Page 73 of Powerless

His palm is suddenly extended towards me expectantly, and I stare at the callouses blankly. When I make no move, he slowly drops his hand to the one at my side, his rough fingers closing around my wrist.

My heartbeat quickens and I curse the stupid organ. He pulls my arm, my hand, towards him—the one still clutching the throwing knife. Then his other hand brushes against my palm, gently prying the handle from my fingers.

“You have enough of these to bury in my back, don’t you think?” he says softly, his hand still wrapped around my wrist where he can likely feel my stupid, stammering pulse beneath his fingers. “So, I think I’ll hold on to this one.”

I step out of his grasp, needing to put some space between us. “Don’t you have an important meeting you’re supposed to be in right now?” I ask because I simply can’t think of anything else to say.

“Probably.” He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I’m assuming Kitt filled you in.” I nod before he says, “Father will go through with the Trials. A power move, of course. And he’ll need to finally inform the people of what is going on. He can’t hide who and what the Resistance is after tonight.”

“What happened?” I breathe before I’m suddenly annoyed with him, remembering what he did. “What happened after you bodily removed me from this room like an ass, even though I could have helped?”

Now he’s laughing at me. “You seem to keep forgetting who I am, Gray.”

“My apologies, Your Highness. What happened after you bodily removed me from this room like aroyalass?”

“Well, that’s progress, I suppose.” He smiles, looking me over again with that piercing gaze of his. “And to answer your question, that wasn’t your fight. Not to mention that I couldn’t risk a contestant dying before the first Trial even began.”

My laugh is bitter. “You know damn well that I can take care of myself—”

“And you know damn well that I could take care ofit, myself.”

“You got stabbed, remember?”

“Occupational hazard.”

We stare at each other, faces close. I can smell the sweat, blood, and dirt on him, along with the underlying scent of pine still lingering on his skin. I’m breathing heavily, and after a moment too long, I finally take a step away from him.

“How many casualties?” I ask slowly.

He looks away from me, sucking in a breath before saying, “Only two Elites dead, multiple injured. Four Ordinaries dead, and only two prisoners.” His eyes trail back to mine as he says, “There were less than a dozen Ordinaries to begin with, which makes me wonder what their real mission was since I don’t believe it was to attack a ballroom full of Elites.”

I nod absentmindedly, taking in the information. “So, some escaped?”

A muscle feathers in his jaw. “Unfortunately.” With that, he begins to back away from me, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Gray.”

“See you tomorrow, Azer.”

He finally turns, making his way across the ballroom as I watch his retreating form.

Then he calls over his shoulder. “Do me a favor, darling?”

“And what’s that?”

“Promise me you’ll stay alive long enough to stab me in the back?”

I laugh loudly. “That’s been my goal all along, prince.”

ChapterTwenty-Three

Kai

I nearly swallowa mouthful of damp dirt. My eyes flutter open and I cough into the wet soil beneath me, soaking my clothes and causing them to cling uncomfortably to my body. I roll onto my back, crunching on moss, twigs, and rocks as I blink against the sunlight streaming through looming, tall trees.

Plagues, where am I?

The melody of chirping birds awoke me from my heavy, deep sleep.

Drugged sleep.

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