Page 56 of Court of Lies and Deceit

“Like flames, of course,” I reply, frowning at her in confusion.

“Really?” She raises her eyebrows. “Huh. That’s interesting.” She cocks her head, making her long white hair slide across her shoulder. “I see them kind of like balls of water.”

Shock clangs inside my skull as I stare at her, mouth open. “What? You don’t see fire?”

“No. Mine are elegant orbs of liquid that ripple and shift softly.”

I gape at her. “Mine are raging fires.”

She laughs and slaps my shoulder playfully with the back of her hand. “You must be one angry girl then.”

Her words strike something deep inside me. Not hurt or any sense of being offended. But instead… panic.

When I don’t immediately reply, she gives me a look and smiles. “I was kidding.”

“Yeah, I know,” I press out, and then also force out a laugh for good measure.

But her words still rattle me to the core. Because I’m terrified that she might be right. I barely dare to acknowledge all the emotions I’ve suppressed throughout my life, but the few times that I have dared to peek down into those hidden depths of my soul, all I’ve found is burning rage and festering hatred.

Thankfully, Jocasta doesn’t seem to notice my panic, because she just claps her hands and declares, “Alright, let’s get back to it. So visualize those fires in your own chest, and then?—”

A chunk of ice shoots through the air. We throw ourselves backwards, barely managing to get out of the way before the wayward shard can hit us. It flies through the air in the space we used to occupy and then slams into the pale stone wall to my right.

Jocasta whips around and stabs a hand at Isera and Alistair. “That’s it! I’ve had it.” Stalking forward, she advances on them. “You two, with me. Right now.”

“We just—” Alistair begins, but she cuts him off.

“I don’t want to hear it. We only have three and a half days left before the first game starts. And I am going to make you work together if it’s the last thing I do. I’ve bet my entire fortune on you, and if you don’t win, I will be forced to suck the Red Faction’s cock for the rest of my life. And guess who will be rightthere on your knees sucking cock with me? That’s right.You. So youwillwork together if I so have to tie you together for the next four days.”

“I thought you said there were only three and a half days left,” Alistair drawls.

A growl of frustration rips from her lips. While still stalking towards Alistair and Isera, she stabs a finger at the rest of us. “You four, practice sparring while I beat some sense into these two.”

Galen quickly hurries out of her way so that he won’t get mowed down by our furious faction owner while Lyra flashes Alistair a grin, which only makes him scowl deeper. To my surprise, Isera doesn’t object. Rather the opposite, she walks up to meet Jocasta halfway, and there is an intense look in her eyes.

“Well then,” Draven suddenly says from right next to me.

I jump and whip my head around to stare at him. How someone so big can move so quietly still baffles me. And when I meet his gaze, I find a slight smirk on his lips as if he’s way too pleased with himself for sneaking up on me and startling me like that. I shoot him a glare.

“Two against two?” he asks, shifting his attention to Lyra and Galen, who are standing opposite us.

“Sure,” they reply, unsheathing their swords.

Next to me, Draven does the same. I still don’t know how to fight with a sword, so I take out my dagger instead.

Two days ago, Jocasta managed to persuade the Unseelie King to return our weapons to us so that we would be able to give the audience a more entertaining show during the games. Though I have a feeling that she might have had to bribe him a little too. Regardless, I’m glad to have my familiar dagger back.

“So, how should we—” I begin.

Draven spins around and lunges atmeinstead.

I yelp, leaping back and out of range. “What the hell?”

He grins at me while thrusting his sword at me again. “First rule of battle. Always be on your guard.”

From a few strides away, Lyra chuckles. “I knew it!”

Galen nods. “Does the same thing to all the new recruits.”

---