Page 43 of Wild Hunt
“Absolutely nothing,” I said with a shrug.
He frowned. “You do realize if she gets up on that stage and humiliates the school, your fatherandOdin are going to kill you, right?”
I smirked. “That requires her actually winning, and there’s no chance of that.”
Fenrir snorted. “I wouldn’t be too sure.”
Chapter 23
Kore
The second day of the games, most of the first years were off sleeping or partying, depending on which pastime they found more restful and replenishing. I was in the stands, watching every event the second years competed in.
For the most part, their challenges weren’t much different from ours. I expected things would be ramped up tomorrow when the third years competed, and even more the next day with the seniors, but I was still intent on taking notes. We were the only three first-year competitors who’d made it through, and that alone would put a target on our heads. I was keeping track of every competitor’s powers, and making mental notes of how they played out in each scenario.
I must have gotten a little too into it, because I didn’t even notice Dionysus coming up to me until he was right there. “Still here?” he asked, sitting next to me.
I gave him a tired smile. “Just studying the competition.”
“I can see that,” he said, looking down at the notebook in my hands. “You’ve filled that thing out quite thoroughly.”
“Can’t ever have too much info on the enemy.”
He chuckled, offering me a drink. “Your diligence is impressive.”
“I just really want to win this thing,” I admitted.
He watched me for a moment and I could see the wheels turning. Whenever he looked at me like that, it felt like he could see absolutely everything--including the secrets I’d rather keep tucked away.
“What?” I asked warily.
“I’m just wondering if the speech is the only reason you’re so set on winning.”
“It’s not theonlyreason,” I admitted. “I’d like the opportunity to shove a win in Hades’ face, for sure.” I scowled. “What’s that smile for?”
“Nothing,” he laughed. “Nothing at all.”
“Bullshit,” I muttered, lightly elbowing him. “I wanna know.”
“Alright,” he sighed. “It’s obvious you like him.”
I blinked. “What? Are you crazy? I fucking hate the guy.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” Dionysus mused. “But extreme emotions have a way of coming back to the same point. Love and hate aren’t really opposed.”
I looked away since my face was flushing traitorously. “Yeah, well, in this case, they are.”
“Whatever you say,” he said, standing. “Promise me you’ll get some rest soon. I know you’re going to want to watch the Triad tomorrow, but you’ll be useless come the semi-finals if you don’t get some rest.”
He had a point. There was a fine line between studying the competition and taking myself out of it due to exhaustion. “I will,” I promised.
Dionysus touched my shoulder before he left and I found myself hopelessly distracted from what was going on in the arena, so I decided to leave not long after.
His words stayed with me long after I’d gone back to the room and attempted to take a nap. Was he right? He didn’t even know I’d fooled around with Hades, and he was already picking up on something.
I closed my eyes and pushed it out of my mind. Even if he was right, I didn’t want him to be. I might have been bound to Hades, but that didn’t mean my heart had to be. It was the one thing he and his father couldn’t buy and I intended to keep it as my own.
Chapter 24
