Page 76 of The Stars are Dying

“You said the king had never visited the other kingdoms,” I said, trying to ignore the clenching anticipation in my stomach that I couldn’t trust Nyte.

“I didn’t say never. You were concerned he had visited in Cassia’s lifetime. Astraea—”

My name in his voice arrived as intimate as a touch, and that followed as his hand eased over mine. I inhaled when his fingers slipped into the gaps of my flattened palm. Nothing of warmth, but it tingled.

“You have to get better with words. They are of value like steel, just waiting for the right craftsman to make them as lethal as a blade.”

“I don’t know if I can trust yours,” I admitted.

Nyte came to me in shadow. Made of it. Like how the impression of his body wasn’t as firm as I expected. “Good, because they can be as devastating as heartbreak and as haunting as death should you be so open to their manipulation.”

“Are we still talking about words?”

“Every weapon needs a wielder to strike.”

I swallowed hard. Nyte certainly knew far more about thecraftthan me, only I couldn’t be sure why he would warn me against himself. Or perhaps he was only the demonstration.

“I haven’t trusted anyone,” I said.

“I meant what I said about the Libertatem not being the only game.”

“You didn’t warn me of the prince before. No need to start now it’s too late.”

“It’s not too late. He cannot find out who you are. You would be wise not to allow him to get close to you. He will try.” Nyte leaned away from me, and I braved a turn, staring up at the dawn in his eyes.

“He won’t find much interest. I’m sure his initial intrigue will pass quickly.”

His knuckles grazed featherlight over my cheek. “You’re wrong.”

I didn’t welcome the fluttering in my stomach, needing space but also yearning for the heat that was missing from his too-careful touch. I needed a distraction,distance.

Nyte stepped away, casting a look at Rosalind’s balcony before he turned and headed inside. I followed, closing the door behind me.

“Lock it,” Nyte said. “Always lock it.”

I heeded his words—something I should have had the self-preservation to do myself, but the sound of a lock clicking shut was something that always panicked me. With a breath I twisted it, flinching at the sound.

I unhooked my cloak as he sat on the bed, and it was then I noticed he hadn’t been dressed for the outdoors but didn’t seem to have had a reaction to the cold.

“The king believes what led to the chaos of man came down to five fatal flaws: pride, greed, envy, lust, and wrath. Every Libertatem has been structured around testing those traits to the very edge of their temptation.”

I thought on his words for a moment, trying to calculate what I could expect from such trials. None of them were areas I was confident to be tested in. “That could mean anything.”

“Yes. You see, every Selected’s game is different. Entirely personal to you.”

My pulse kicked up as I paced the floor, and I had to undo the high fastenings of my leathers.

“The Selected train their bodies for fighting and their minds for strategizing. It’s all helpful.”

“I haven’t trained at all,” I breathed, shuffling out of the tight sleeves. There was nothing graceful about the way I undressed from the garment. I strained for a tie on my corset that dug into my back but gave up with a huff.

Nyte let go of a partial amused smile. “I recall you being far more flexible than to be bested by stubborn ribbon.”

I scowled at him. “Why are you here?” Then I shook my head, wondering if I was going truly delirious as my palm cupped my forehead, which had begun to pulse. “How are you here?” I aired the question, not really expecting an answer as I scanned the room for the satchel I’d arrived with.

“I have always been here,” he said, so quietly I almost missed it.

Heading into the closet, I found my satchel at the far end. Relief flooded through me at the bottle of pills I found still inside. I took one out before heading to the dining area and filling a cup with water. Then I wiped my mouth, gathering breath. When I turned back to him, Nyte’s eyes were fixed on the glass with a hard frown, apparently contemplating something.

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