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I wait until we exit the tower before speaking. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You were amazing.” Geraldine’s eyes still glisten, but her nose has stopped bleeding. When I shiver, she hands me my cape.
“I’m going to be honest and say a little scary too.” Max offers a lopsided grin. “I’ve never seen a girl fight like that. No offense.”
“None taken. But that wasn’t a fight. That was me being reckless. I lost my temper.”
He snorts. “I’m so out of my league if you don’t call that a fight.”
The gravity of his words dampens the mood. I can’t imagine how it would feel to walk into a place like this, knowing it’s your only chance of survival. I wanted to feel like I was the spider staring down the giant, but I’m not. These guys are.
I am privileged with my combat knowledge.
“I’ll teach you,” I suggest. “I’ll give you all private lessons. I’ll request to move back into your dorms.”
“No!” Geraldine gasps loud enough that we receive dirty looks from passersby. “No,” she repeats, lowering her voice. “We can’t let you do that. You have an opportunity to learn from military leaders. Don’t pass that up for us.”
“They can’t teach me anything I don’t already know.”
“Whoareyou?” Max’s eyes widen in awe.
“Someone with a messed-up childhood.” Because of those supposed military leaders.
Maybe.
Fuck, am I really questioning who’s to blame for my life now? Max is right. WhoamI?
Geraldine covers my hand where I still clutch the cape. “I’m so sorry. Were your parents horrid?”
“No.” My smile is genuine as I think about my biological family. “They’re pretty awesome. It’s—” The words catch as Nero’s soulless eyes enter my mind. Soulless, unless they were disappointed.
“Willow!” Geraldine turns my palm up. “You’re bleeding.”
I gently tug my hand from her grip. “It’s more your blood than mine.”
The reminder sharpens my gaze, and I scrutinize our surroundings for anyone looking too hard at us. I pick up ice in the air, but none of Dahlia’s cloying scent. My hand slips inside the folds of my cape, hunting for the hardness of the dagger’s hilt.
What I wouldn’t give for proximity stones right now. I could set them up around the Nothing dorm room and keep the alarm stone at the castle. If someone tries to kill them in their sleep, I’ll know about it. But from what Legion and Bodin said this morning, manabeeze aren’t easy to come by.
Twinkling in the nearby woods draws my attention to a glittering dream web. There are plenty of stones knotted into the threads. It gets me thinking. Maybe there’s a black market here, like at Cornucopia back home. Everyone wants something they don’t have. It’s a fact of life. It’s also a fact that someone will try to make a quick coin over their misfortune.
Feeling a new purpose trickle into me, I nod toward the House of Stone tower.
“We have a class there next, right?” I ask.
Geraldine nods, wiping her nose. “We should get cleaned up first. A uniform violation for us is slightly different than for you.”
I glance down at my blood-soaked shirt. It’s black, but the stains are noticeable. A walk to the keep and back will make me late, so I’m damned no matter what I do. “No point in me changing. My exhibitor uniform is dirty, anyway.”
“I’ll take you to the registration desk,” Geraldine offers.
“No.” Max stops us. “You two head to the dorms, and I’ll go to the desk. I’m sure Peablossom will understand.”
She’s stressed from having to manage this entire exhibition. Max’s shirt is also blood-stained. “I’m already in trouble,” I point out. “You two aren’t. Why don’t we all go to your dorm? Then, while you clean up, I can look around and ensure no one’s tampered with things.”
“You think someone is out to get us?” Max asks.
“Um.” Why did I say that? Now they’re worried. “Hey, random question. Have you ever heard of a Nothing winning this tournament? I’m curious about the previous winners.”
