Page 22 of Powerless

He looks to be fighting a smile. “Is that right?”

“And why would it be wrong?”

His eyes flick between mine for a long moment. “Why is it I can’t sense or use your power then?”

I swallow, trying to seem as though I’m not struggling to come up with a believable lie. “My ability is unpredictable. Even I can’t control what I see or when I see it. That, combined with the fact that my power has little strength as it is, must be why you and the Silencer can’t pick up on it. It’s a mental ability.” I shrug. “I must be able to guard my head from those trying to get into it.”

I hold my breath, waiting for his answer.

Except that he doesn’t give me one. He simply stands there, staring at me. I huff before blurting, “Go on. Ask anyone in the slums about me and my power. Better yet,” I lean forward slightly, “you can ask your Imperials. I had a lovely conversation with one of them just this morning.”

His eyes narrow slightly before he slowly releases my wrists and takes a step back. “Maybe I will.” Then the bastard smiles. “But I’d still like to witness these Psychic abilities of yours for myself. Prove it.”

If I had a shilling for every time someone said those words to me, I wouldn’t even bother stealing anymore. He crosses his arms over his broad chest, eyebrows raised expectantly as he elaborates, “Read me. Or whatever it is you say you do.” Then he leans in, gaze glittering with amusement. “Impress me, darling.”

“My power isn’t some party trick for your entertainment, but I’ll play along,prince.” I give him a sarcastic smile before my eyes dart over his body. “I’m not even sure I’ll be able to pick up on anything with how unpredictable my ability is.”

“Is that so.”

I ignore his mocking tone of voice and think of the callouses on his palms and the dozens of scars marring his arms.

Well, obviously he’s a fighter. You don’t have to be a Psychic to figure that out.

I know I need to tell him something worthwhile if there is any hope of being believed. Any hope of surviving this conversation. He’ll kill me without a second thought for simply the suspicion of being an Ordinary.

“May I see your hand?” The words are a demand disguised as a question. I hold my palm out expectantly, eyes flicking from his face to the hand at his side. Only the best performance will do for the prince.

His expression is annoyingly neutral, never taking his eyes off mine as he places his hand in my own. “You know, I’ve never met a thief with manners. And it seems you’re most definitely not the exception.”

I huff at that, ducking my head to turn my attention to the large, calloused hand in my own.

“Is there a reason you insist on holding my hand?”

My gaze snaps up to his cool one. “Don’t worry, I’ll try to resist kissing your knuckles, prince.”

At the mention of his knuckles, my eyes sweep over them while his laughter washes over me. They’re red and raw, not only from this fight but also from one prior. Blood trickles down his fingers from the reopened scabs, though he barely seems bothered.

“You were in a fight,” I say. “And—”

His scoff cuts me off. “I told you to impress me, not state the obvious.”

“I’m not talking aboutthisfight,” I sigh, dropping his hand to gesture around us while simultaneously fighting the urge to punch that stupid grin off his face. “I’m talking about the fightbeforethis one.” I watch him closely, noting that nothing about his expression indicates whether I’m right or wrong.

Plagues, he’s not going to make this easy for me.

My gaze drops briefly to his shoes. From this close, they don’t look as shiny as I once thought they were when I spotted him across Loot. In fact, they don’t look shiny at all.

Sand.

His once polished, black shoes are now covered in a thin dusting of sand, barely visible. As though he’s been walking through the...

Scorches.

And there’s only one reason why a prince, specifically the future Enforcer, would step foot in the Scorches at all.

He banished someone. And that same someone put up a fight.

I’m reminded of the two Imperials missing from rotation today, and it all begins to fall into place.

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