Page 14 of Courting War
Notallof them. Kellyn was the best student in their botany class, but now wasn’t the best time to bring that up.
It was a horrible situation because he couldn’t tell the truth and apologize, but without it, Emmett would despise him. Glory was currency among warriors. It was how society functioned. All Theoden champions entered the Sacrifice seeking glory. To die by being outwitted or outbattled was the highest honor a Theodenite could achieve.
That glory was all Kellyn could hope for now.
But it was supposed to be Emmett’s glory—a fact Emmett wouldn’t accept easily.
Kellyn couldn’t think of anything to say, so he doubled down. “Yet I’m taller, stronger, and the better choice.”
Emmett balled his fists. “You’re a piece of shit—”
“Shit,” a voice from the side of the room said with airy delight. Gallagher leaned against the wall. “I think I prefer being called a massively destructive bitc—” Before Gallagher could finish her sentence, Cecile was on her feet and flinging herself at the girl—a ball of fury and vengeance.
Like lightning, a crack echoed through the room as Cecile punched her nemesis in the nose. “You did this.”
Gallagher wiped a streak of blood from her lip before shrugging nonchalantly. Not an answer but also not a refusal. “I don’t think it matters at this point.” She smiled like a snake and wiggled her eyebrows just as Bella jumped onto the wicked girl’s shoulders, snuggling in. Cats could be such traitors, and Bella had always liked Gallagher, to Cecile’s dismay. “The question I’mdying to know, little Kels, is now that you are champion, what will you do about it?”
Kellyn ignored the question, instead asking one of his own. “How did you get in here?”
The outburst derailed the boys’ argument, but Emmett stood seething, his face cardinal red and his hands preparing for a punch.
“I opened the door,” Gallagher winked, “Anyway . . . what is your plan?”
“He plans to die,” Cecile spat back, “because you’ve sentenced him to death.”
Kellyn swallowed past the lump in his throat. Not even Cecile believed he could live through this—and she was the optimist.
“So defeatist,” Gallagher said mockingly. Cecile wound up her arm again for a second punch, but Gallagher held out her hand. “I have such a pretty face—I know you like it, Cealy.” Gallagher smirked and stepped forward, catching Cecile, and pulling her into an awkward embrace, managing to hold her temper and especially her arms at bay, their faces inches apart. “There is no need for more violence.” Gallagher placed her lips against Cecile’s ear. “At least not today. If you wanted to be violent with me some other time,alone . . .I wouldn’t mind.”
“You killed him.” Cecile’s voice shook as she tilted her head and forced the other girl to meet her eyes.
“I didn’t do anything,” Gallagher said.
Cecile’s nose flared, but she still didn’t fight to escape the embrace. “Theodra won’t show.”
“Maybe,” Gallagher said, her amber eyes twinkling like she knew a big secret. “Theo might show this year.” She shrugged. “One never knows.”
Cecile growled, “Just leave.”
“I’d rather not. I’m having too much fun watching the three of you squirm. Besides, I’m dying to know, Emmett, will you be Cecile’s priest or Kellyn’s?”
Every champion in the Sacrifice received a priest or a priestess to help them through the games. Anyone could volunteer for theposition, and the friends had all vowed that if they entered the Sacrifice, one of the other two would act as their priest.
“What?” Emmett’s eyebrows pinched together, and Kellyn’s heart sank to the floor as he remembered the telegram Cecile had received earlier. When she read it, she’d paled, and her fingers trembled. It was terrible news—perhaps the worst news.
“No, it can’t be,” Kellyn whispered. “Not both of us.”
Cecile nodded, her face falling as they shared a look of horror. “Yes, me, too. She pulled out the telegram and handed it to Emmett, who hadn’t quite caught on yet.
As he read it, his knuckles turned snow white as an ominous chill settled over the group.
Cecile gulped, and visible tremors ran through her body. “Andromache has named me as her champion.”
Chapter Five
THEODRA
Goddess of War
