I couldn’t stop the mumbled slur before they left my lips, “Kind of seems unfair if the guys have free reign.”
“Careful, convict,” Cash smiled. “You don’t want anyone overhearing you questioning King Elion’s decisions.”
I crossed my arms, knowing full well Arrik was definitely listening. I stole a quick glance at him and if looks could kill, I’d be dead. His jaw was set, his hands gripping the railing, as his gaze flicked from Cash to me.
“So it’s against his rules to even question him?” I asked, forcing myself to not look at Arrik again.
The smile wiped off Cash’s face. “Yes,” he said, his playful demeanor turning serious. “And to answer your question, I don’t think the riders mind. Most of them like to keep to themselves anyway. Only young riders fresh out of the Vargothi usually dabble with Wielders for the first couple of decades anyway. Most stay in the mountain pass.”
“What’s it like?” I asked, knowing the chances of me having to go there would be significantly higher if I couldn’t figure out who Hael was this week. Maybe that’s where he stayed.
“No idea.” Some time between my question and his answer, a servant refilled his drink. “Only riders are allowed to enter, so no one really knows.” He took a long sip, looking out at the projection. Only half the initiates were still alive and most were struggling navigating the piling bodies—they weren’t cleared. Even all the way up here, I was starting to smell a metallic scent from the amount of blood that coated the mud.
“Apparently they have a whole village there,” Cash said. “Theirdragons are close by, which is probably why they don’t like to leave to come to the castle much.”
“So the riders and initiates all live together?”
“So many questions about drakins,” he taunted, not giving me an answer. Maybe he didn’t know.
“I was just curious,” I deflected, trying to sound casual. “This is all new to me, and I find it fascinating.”
“Fascination can be dangerous, convict,” he eyed me. “But I’m guessing you already know that.”
I bit my lip as my gaze narrowed. I hadn’t missed this. The manipulation that came with human interaction. Back in Moriann everything was a game with your life up for gamble.
Instead, I turned back toward the projection. The suns were starting to shift, sinking lower into the sky. It was a reminder that another day would be wasted after the fighting ended, and other than finding out that Hael competed in the last century Vargothi and won—despite not getting a choice—I had nothing. He was picked for sterilization, but no one knew why. It meant he had no children. And judging from the gossip, there didn’t seem to be any romantic connection to use. It was odd. I still couldn’t understand how I hadn’t found him yet. He had to be here, right? There was no way they had a tournament without their leader present?
“Will he be at the ball?” I asked because I had to. I was running out of time, and I didn’t particularly want to walk across a mountain pass where dragons could burn me to a crisp… or eat me alive.
Tomorrow was the last day the tournament would be held in the Dome. Which meant there was only two more days left, counting the ball, to guarantee that Hael would be at the castle. Two more days until the official end to the Vargothi, that was it.
Cash just laughed at me. “Happy to find out he can fuck Wielders?” he arched a brow.
“That’s not why I was asking—” But I stopped myself, because maybe thatshouldbe why I was asking. It would come off as suspicious for any other reason. Suns, I hated this.
Cash just laughed, but didn’t answer. Instead, he left me alone by the railing as he went to talk with the other Wielders on our balcony.
I looked back at Arrik. I hated it, hated that it felt compulsive. Even if I didn’t want to, I couldn’t stop my eyes from veering toward him.
Only now I wasn’t surprised to find him staring right at me. Ever since I left to talk to Cash, he hadn’t stopped glowering at me from the other side of the balcony.
Chapter Twenty
Glisinil
MAGNOLIA
“There’s a dinner tonight,” Cash said as everyone started exiting the Dome.
I stalled. “Is it just for riders again?”
“No.” A smile spread across his face. “Riders and Wielders, no initiates tonight.” He held his hand out. “I’m going to go before I train you tonight. Do you want to come?”
No—I thought.
Honestly, I wanted nothing more than to run back to my room and sleep. I was exhausted. I barely slept last night, and in the little bit of time I managed to drift off, I was consumed by nightmares of burning alive.
I knew Arrik was listening. I half expected him to storm out of the balcony in front of us, but he waited. I could feel him behind me, watching.
