Page 28 of Powerless

We all stare at each other, Sadie silent and Blair smirking. Kitt clears his throat, cutting into the conversation. “Do you know who else is competing?”

Sadie nods, pulling a crinkled flier from one of her pockets. Kitt skims the names quickly before sighing. “Yep. There are only three names I don’t recognize. Must be Defensive or Mundanes from the city.”

He hands me the flier, and I quickly scan the list.

My eyes snag on a particular arrangement of letters before my breath snags in my throat.

There, at the bottom of the list, lies a name I’ve thought of far more than I care to admit.

It’sher.

ChapterTen

Paedyn

I might have stoodthere for hours, gawking up at the banner displaying my name in giant letters, if not for the mass of people gawking at me.

They chose me.

Or in other words, they chose me to die.

And all because I saved that prick of a prince.

A tap on my shoulder shakes me from my stupor.

I stiffen at the sudden smell of starch and heave a sigh before turning slowly to face the Imperial. He’s young. My eyes flick between his messy red hair and brown eyes boring into mine, completely unbothered by my obvious disdain for his kind. He offers me a small, shy smile.

Unsettling.

In all my years, I have never met a kind Imperial, and I doubt he is the exception.

“You’re Paedyn Gray, correct?” He gestures to the sign above us with a wave of his hand.

“Who wants to know?” I blurt.

“Er,” he rubs the back of his neck, “the king? I’m here to escort you to the palace where you will be staying until the Trials are over.”

The unspoken words hang in the air between us.Or until you die.

“Now? Right now?” I hate how high and breathless my voice sounds, but I can’t stop the panic rising up my throat. “But the Trials don’t begin for another two weeks.”

He almost looks apologetic, and I hate it. “The contestants always head to the palace two weeks in advance for training, interviews, and of course, the first ball.”

How could I forget how showy the Trials are?

His head whips around, red hair rippling like flames as he searches to see if anyone is watching. Then he leans in slightly, his next words a murmur. “I can only give you about...hmm, five minutes or so before we have to leave.”

I don’t hesitate before bounding down the street as fast as my legs can carry me.

Adena.

I skid to a stop in front of our little alley and swallow the lump in my throat at the sight of her tucked behind the Fort, humming while she sews. I take it all in as I stride towards her. Every piece of garbage we scavenged together to keep us warm at night. Every scrap of clothing piled beside her as she works. Every curly piece of hair escaping the messy bun at the nape of her neck. Her dark brows furrowed over hazel eyes in concentration.

Will I ever see her again?

I try to push the thought from my head as I sink to the ground and pull her into a crushing hug. She gasps in surprise before quickly discarding her work and squeezing me tight. “Happy to see you too?” She laughs into my hair and pulls away, concerned by my sudden show of affection. “Are you...okay?”

I meet her eyes, memorizing the specks of gold flecking them. “I’m leaving, A.”

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