Page 42 of Flame and Fury

Jade takes a step forward, menace glowing in her eyes. “I didn’t know people had to be poor to understand the world.”

Wren presses forward until the two are only a foot apart.

“Never said they did. I’m specifically talking about you. You aren’t fit to lick the boots of those people out on the streets fighting for equality, fighting for their lives.”

Preston is standing on the sidelines grinning like he’s about to see two girls wrestling in a pool of Jello.

“Slum bitch,” Jade snarls and launches herself at Wren.

Everyone but Preston moves. Drake wraps an arm around Jade’s waist, pulling her kicking and screeching body away. Greer and I press in toward Wren. Jasper steps up to Wren’s side, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Everyone get to your rooms,” I command. Drake drags Jade away. The look on Preston’s pasty face sours, like he’s disappointed we aren’t fighting.

Jade pushes out from Drake’s hold, turning to look at Wren. “You’re dead.” She drags her finger across her throat, a malicious grin breaking out over her face. Drake spins her by the shoulders and pushes her toward her room.

“On that pleasant note,” Jasper squeezes Wren’s arm before he breaks off to go to his room. “Sleep tight.”

Wren stomps away, her fists clenched and shoulders tense. She shoves open her door, and I barrel in behind her.

“Go to your room Atlas.” She drags a hand through her hair, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply.

I ignore her, closing the distance between us. Her eyes fly open when I cup her cheeks. She could easily pull away, but she doesn’t. Her eyes, with sparks of light that remind me of the night sky, peer up at me. There’s no confusion, she’s allowing me to hold her captive.

“It’ll be okay.” I promise her, even though I can’t know that for sure. All I can control is the fact that I won’t let her get hurt again. I’ll make sure she’s safe.

Wren’s eyes dart back and forth like she can’t decide which eye to focus on.

“Did you know? Did you know she was going to tell the whole world?” Her voice is so quiet I have to lower my head to hear. Our lips are so close it wouldn’t take much more than a sigh to close the distance between us. What would it be like to kiss her whenever I wanted?

Dammit Kat. You had to stir shit up right when Wren was finally starting to trust me. Why right now? Wren and I are still trapped in the games. She doesn’t know how to put the gods to sleep. We may have made an ally in the Boar but we haven’t had enough time. The clerics have always been out of control, lording their power over the people in Zeus and Hera’s territory. I know things have grown increasingly tense. It’s not just that people are tired of struggling, tired of watching their families barely get by while the elites complain that their mansion isn’t big enough for the massive parties they want to throw.The clerics are murdering people in the name of the gods.

I haven’t spoken to Kat since the last challenge, but I know the way she thinks. She’s trying to give hope to the people. She’s gearing them up for the coming fight. And it was done at the expense of Wren.

I’ve never felt such inner turmoil before. Kat’s doing the right thing. At the same time, fuck her for doing this to Wren.

“I didn’t know. I would never have been okay with that. She’s making a calculated move.” I close my eyes as a flare of anger surges. “I hate that she put you in danger.” I rest my forehead against hers.

Wren lifts her hands, wrapping them around my forearms. Her skin is hot, her fingers strong but delicate.

“We have to get out of this game, Atlas. We’re never going to make any progress when we’re dicking around with these challenges and being forced to attend bullshit parties.” Wren squeezes her hands around my arms and hisses out a low string of curses. “Fucking contract.”

“I know, but we don’t have much of a choice. We can’t just run off.” My own magical binding tightens in my chest, stealing my breath away.“The only other way to sever the contract is to die or lose a challenge.”

Wren pulls back, locking her eyes on mine. “That’s why I need to lose the next challenge.”

CHAPTER24

WREN

The mood at breakfast the next morning is subdued. Preston looks a little hungover, which is thankfully keeping him quiet. Jade keeps glaring at me like her eyes are ice picks and she’s going to stab me in the throat.

What else is new?

The television is showing a collage of the attacks from the night before. It’s on a loop of the worst offenses, and even though the sound is off, it’s giving me a headache. Kat’s face is on screen with the word terrorist beneath it. The other clips are mainly of the clerics and the guards beating back crowds of people with both their hands and weapons. I’m not sure if the news channel thinks they're showing off the might of the clerics or if they’re trying to discourage any further civilian action.

The clips don’t make me feel any sympathy toward the clerics or guards. Their actions are brutal and uncalled for. They look like barbarians attacking defenseless people who are just trying to get their families safely away from the fighting.

Billy sweeps into the dining room, his hair unkempt and bags under his eyes. I guess I wasn’t the only one who didn’t get much sleep last night.

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