“The other sponsors have been questioning my… friendship with you.” His voice was low as he scanned the field with his eyes. “They call me a sympathizer. They’ve been encouraging me to get rid of you before the final trial. Watch your back. They might pull something.”
I knew he didn’t mean to watch my back fromhim. I trusted Cassian, but he meant they were working out a way to get rid ofmebefore tomorrow.
I nodded once. Message received.
‘Let them try it,’Valkaryn suddenly said, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Okay, thanks,” I told him.
Then his gaze met mine. “When this is all over, I’d like to take you on a date.” He stated. “I mean, if you want.”
I was surprised at the little glimmer of excitement that gave me. A date? I’d never really been on one. And if Kaelric wasn’t going to be interested in me…
“I’d like that,” I told him before I could change my mind.
The grin that graced his face made my stomach flip-flop a little.
That night, I could barely sleep.
I hadn’t been sleeping much since Kaelric kissed me and walked away.
But tonight, after tossing and turning for two hours, something felt… wrong. The air smelled faintly of smoke and magic, and I could have sworn I heard a scream.
Then a bell rang.
I sat up in the dorm, heart pounding.
Not the morning wake-up bell.
The city alarm. Thefirebell.
I shoved on my boots, sheathed Valkaryn at my side, and bolted into the living room only to find that the clamor was coming from outside. I ran down the hall and out into the darkness.
In the distance, flames rose like serpents over the rooftops of the Dregs. A dozen fires, maybe more. Screams echoed down the slope as shadows fled through narrow alleys, children clinging to mothers, elders limping with blankets over their heads.
No. My stomach sank, and I suddenly felt sick.
The Dregs were burning.
Without thinking, I started running.
It took me too many minutes to cross the lower quarter of Aerlyn and squeeze through the fence into the edge of the Dregs, where the air was thick with soot. I was shocked to find Cassian already there.
“Cassian!” I screamed, panic fully taking over me. The Dregs were on fire. Oh Creator, my home was burning. I didn’t know what to do.
“Kaelric said he would take first watch. I was out for a late-night run to clear my mind about tomorrow’s trial and saw smoke,” he said, looking panicked. “We need buckets, hoses, anything.”
I nodded, heart in my throat. “The Elites?”
They had water wagons, even people with water magic. They could help.
“They’re watching…” His voice was sharp, bitter. “…from their balconies.”
I followed his gaze.
High above the flames, on the marble and glass terraces of Aerlyn, robed silhouettes stood motionless. Not helping, not lifting a finger, they simply watched the Dregs burn. I peered up at the highest floor of one of the nicer buildings and saw a red cloak whipping in the wind.
Corvessa. She stood and watched while my people burned.
