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“Then we better prepare for war.”

39

Stay

After what feels like hours of nudging through stagnant—and very drunk—crowds of people, Akemi, Esther, and I finally make it out of the amphitheater. The brisk winter air bites at my cheeks. A thin layer of tights is the only thing separating my legs—under the hem of the winning team’s jersey—from the chilly night. I shiver. “I’m going to need a drink the moment we get there. It’s too cold for a party.”

“It’s never too cold for a party!” Akemi looks aghast.

“Oh yes,” Esther chimes in from my left. “It’ll be especially cold on the ice.”

I spin in her direction. “You know where the party is tonight?”

A slight blush colors the tops of Esther’s cheeks, matching the pink of her extremely large knit scarf.

“You know what,” I say, picking up my pace, determined to get to this damn party on the ice before my entire body freezes over. I have a coat, but I want Leaf to see me in the jersey before I put it on. “It doesn’t matter. Let’s just hurry up.”

“I swear, you have a secret set of longer legs, Ramona,” Akemi says, slightly breathless.

“So what, I’m brisk. Always have been.”

“Just like the weather.” Esther starts to hop, no—I turn to get a better look—she’s skipping. Akemi told me to be nice, so I will save my eye-roll for later.

Eventually, we reach the treeline along the lake. The spires of the Watch gleam in the moonlight beyond. Crowds of cadets swarm like mice in the woods, heading away from the castle toward the “party of a lifetime” we were promised.

I almost didn’t believe it when I found a note in Leaf’s handwriting on my bed this morning. How he managed to leave it in my room is beyond me, though, Leaf does have a way of earning the love of all the castle staff.

Tonight.

After the game.

Past the cove, on the Lake.

Party of a lifetime awaits.

-L

Short. Simple. And very confident. I chuckle and rub my hands together, savoring the slight warmth that comes from the friction.

Metal clanks from Akemi’s hip pouch. She sighs. “I still can’t believe you made me bring these.” She pats the pouch of illegal throwing stars.

“Might as well get used to bringing your weapons everywhere, Kem. You never know what’s going to happen.”

“Don’t remind me.”

I snag a dagger from the hidden sheath behind my shoulder blade. “Better to be prepared than dead.”

Akemi chuckles, and Esther nods vigorously in agreement, though I’m not sure I’ve seen her use any sort of weapon, now that I think of it. Mental note: train her how to fight soon.

“Should be right up here.” Akemi points past the bend in the forest, where the tree line edges back, exposing a frozen beach.

“I swear, if we aren’t there—” I pause.

Thump, thump, t-t-thump, thump.

A deep bass drum is pounding a familiar rhythm.

“Music!” Esther squeals, and you would think it’s her first time hearing it.