Page 89 of Red King

Then his face warps into a mask of rage. “You won’t, will you? You won’t help me. I can see it. I’m your goddamned brother!”

“I can’t help you. Nobody can help you.” I turn and walk away.

Ice screams my name. At first, he sounds enraged; then it turns to sorrow. He keeps screaming my name and saying please…please.Arctic, please!

When Anya bled out in my arms, she pleaded, too. She pleaded plenty. Her eyes did all the begging while she gasped her last breaths. Begging me to save her, and I couldn’t. I fucking couldn’t.

No!

Not a chance.

He must die for his crimes.

“And?” Steel asks as soon as the door shuts out the noise.

I shake my head. “He dies tomorrow, as planned.”

“I know that, but did he give you anything?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure I believe him.” There’s this niggling voice that tells me there is some truth to the small amount of information he gave me. We need to get to the bottom of it.

“I’ll let Thorn know that you won’t be attending the event tonight,” Steel tells me.

I frown. “I’m going.”

“You can’t possibly go to a karaoke evening with the Tributes the night before your brother is put to death.”

I look over at the guards, who are a little way up the hallway. “He’s interfered with my life enough. Fuck him! I’m going, and I’m going to have a good time.” I lower my voice. “I will need an escort back to the human accommodation afterward.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. It’s not something I want to discuss with you. I’m going. I need this one thing.”

“Okay…yes…fine. I get it.” He nods and doesn’t argue. “I’ll sort it out.”

“Thank you.” I feel some of the tension drain at the thought of seeing Paisley later.

23

Paisley

I’m trying really hard not to watch Arctic. He’s doing a great job of ignoring me, which is good. It’s how it needs to be. He’s mingled with various Tributes tonight. Plenty of them have hovered around him like bees to freaking honey. In the last half hour, Hannah has latched onto him and won’t let go. His little buzzing bees are still nearby.

It’s fine, though.

He needs to meet and get to know the Tributes; it’s why he’s here. It’s how it has to be. He promised he wouldn’t sleep with anyone else while we are messing around, and I have to trust him. Idotrust him.

I glance over there, and Hannah is laughing at something Arctic is saying. She takes his bicep, holding on to it for what feels like an age before letting go. She’s wearing a shimmery gold dress. It has an open back and is fairly short. It’s evening wear, even though we asked everyone to dress casually for the evening. I’m in jeans and a tank top. I’m wearing a pair of sandals.

It’s a karaoke evening, yet many of the Tributes are dressed to the nines. Even Cathy is wearing a sequined top with black slacks and heels. At least the guys are dressed down in jeans and T-shirts, so I don’t feel quite so underdressed.

Arctic glances at me, looking away immediately and saying something else to Hannah, who laughs again.

It really can’t be that funny.

“Excuse me,” one of the ladies says as she sashays past me, giggling. She has her hand in the hand of a shifter, who is grinning as he looks down at her adoringly.

It’s really sweet.

---