Page 49 of Royal Hunt
Gregory’s eyebrows rose, as if he couldn’t see why this would be a problem. I resisted the urge to slap him upside his head.
“What does he see?” I demanded. My palm was slick as it held Ellis’s, that odd tingle racing up and down my elbow like a sentient force. Viana’s silver eyes flicked up to meet mine, and an icy feeling of foreboding flooded my veins.
“You. It’s always been you.”
Sixteen
Isnorted inelegantly. “Me. Right. A hick from a farm manor. Pull the other one.” I turned away in disgust, curling myself around Ellis’s one hand. I held onto it like it was an anchor, and put my back between Viana and her ridiculous notions.
“Do you mind?” I heard her sneer, obviously to Gregory.
“Yeah, I do mind. If I’m gonna lose to some half-fae prince, I’d at least like to knowwhy.”
My shoulders hunched, fury and embarrassment warring inside of me. I wasn’t some goddamn prize. The sound of flesh slapping flesh filled my ears, then Gregory’s large footfalls retreated.
“Don’t know how you stand him. Persistent little thing,” Viana remarked casually, wiping her hand on her vest.
I sighed. “He used to be quite charming. Still is, I guess. I see through it now, is all.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t sound so devastated. It’s called growing up. That’s a good thing for most people.”
Viana tugged me down with her into a small pile of furs next to Ellis. I kept a wary eye on him, but he appeared to be sleeping now, even if it wasn’t entirely peacefully.
“What other powers do the heirs have?” I wondered out loud. All magick was supposed to be gone, dried up when the fae were dumped in our lands. What made it work where they were from, but not here?
Viana bit her lip. “Not all of us manifest. Ellis you know about. Nessian and his sisters are physically the most similar to the fae, maybe even faster. I’m good at fighting and leading. I don’t know if I would really call those powers, though.”
I thought of the small flame Ellis had conjured while we were stuck in the passageway. I frowned.
“You can do small things, though. I already know Ellis can conjure a small flame, so don’t try to hide it.” I shot a leveled look at Viana, who huffed in irritation.
“Fine, you’re right. Some of us can conjure basic things. Fire. Coax water to run closer to us. Bring up a gentle breeze to cool off. Not exactly anything useful for death games.”
Viana hugged her knees to her chest, muttering to herself. It was the first time I’d ever seen her look unsure of herself.
The pen was quiet and only the sound was the wind whistling overhead, along with the crackling of the small fires. Everyone was likely sleeping, or at least trying. No one would perform well exhausted, after all.
“Do you think it’s a lack of ability to do magick or a lack of knowledge?” I asked.
Viana rolled her eyes. “We can’t do most magick here. It was cut off from us when our ancestors were stranded.”
Cassus and Ferar seemed to manage just fine, but I didn’t want to argue with Viana. She certainly knew more than me, didn’t she? We descended into a companionable silence until a shadow cast itself behind our fire. The small stature and graceful movements gave Pari away. I went to say something else, but Viana’s head was cocked to the side as though she were listening closely to something.
“Sit with us?” I called out gently to Pari instead, mindful of Ellis.
The shadow paused, then Pari headed toward us.
“Can I ask you a question?” I asked immediately, budging up closer to Viana to make room for Pari. Pari waved me away, content to crouch in front of us.
“Only if I can ask you one first.” Her eyes glowed in the darkness.
I shot a glance at Viana, who shrugged her shoulders in a ‘might as well’ gesture. I nodded at Pari to continue.
“Is that one your mate?” Pari pointed at Ellis, and my brows furrowed at the unfamiliar word.
“Mate?” I tested the word in my mouth. It felt odd and animalistic. “Are you asking if he is my betrothed? He isn’t. He isn’t promised to anyone, I believe.”
Pari frowned. “No, that’s not what I mean. Is he your mate?”
