“I saw you first! I CLAIM YOU!”
Butters followed her.“No, mine!”
Noir cackled, delighted.
Boris snarled and lunged after both of them. Nibs squeaked and dove into his pocket. Zane swore at the whirl of chaos.
Tahlia pressed a hand to her chest as the rat, the honey badger, and the felines tore past her feet in a blur of fur.
Finn stepped forward, eyes narrowed. Boris skidded to a halt, the cat froze mid pounce, and the rat darted between Finn’s legs.
I planted my hands on my hips. “Where did the black cat come from?”
“She’s mine,” Noir announced proudly. “She followed me.”
I stared at him. How’d he get a cat in here? He’d never left that chair.
He grinned. “What? I’m a cat dad.”
Sure I’d never get a clear answer from him, I turned away. “Let’s have tea.”
Finn had set the tray on the low table. After pouring the tea, the conversation drifted, with us nibbling at the fruit and cheese amongst stories. Nibs perked up the moment Finn tore off a tiny piece of cheese for him, and accepted it with both paws.
“Good. Good. Good.”The words pulsed faintly in my mind.
“Tell me they have some bananas for me,” Noir called.
Did you get Noir some bananas?I asked Finn.
Yes, butI’m not feeding them to him,he signed back.
Just peel them and put them on a plate. He can eat them like that. He likes to act like a dog anyway.
Finn disappeared and returned a second later. An enthusiastic “Yum, yum,” echoed from the room behind him as Noir enjoyed his bananas.
By the time the last of the tea had cooled, a sharp knock at the door cut through the quiet. I stiffened and stood, but Zane was already moving to answer it.
A servant remained in the entryway. “All candidates must report to the great hall for the Trial of the Nemesis.” Zane closed the door after the messenger bowed and left.
Tahlia rose to leave. “I guess I have to go.” Her shoulders looked lighter, but the tight, lingering hug she gave me told a different story. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“You can come with us if you’d like,” Zane suggested.
“I couldn’t bear it if…” She shook her head, not finishing her sentence.
Before she left, she caught me for one last hug. She held me with desperate strength, as if I would disappear the moment she let me go. Her fingers brushed mine as she stepped back. “Good luck,” she murmured.
She paused in the doorway, studying my face as ifcommitting it to memory, then gave a small, resolute nod and slipped out.
I found myself unexpectedly looking forward to her next visit. I’d never had a sister, and the warmth she offered felt dangerously easy to accept.
The door closed with a soft thud, and my chest tightened. I rubbed at my sternum, trying to ease the deep ache of guilt. The truth would be revealed in a week. She’d know I was a slayer wearing a dead girl’s skin, not someone she could reach for. I should’ve been calculating the quickest way to stake her before my deceit was revealed.
I had other problems to deal with first. My stomach turned as my thoughts shifted to the missing stake and the trial ahead.What if I’m caught?
The questions pulsed behind my eyes, rhythmic and relentless.What if Noir was a poor choice?
My breath grew shallow, the walls of the room seemingly inching closer.
