Page 105 of Fearless

I raise a hand, hoping to stop her from doing something reckless, when she stands suddenly. Her chair squeals against the marble floor and turns every head in her direction.

Panic pushes me to the edge of my seat, awaiting her next move. But it is the false smile she plasters on her face that has me truly worried. Lifting a glass, she clears her throat in preparation for a toast.

My fingers curl around the table’s edge.

Paedyn’s bright smile and cold gaze fall back on Blair.

“To the Ordinaries,” she says cheerily. “And every unjust death. May they be avenged.”

Then she tips her head at Blair and lifts the glass to her lips.

I glance down the table to find a lilac head of hair bowing right back.

“To the Ordinaries.”

I barely register the grumbled words that only half the court bother repeating. And it is only when Paedyn takes her seat that I’m able to draw a deep breath. Uncurling my hand from the table, I wait for another wave of dull chatter to sweep over the room.

When all eyes have fallen from Paedyn, and every mouth has moved on to another topic, I lean forward to murmur, “Well, that was suspiciously civil.”

Those blue eyes flick up to meet mine. “I wouldn’t call a threat civil.”

“For you,” I amend plainly, “that is.”

Taking an interest in our hushed conversation, Kitt chimes in with a discreet, “Once again, you know why I can’t let you hurt her, Paedyn.”

Gripping her fork, she rolls a piece of potato around her plate innocently. “And you know why I can’t let her live.”

“Pae.” Kitt’s gaze snaps to me at the familiarity in the word. Shit. I carry on quickly before any of us can ponder what I’ve just said. “You can banish her when you’re queen if you like, but don’t do anything rash before you wear that crown.”

“I don’t need to hide behind a crown,” she grits out.

“Yes, you do,” Kitt murmurs evenly. He brings a napkin to his mouth before coughing into it. I narrow my eyes at the hoarse sound he cuts off quickly. “Ruling is all about hiding. The truth, motive, yourself—all of it. And the earlier you learn that, the easier it will be for you in this castle.”

Paedyn blinks at him, and I can’t help but do the same. There is that piece of Father he possesses. Swallowing, she places her palms firmly on the table. “It seems like we could all blow off some steam.” Thena sudden, wicked tug of her lips. “Now, where is this wine cellar you always used to sneak off to?”

Wine dribbles down the fingers I have tightly curled around the bottle’s neck.

Paedyn’s dress is an emerald pool atop the floor of the cellar, flickering in a beam of candlelight. She tips her head against the cool stone wall and laughs loud enough to have my face splitting into a smile.

Turning her bewildered gaze on me, she manages, “You did not!”

“He did,” Kitt blurts on my behalf. “I’m the one who broke his fall.”

Pae’s mouth falls open as I attempt to defend myself. “I was five, all right. I could barely use my power, let alone know which ones even exist.”

“So he climbs up onto the roof of the stables,” Kitt explains, a drunken smile turning his lips. “Now, Kai Pie here was convinced there was an Elite who could fly—”

Paedyn snorts, quickly muffling the sound with a palm to the mouth.

“—so he decides to jump from the roof and test the theory,” Kitt finishes with a laugh aimed at me.

“Why,” Paedyn huffs toward me, “would you think that was a good idea?”

I take a swig of wine before answering. “In my defense, I could barely sense powers at that age, so I thought a… flying Elite might be possible. Now, that didn’t mean there was one nearby, but…”

Kitt slaps a hand against the stone floor, laughter morphing him into the boy I grew up with. Giddiness bubbles from Pae in a way I rarely get to witness, evidence of the wine loosening her tongue and lifting my spirits. I grin brightly and wonder just how much of it is due to being with my brother in this cellar again.

“So you crashed right into me,” Kitt declares, slapping a hand on my shoulder, “and broke my leg.”

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