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“Be sure to get some rest.” She’s still smiling, still talking the same way she did last night at dinner. As if we’re peers sharing gossip instead of warring champions competing in a death match. “If you run yourself ragged, you’re sure to be cut down by one of the predatory types.” She turns in a flare of skirts and moves smoothly away, disappearing through the darkened door of her temple.

Cato actually shudders. “That woman is terrifying.”

“Don’t kiss her and you’ll be fine.” Even as the reply leaves my lips, I regret it. If we’re to be in an alliance, then I need to give him better information. “She poisoned me through the sleeve of my dress during the party. If not for a well-timed warning, her banner would be decorating my temple. No matter what else you do, don’t let her touch you.”

“Noted.” He rolls his shoulders. “She’s not the biggest threat right now, but I won’t underestimate her.”

This conversation is almost … civil. “Well. Good.” I sound so damned awkward, but I don’t know what to do with a Cato who’s in agreement with me. “We should get some rest.”

“Yeah.” But he doesn’t move away. His gaze falls to my hands. “You don’t follow the same trends those up on the hill do with the rings.”

I hold up my right hand, displaying the ring on my thumb. “In the Dregs, we like to keep things simple.” Except I’m being difficult and I know it. “But no, we mostly don’t bother with the other rings. Just the necklace when we’re in a committed relationship.” My skin heats when he transfers his attention to my chest. The fabric of my dress is too thin to hide a pendant beneath it, which is clearly what he’s looking for. I have to fight against the urge to press my hands there. I’ve only worn one a single time, for a single person. Mara. “No, I’m not in a committed relationship. Instead of ogling, just ask me what you want to know.”

His slow smile is as warm as the Sun overhead. “You’re blunt. I like it.”

“You don’t even like me.”

“I didn’t, but don’t take it personally. I don’t like anyone.” He laces his hands behind his head. It puts his mostly bare chest on display and it takes everything I have to keep my eyes on his face. From the way his smile widens, he notes the effort. “You have preferences?”

From the heat my face is giving off, I have to be an unflattering crimson. “No, not really. I like all sorts of people.” I clear my throat, and then do it again. Why is he asking me? Surely he’s not interested in me romantically. He just got done saying he barely likes me, and I feel the same way. He’s as attractive as a god, but he’s an asshole and I don’t trust him. “But not you! I don’t like you.”

He laughs. “Sure, Kestrel. And I don’t like you, either.” He turns without another word and saunters off to his temple.

I turn, mostly to avoid watching him walk away, and catch sight of the Tower observing me from the doorway of his temple. Before I can think of all the reasons it’s a poor idea, I move across the circular stone courtyard to stand before him. “You didn’t kill the Fool.”

His brows wing up. “Was I supposed to?”

“I just assumed. You…” I search his expression. We were so sure he was responsible for the earth tremors that sent the Fool fleeing from the passageway. Could it have been another champion? I suppose it’s possible. By the time we saw the Tower again, he was several blocks away and attacking Cato. “I suppose I was wrong.”

“Maybe.” The Tower leans forward and lowers his voice. “You stole Death’s kill. He’s not very happy with you.”

I laugh bitterly. “I would steal every kill from him if I could.” Not that it would make a difference. The one kill I wish I could take from him is twenty-two years in the grave. “He can’t have the Sun. He’s mine.” I regret the words as soon as I say them. Cato isn’t mine. He might have flirted with me just now, but it was only to get a rise out of me. He’s an ass like that.

“Yours,” he says slowly as if testing the word. “The Sun and the Moon. I suppose you can’t say it’s an ill-suited match.” There’s something off in his tone, almost flat. I hadn’t realized he’d warmed to me until it leeches from his voice.

Damn it, now I’m blushing again. “We are not matched.” Gods save me from these strange and uncomfortable conversations with confusing champions. “He’s my ally. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“And Death can’t have him.” He has such a strange way of speaking. There’s almost no inflection in his tone.

I don’t know what to make of it, but I’m not willing to back down. “No. Death can’t have him. You can tell him that, too.”

The Tower nods slowly. “I’ll be sure to convey that.”

I still can’t decide if he’s messing with me, or being deadly serious. Death must have already retreated to his temple, which means I’ll have to wait for another opportunity to corner him. In all the scenarios I anticipated when it came to the Trials, Death is the biggest surprise. He’s nothing like I imagined, and the moves he’s making are odd. “Did he pull his strike last night?”

“Impossible to say.” The Tower shrugs. “It seemed ill luck.”

If it’s bad luck, it’s not from Vesper. They confirmed they weren’t able to harness their magic in that moment. “Has he said anything about me?”

He leans down again, closer this time, bringing with him the scent of pine and snow despite the growing heat of the morning. “If you want to know Death’s thoughts, you’ll have to speak to him directly. We are allies. Not close confidants.”

“Maybe I’ll do that.” This conversation is clearly going nowhere. He doesn’t have the information I need, and he’s acting just as strangely as Death. “Stay out of my way tonight, Tower.” The statement is pure bravado, but that’s all I have right now. I start to back away, intent on getting out of the courtyard before I can stumble my way into another confusing conversation.

Only to be stopped by his dry voice behind me. “Save me a dance tonight.”

I stare up into his perfect face, wondering if I misheard him. I must have. He just got done saying Death was displeased with me, and when Death is displeased, there’s only one outcome. The Tower and I are not allies, which means we are enemies. Only five can survive the Trials. I’d be a fool to assume he won’t kill me given the first opportunity. “Why?”

“Because I want to dance with you again.” As if it’s as simple as that. He gives me that crooked smile, amusement lightening his dark eyes into something downright human.