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“What?” I blink, facing her.
Everything is spinning. Suddenly, I’m nowhere near the fighting. I don’t think. I’m facing a portly man without a shirt on. His round belly is covered in sweat—or wine or something glittering. Gross. I try to keep my eyes open and clear. I think he’s got arched fae ears, but then again, maybe I’m seeing double. His pants are loose and tied by a sash at the round waist. Dangling from the tie, positioned at the center of his crotch, is a small red gemstone sparkling under the nearby lantern light.
“This is Lord Milford,” someone says beside me. They take my hand and plop it on his.
“Charmed to meet you, Willow.” He bows and plants sloppy lips on the back of my hand.
I tug it back. “Sir.”
“No need for formalities here. We’re all friends.”
“Sure.”
Speaking of friends, where did the others go? I turn, but my head swims. I glimpse lights, dark shapes, and heads of a crowd. I think that’s the ring—the cheering. How did I get this far?
“Oh, they’ve given us a little privacy. They know how this goes.” He hands me another drink.
This one is filled with something glowing. “What is this?”
“Don’t worry, dearie. They’ve all been here before. Even your redheaded Warden.”
“Alfie?”
“Such a sweet boy.” His eyes turn lecherous. “Such a sweet mouth.”
“Wait. How do you remember? I thought everyone forgot?”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret,” he whispers in my ear. “There are ways to remember. Why else do you think this place exists? Take a look around and tell me what you see.”
Swaying, I clutch the cup to keep from falling over. But I manage to stay upright, to hold my vision steady enough to catch a few things I didn’t notice before. Amongst the grottos, alcoves, and secret sex nooks, sharp-eyed faeries make sinister deals, bargains, and alliances. Coins pass hands, charms, probably favors. Lady Nivene converses seriously with another Radiant who looks familiar, but I can’t place them.
“Take her, for instance,” Milford croons, pointing at the lady. “She’s the only Radiant with a water dragon powerful enough to guard the seas for safe travel. She owns the waters. And here she makes sure it stays that way.”
Lady Nivene’s companion drops a bloated coin bag into her hand.
“Indeed.” Milford swipes my hair from my neck. “You know, it’s deplorable how they treat you.”
“Who?”
“All of them, but especially your so-called mentors. It’s so easy for them to gift you charms, to help you avoid deportationafter this is all over. If you win, you’ll have to waste your dream on that very wish. It makes you wonder why they chose you, doesn’t it?”
I stare at the cup. The glowing liquid swirls like a whirlpool. My brain wants to do the same. I should go. I might be shit at making my own decisions and very drunk, but at least I know when something doesn’t feel right. But he’s also making sense.
“Why do you think they chose me?” I ask.
“Come, sit. Let’s talk some more where it’s quieter.” He gestures to a vacant grouping of pillows beneath an oak tree. “Maybe we can make a deal of our own.”
Chapter
Thirty-Four
FOX
Emrys’s fist connects with my nose, breaking cartilage and firing sweet pain into my brain. The crowd cheers, eating up the violence like candy.
Agony is bliss compared to the shame still coursing through my veins. I can’t believe she saw me like that... I can’t believe she thinks I would ever want another female touch me that way, that any of us would.
“Although this is incredibly satisfying,” Emrys taunts. “You bore me, Fox.”
