Page 34 of Powerless

I pull out a chair at the end of the table next to Ace, reluctant to sit beside him, but relieved to be seated so everyone can stop staring.

Except that they don’t.

I feel their gazes and look up, unable stop words from tumbling out of my mouth. “So, what’s for dinner?”

I let out a sigh of relief when the girl sitting on the other side of Ace snorts and leans over the table to look at me. Her bob of wine-red hair shines in the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the window, competing with the shiny silver hoop in her nose. “I keep asking the same question!” Her honey eyes seem to glitter with mischief. “I’m Andy.”

“Paedyn,” I say, offering her a small smile.

“Well, if we’re making introductions,” a deep voice carries from the other end of the table, “I’m Braxton.” I look up to see a huge, dark-skinned boy tipping his head towards me.

Brawny.

I nod at him as a higher male voice calls out, “I’m Jax!” I look down the table at him, taking in his shy smile. Names are now being shouted across the table. Other than Hera and Ace who came from the slums, it’s obvious that everyone else is well acquainted.

“I’m Sadie.” I turn towards the voice to see a girl with warm skin studying me. Her stare is assessing, curious. The girl beside her tips her chin up and clears her throat, drawing my attention her way.

“Blair. Pleasure to meet you, Paedyn.” She spits out the words like they leave a vile taste in her mouth, all while looking down at me like I’m something sticky on the bottom of her boot. I get the immediate impression that this girl wants nothing to do with Mundanes, let alone anyone who calls the slums their home. Her lilac hair spills over her shoulders, contrasting against the brown eyes glaring at me. She’s stunning, yet startlingly cold.

“The pleasure is all mine, Blair,” I say coolly. The hungry look in her eyes makes me feel as ifI’mgoing to be her next meal.

And then a deep and annoyingly amused voice comes from the end of the table, directly across from me.

“And I’m Kai. But you already knew that.”

ChapterTwelve

Kai

She’s here.

Kitt was howling with laughter when he discovered exactly who Paedyn Gray was, though, a flick of one of my knives shut him up real quick. But even while raising his hands in surrender, he couldn’t stop babbling about how funny the whole situation was.

And he’s right. Itislaughable. The Psychic girl who unwittingly saved a prince she clearly couldn’t care less about is now rewarded for it by being forced into Trials that could kill her.

And now she’s sitting right in front of me.

After washing my body of the sweat and blood that accompanies a long day of training and torturing, I made my way to the throne room. Soon after, Braxton shuffled in, followed by Jax who’s still bouncing with excitement.

The rest of the familiar group followed shortly after, along with a boy and girl I hadn’t recognized—the ones from the slums. The seats around the table filled up, leaving the two at the head for the king and queen and one beside me for Kitt.

But right as we all get comfortable and begin idle conversations about the same regurgitated conversations we’ve spoken of for years, something happens.

Shehappens.

She walks in.

Taking the seat across from me, not even glancing in my direction, she says, “So, what’s for dinner?”

She speaks confidently, even as her fingers fidget, spinning the ring on her thumb.

Interesting.

Introductions are quickly exchanged between Andy, Braxton, Jax, Sadie, Blair, and the newcomers Ace and Hera. And yet she still hasn’t even bothered to look at me.

That just won’t do.

“And I’m Kai. But you already knew that.”

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