Page 116 of I Summon the Sea

A strange shiver chases down my spine.

“We call forth the human contestants who survived the first trial to parade before the dais and receive our blessing,” the telchin continues. “We see you all…”

It doesn’t mean anything. He’s only speaking ritualistic words. Being the priest overseeing the Death Games, he has a role to play. So what if I think I feel his eyes on me?

The human survivors form a somber line leading to the dais. The gowns given to us are pale and almost colorless, mine being the only white one.

It’s just that I also think I feel theking’sgaze on me.

Paranoia. I’m not even looking at the king. I can’t know what he’s doing.

“We should join the line,” Jai says and lifts his arm for the darakin who comes flying back down. “You should try calling him yourself. You don’t need a voice to call your dragon.”

My dragon?This time I stare at Jai for entirely different reasons.Call him? Easy as pie, is it?

He offers me his other arm as Remi settles on his shoulder, and grins. “He seems to like me, too. I mean, who wouldn’t, right? I’m a great catch.”

Because you’re so hot?I mouth.

“Exactly. You’re every woman’s envy tonight.”

Or maybe because you’re so likable?I tap my finger on my lips, pretending to think.

“Can’t it be both?”

So full of yourself.

His grin widens. “Aren’t you a lucky lady?”

Fighting an answering grin, I elbow him in the ribs—or the hip, since he’s so fucking tall.You’re lucky I decided to let you be my escort.

“True,” he says quietly. “I am.”

How dare he look so serious when he says it?

“And I wouldn’t want to escort any other woman,” he goes on, more quietly, and my heart flips inside my chest. “Only you.”

This is worse than teasing, this almost makes his presence beside me real, the feel of his strong arm around me exciting.

The darakin hisses. It sounds strangely like laughter.

Then he flaps up and lands on my shoulder, almost taking me down to the ground. Locking my knees, I manage to remain standing, and after a few moments, I get used to the weight.

Jai tugs on my arm, and we move forward. Horns sound as we reach the line of the humans. Flutes play. We are the last to join.

“The Lady of the darakin,” people whisper in hushed voices as we pass by. “The Pale Lady!”

I suppose it’s better than being calledcursed.

Which I may be, but that’s no excuse to call it to my face.

This is all so nice and civilized, the speeches, the parades, the light shows, the gleaming costumes and the artful masks. But even if I bow my head and stay in line tonight, that doesn’t mean I’ve given up. Tomorrow’s Death Game might kill me—or not. And if not, then you can be sure I’ll be back in this palace, hunting for the king.

This time, I’ll have my power back. Once back in the water, I’ll demand thegeasbe broken, and I’ll crawl into the palace and kill the king dead.

I’m not hopeful. I’mstubborn. There’s a difference. I don’t feel optimistic, but hells if I’m not going to die trying.

For Flynn. For my parents. For all the humans dying at the hands of the fae.

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