Farron is silent for a moment, and I realize his hands are near on my waist, unconsciously playing with the tassels of my robe. “There’re some books in Castletree’s library I think you might like. I could find them for you after all of this is done.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
His fingers still as if he’s finally realized how close his hands were to me. But he doesn’t move away.
“But you’ll have to check them out properly,” he says, smiling. “Or else Rosalina will kill me.”
“We wouldn’t want that. Open your eyes. I’m done.”
He does, turning to the mirror. He was always beautiful, but now he looks devastating. Dark-lined eyes, rouge-stained lips. His hair brushed to one side, looking just the right amount of disheveled.
“Imagine if Rosalina could see you now,” I say.
The wave of desire that pulses off him is maddening. My breath slows to deep intentional rasps. His golden eyes look like gemstones in a black wall.
“I guess you’re good at some things,” Farron says, hand patting my thigh through the sheer robe.
Stars, I haven’t even gotten dressed. What do I look like? My reflection shows my hair is a mess, and my own cheeks are flushed.
“What do we do now?” Farron breathes.
There are a million answers I want to give him, but right now, there’s only one that matters. I lean forward and reach past him, grabbing the crumbled piece of paper on the vanity. “Now that you look like a dark prince, we write a spell befitting one.”
CHAPTER 53
Rosalina
My legs feel like rubber as I sit at the edge of the stream. The cold water is a huge relief to my aching muscles. The late afternoon sun burns hot in the sky.
Justus hands me a flask of cold water and goes to perch nearby on a high rock. Behind him, the stream stretches like a glimmering ribbon, a tapestry of colors scattering the bank—emerald ferns and bright yellow flowers as big as my head, their sweet fragrance carrying on the breeze. It looks so different in the daylight.
“You did well today,” he says.
“Dayton taught me everything I know,” I say. The Summer Prince has run up to the cabin to fetch a late lunch for us.
“He’s a good teacher, and you’re a fast learner,” Justus continues. “You have a strong handle on the basics. Give it a few years and you could be a real competitor in the arena.”
Justus spent the day teaching me the basics of how the games work, as well as the skills that would be most useful in the arena. That meant learning proper footwork, so I don’t get knocked over easily, and if I do, how to get up quickly. We went over a few moves with the dual swords, but mostly defensive techniques. Dayton will be handling most of the combat, while I’ll focus on getting a bow and providing ranged support.
“Thanks,” I say, flushing a little. “I’m really just going to try to stay alive in there.”
“In Kairyn’s games,” Justus says, “there is no other goal. You win or you die.”
While I was working with Justus, Dayton stayed nearby, practicing some techniques with the trident. But when Justussparred with him, Dayton fumbled every round. He’s been unusually quiet.
“Dayton will be there,” I say. “So, we’ll win.”
A grave look passes over Justus’s face. “At this rate, he doesn’t have what it takes to win in the arena.”
“How can you say that?” I ask. “He’sneverlost before.”
“He’s never fought in the arena with you before,” Justus counters. “When I came upon you in the jungle, his every stance, every action, was a direct reflection of your position.”
I drag my wet hand over a rock, leaving a dark sapphire trail. “He made a vow to my mate to protect me.”
Justus waves his hand. “Dayton is protective, I’ll give you that. But there’s something different about him when you’re around and that might just help you win Kairyn’s twisted games.”
