Page 87 of Cages and Crowns
“Then you use magic?” She says as if I’m stupid. I grit my teeth and take a deep breath.
“What if I don’t have that?”
“Well, then you better hope someone is around to help you.” She says with a snort.
“I don’t want toneedhelp, Emery. I want to be able todefend myself!”
“Then learn how to not get caught!” She replies just as loud and stares at me, her hands on her hips, before she unsheathes a dagger I didn’t even see on her thigh and climbs onto the platform. She holds it out to me, and I hesitantly take it, the hilt cold in my palm.
“Try to attack me.” I raise an eyebrow and she smiles, all former irritation gone. “Get all of your unjustified anger out on me. You won’t hurt me.”
“Unjustified?” I snap. “He’s my—”
“He’s your nothing! You made that clear!” She yells, getting in my face. I scream before taking a step forward and throwing my arm through the air, attempting to slice her arm. She spins out of the way and ends up behind me. She kicks my wrist and I drop the dagger.
“Hey!” I yell, spinning around and grabbing my throbbing wrist.
“Pick it up.” I sigh and bend down to grab the dagger, she lunges for me, throwing her arm around my neck and slamming us both to the ground, with her on my back, knocking the breath from my lungs. “Get free.” I scratch at her arms, not even reaching her skin through the thick leather. I kick out, but she moves her legs.
“I can’t.” I snap, relaxing against her.
“Then don’t get caught.” She lets me go and my head hits the mat.
“It’s not that easy.” She points at the dagger.
“Pick it up.”
“No, you’ll just grab me.” I mutter, climbing to my feet.
“No, I won’t. Pick it up.” I stare at her and then quickly snatch the blade. “Again.” I lunge at her, and she steps out of the way.
Again and again and again. I am left sweating by the time Enzo walks in.
“What am I interrupting?” He smirks as he jumps onto the platform.
“She needs to learn evasion and weaponry, not combat.” She snaps.
“I know that.” He says defensively. I glance in between both of them, and I can feel the anger radiating off of them in waves. My eyes widen at realization that they are probably having a Scarlett caused stand-off. I bite my lipto keep from smiling. Seems I’m not the only one annoyed that Emery is sleeping with their…something. I don’t know what Nithe is to me.
“I need food.” I say, stepping out from between them and ungracefully jumping off the platform.
They are still silently staring at each other when I leave the room and shut the door behind me. I let a small smile sit on my lips as I walk down the long hallway. By time I turn down the hallway that holds the council room, my smile falters.
Voices carry out. Voices filled with irritation and disdain. I step up to the doorway, glancing in. Kassius and Davenport are staring at each other, their eyes hardened.
“What’s going on?” I ask as I step into the room. Davenport takes one look at me and scoffs.
“Nothing of your concern,princess.” I flinch at the insult to my status but catch Kassius glaring at him.
“Does it have to do with Tobias?” Kassius sighs before turning to me.
“He’s filled the woods with thesecreatures,” his face pinches in disgust. “Worse than the ones you saw in the lake.” I almost forgot about that failed attempt to flee. I don’t even think I’ve fully processed that Nithe is a dragon, or awyvosas he called it.
“What can we do about them?” I ask, stepping up to the table. I glance at the map and see rose shaped pieces scattered around the board. A single white rose piece, like the one Tobias had for me, sits at the center of Rakushia. “Is that me?” I point at it.
“Yes.” I lean over and pick it up.
“Can we change it?”
