Page 31 of Powerful

After I’ve steered her by the shoulders for the second time, she looks up suddenly to say, ‘Thank you. For leaving last night.’

I nod slightly at the reminder of what I didn’t do.Noticing this, she adds, ‘Are you all right?’

I consider this for a long moment. ‘I never really was.’

‘I’m sorry you couldn’t save her,’ she whispers. ‘But you did everything you could.’

‘Not everything.’

She frowns up at me. ‘The ball is happening as we speak, and after that, Hera will be guarded until the Trial. Getting caught wasn’t going to help anyone.’

I shrug. ‘It would certainly speed up the inevitable.’

‘You won’t get caught,’ she huffs. ‘There are very few people who know what you are and, lucky for you, I’m fabulous at keeping secrets.’

Tapping a finger against her full lips, she adds, ‘And what makes you so sure Hera can’t survive these Trials? She’s a Veil, after all.’ Adena offers me a sympathetic smile. ‘She might not need to be saved.’

I nod numbly, remembering all the years Hera has survived in the slums. Maybe I have underestimated her. And maybe that is exactly what she will tell me on the other side of these Trials.

‘I hope you’re right,’ I manage gruffly.

Silence stretches between us until she can no longer handle the absence of conversation. ‘This is probably not the time to ask – actually, it definitely isn’t – buthow did the Imperial uniform do? Any suspicion from the other guards?’

I shake my head. ‘They barely even glanced at me. After walking for nearly an hour and a half to get to the castle, I continued right through the entrance closest to the Bowl. As if I had just come in from a rotation.’

I can see the smile she’s attempting to hide. ‘Well, I’m glad my work was convincing.’

‘Yeah, it was perfect.’ I sigh. ‘And all for nothing. I’m sorry I wasted your time.’

‘I was with you.’ She smiles softly. ‘How could that have been a waste of time?’

I don’t have a chance to answer before she pulls me round a corner, leading us towards a dead end. ‘Here we are!’ she exclaims far too enthusiastically at the sight of a dark alley. ‘Home sweet home!’

Stepping closer, I catch sight of a miscellaneous mound of items, all piled together to create a barrier against the wall. It’s nearly three feet tall and sitting atop several rugs and ragged blankets. ‘This,’ I say slowly, ‘is where you sleep?’

‘Yep! This is Pae’s side.’ She gestures to the left side of a worn rug. ‘Which obviously makes this half my side.’ After phasing through the barrier of trash, shethen plops down onto her designated area of the rug. ‘This spot is reserved for Pae, but I’ll make an exception tonight.’

‘Oh, lucky me,’ I mutter, slowly beginning to muster the strength to sit down on the filthy rug. ‘Plagues, this place is a shithole.’

‘Hey!’ The back of her hand meets my stomach. ‘It’s home.’

‘Well, your home is a shithole.’

She gives me a pointed look. ‘You don’t have to be rude.’

‘Have you met me?’ I ask this very genuinely.

‘I have. And I think you’re kinder than you let on.’ If her answer wasn’t equally as genuine, I might have laughed.

‘And what makes you think that?’

She looks suddenly timid, slightly unsure. ‘You’re the only one who wanted to buy my blue shirt.’

My confession comes racing back to me, as though it was much longer than a handful of hours ago that I spewed it. I had been so focused on Hera’s fate that the hushed spilling of my heart has yet to cross my mind. But now that it has, I’m flustered at the sight of her. At the reminder of every word I uttered.

‘Do you still want to?’ she asks quietly.

I nod slowly, my eyes never leaving hers. ‘Only if you will let me tell you something in exchange for my business.’

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