up trodden mud and grass, boots kicking through the swirl of mist as I gave chase. “Stop it,” I hissed. “Romy might not be the only person that hears you!”
Magic was outlawed during the trial, as was violence between partners. But violence towards opposing contestants was encouraged, and there was still a lot of Hunters who’d love the chance to slaughter us.
Kai flashed me a look, his freckled cheeks painted red. “Scared they might find you and kill you, all for that golden ticket that was promised?”
It was on the tip of my tongue to correct Kai, but I thought it best to swallow that back. “Wait, just for a second!” I laid a gentle, but very firm, hand on Kai’s shoulder and pulled him to a halt. “If your concern is being stuck with someone with a target on their back, then we should discuss how we pass this trial, and get to work straight away.”
“My concern, Hector Briar, is that you’ve taken me away from Romy.” The heat in his words made it clear he was being very truthful.
“Oh really?” I leaned my weight on my hip. “I didn’t get that impression.”
Call it intuition, but I knew the question that was coming next, before Kai spoke it. “Go on then, why did you pick me over the two people you actually care about?”
Lying now wouldn’t go down well. Maybe in the moment it would be worth it, but down the line when the truth had to come out, it would come to bite me on the arse, tenfold.
“Because yesterday you were lying dead on a couple of pushed together tavern tables, and today you are alive. Forgive me for having concern for a practical stranger, but I thought it would be better to keep you close, especially since I’ve had experience in the Trials before. My knowledge on old magic is greater, and I’m already well acquainted with Bahmet’s powers.”
