Page 37 of Mistake of Magic
First Klarissa and now Malikai. And here I thought the day couldn’t get any worse. Malikai motions me over again, and my heart speeds with as much fear of approaching the bastard as disobeying his command. Straightening my spine, I rise to my feet and stride to him, my chin raised in a futile attempt to glare down my nose at the tall male. “What do you want,sir?”
Malikai leads us a few paces farther from the training yard, cutting off the line of sight to Coal and Kora, though I’m certain either would hear me if I screamed.
“Yes, we’re still within earshot,” Malikai confirms, following my gaze. His straight black hair is tied back in a thin ponytail, the long widow’s peak stark against his tan face. Now that he’s not trying to assault or humiliate me, I notice that his eyes are different colors—one a sky blue, the other a pale green. He shows me his empty palms then puts his hands into his pockets. “I don’t imagine you’re happy to see me.”
“You would be right.”
A corner of Malikai’s mouth twitches, though with humor instead of cruelty. “At least we can speak plainly with each other—that’s already a start.”
I don’t want to start anything with the bastard. “Excuse me, sir, my quint is waiting for me.” I turn away from him.
“I needed to speak with you alone, Leralynn,” Malikai says to my back. “I realize you’ve little reason to like me right now, but will you at least hear me out? I need your help.”
I spin angrily. “Unless I can help you drop dead, I’m not interested in aiding anything you do.”
He sighs, his lips pressing together. “Listen, before you burn bridges you may wish to make use of. I’m a bastard, but I’m not an idiot—I’ve no notion of why River surrendered during the trial, but I know he could have knocked us all into the Gloom with half a thought.”
“You mean the trial where you went after me instead of the flag?” I say.
“Yes, the trial where I went after the weakest link to avoid the appearance of giving anything but my utmost effort. Had I done any less, my whole quint would have found itself having much the same experience as Coal did last night, so you’ll forgive me for choosing them over you.”
I cross my arms, which Malikai takes as an invitation to return to his original point.
“Given the other things that have happened since then, I’m not eager to face either River or Coal again in a trial. I need you to request your second trial. Right now.”
“Did I do something to make you think I’m suicidal?” I say in what I think an extremely reasonable tone under the circumstances.
The corner of Malikai’s mouth twitches again. “You will request the Individual Trial, face me, make a show of putting up a fight—forget a show, you can fight as much as you please—and then you’ll surrender. You can still take the trial over, but the council won’t pit our quints against each other for a third time. I will promise not to hurt you. I’ll even let you land a few blows.” He spreads his arms. “Your quint never has to see mine again and vice versa. A neat and clean solution that lets us both walk away unscathed.”
“This sounds like a command decision, sir,” I say. “You should discuss it with River.”
Malikai grabs my wrist, making me gasp. “I caused a great many problems for River yesterday. If I were him, I’d agree and then change the order of combat at the last moment. I can’t risk facing Coal in the arena. Quint traineesdiein trials, Leralynn. I won’t let that happen to me.”
“Maybe you should have considered that yesterday,” I say.
Malikai’s lips tighten. “I made a mistake. It was a spur-of-the-moment foolery that I can’t undo. Or do you imagine that if I simply go apologize, we can all put this behind us?”
A grunt of pain sounds from the arena. Coal destroying warriors, one after the other.
I pull my hand free of Malikai’s grip and stifle the urge to wipe my wrist against my uniform. “No, I don’t imagine an apology will suffice,” I agree. “Nor do I think I want to make your life easier, sir. Excuse me.”
“Don’t you understand—”
“You asked me to put on a show to ensure that you never have to face Coal in the arena. I said no. And now, sir, I’m telling you to go to hell.”
“I’d consider the consequences of that, if I were you.” Malikai steps closer, his nostrils flaring as he takes in my scent. He smiles, showing sharp canines, and his voice lowers. “Deny me now, and I’ll make yesterday’s dinner experience a nightly occurrence. You see, Leralynn, your males have a weakness the size of a barn door—they are bloody easy to provoke. What do you imagine your wolf shifter will do if I, say, slap your ass right under his nose? We already know how to get Coal’s blood boiling over his common sense. A bit of prodding and I’ll have River and Tye worked over just as easily. Refuse me now, and my quint and I will ensure there is blood watering the whipping post grounds every evening you’re here. It will be a sight to see.”
My breath stills, my muscles rigid. “You’re mad,” I whisper to the male. “You are talking about walking through a hayloft with an open flame, just to see how many bales you can destroy before the whole barn crashes on your ears.”
Malikai shakes his head. “I’m not mad. I’m desperate. When your alternative is being burned at the stake, treading hay with an open flame starts sounding quite attractive.”
24
Lera
Ido as Malikai says, heading directly to the council to request the trial. To ensure that my fight will come first. My heart pounds, my squeezing lungs barely letting me form the words. I hate doing this, hate keeping it from the others. I hate that I have to.
“I’ll make the arrangements,” Klarissa tells me, a small smile curving her painted lips as she walks me from the foyer of the Elders Council tower. “Make your way to the trial arena. You’ll find a clean uniform in the preparation room. Your quint will meet you there. I’ll make certain of that personally.”
