Page 67 of The Stars are Dying

Shaye’s call made me jump back. “We have five minutes.”

That seemed to snap Davina out of her stupor, but I couldn’t shake mine. She began to rustle through the garment racks before plucking out a few other items. “Quick!” She ushered me over when I couldn’t move.

My arms rose vacantly, sliding into the fitted jacket. “You’re going to help me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” she said, her tone back to a casual softness as though nothing had changed.

“You don’t know how I got here. Why I’m not Cassia.” I reached to secure the buttons as I turned to her.

“Right now, I have to believe there was good reason.”

“And if there wasn’t?”

Davina shrugged. “Then you’re mad for wanting to participate in this thing so badly that you would kill for it.”

I winced at the word “kill.” “I don’t,” I muttered in defeat. “I have no idea what I’m doing, and I likely won’t be here long.”

“Not with that attitude,” Davina scolded.

For a second I was reminded of Cassia’s firm love, and it ignited in my chest as I watched Davina secure various buckles. Her curved eyes held the most beautiful brown irises. I jerked as she made quick work of securing me into high-necked dark leathers and various holsters.

“You arrived late and missed the castle tour. It won’t matter too much as I don’t imagine you’ll be here a whole lot,” Davina explained, focused entirely on my attire.

“I won’t be?” That came as a surprise.

“A day for a feast, a week to adjust and train if you wish. Then, by week’s end, you’ll have the induction—the rules and what to expect. That’s all you’ll get, and then it’ll all be down to you.”

I tried to comprehend what she was saying, but she’d given me little information. “That’s not very comforting.”

“I’m not trying to be,” she said, stepping back and admiring her work. “What matters the most is you keep your true self hidden.”

I nodded, trying to make it believable I held a shred of confidence now I’d received Davina’s sparse insight.

The door creaked open and Shaye poked her head around it. “I’m to tell you Zathrian is here.”

I exchanged a last look with Davina, only having her small smile and nod as any kind of assurance she’d keep my secret.

21

“Astraea.”

The world felt distant, but the hiss of my real name was enough to snap me back. I glanced around frantically, thinking it was bold of Zathrian to even whisper. I landed my wide gaze on him, but he only returned a disapproving frown.

“Did you hear a word of what I just said?” With his reprimand, he jerked his chin at the sword I clutched tightly.

I tried to lift it. Maybe my reaction was overdramatic, but I was ready to give up on wielding the weapon that felt too heavy and long.

Zath sighed like I was a lost cause. “Let’s try the bow.”

My buildup of anticipation had been for nothing when it turned out Zath was the one who’d urged me to the training room that morning, far earlier than any of the others were expected to show up. From what he’d found out through the other mentors, this wasn’t really to train our skills. What use would one more week be? No—like the feast, this was likely a new chance for us to gauge each other. Find strengths and weaknesses. I hadn’t been able to focus much, thinking of everything that made me an ample target.

“She’s the weakest one here.” A feminine voice echoed through the training room.

The hall was spectacular, with a high perimeter for viewing and several stations equipped for different combat teachings. We stood on a circular platform with steps to get up to it, but there was no safety barricade should an opponent be forced out of the ring.

I spied the head of light pink hair as Rosalind entered the room. “Thanks for the encouragement,” I grumbled. I watched as she went over to the wall lined with swords of all sizes, admiring how she assessed a couple, weighing their balance between her hands. Seeming satisfied with her choices, she twisted to head straight for us, and my spine stiffened. I trailed my eyes along the length of the two swords she held in one hand, a little shorter than what I clutched.

Stepping onto our platform, she approached, and Zath took an instinctive step in front of me. Rosalind didn’t spare him a glance, but I figured the sly smirk at the edge of her lips was for him.

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