Speaking in old Razian, something I rebelled against as a kid, I tell her about my suspicions.
Then I give her her orders.
She glances at me, holding my eye for a few paces. The shadows of the Underworld creep across her golden irises, almost like phantom prisoners searching for an escape. If I listen hard enough, I’m certain I can hear them screaming.
The stories say that if a person is resurrected three times, it is no longer them that comes back from the Underworld. It issomething the gods put in their place. A monster. A beast. A madness that will eventually break free.
Echo’s said to have been brought back close to a hundred times...
My skin crawling, I don’t look away.
She inclines her head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Two more weeks,I tell myself as I enter Griffin Hall and begin the debates.
We only have to survive two more weeks...
But fuck, half a month has never felt so long.
Twenty-Four
A good little slut protects those she cares about.
Which is mightier? A sword or a dick?
- Arienna
“You’re fucking insane. I’m not waiting that long!” Fabia’s voice pounds through the wall as I hurry towards the room she’s in. Over a dozen guards surround me, with Jace at the forefront. The hallways are packed with even more guards but not a single civilian is here. The castle’s been completely secured, and yet, it still feels so vulnerable.
Fabia mightsoundlike herself, but Jace said she took an arrow to her chest. The world won’t feel safe or right until I make sure she’s okay.
“What’s insane is thinking you’re fit enough to go back to being a guard! You’re not even out of training!” Nicholas shouts. “You could’ve died today!”
My heart jumps as we reach the group of armed women outside their door.
“If it wasn’t for me,youwould have died, you ungrateful asshat! Did you never learn the words, ‘Thank you?’”
“You don’t thank idiots. You correct them!”
The door swings open, but I don’t think either of them notice. They’re in each other’s faces, their eyes locked on as tightly as their horns. Her hands on her hips, Fabia yells at him, calling him the real idiot. His hands flexing at his sides, he leans in, and –
“Fabia!” I shout as I throw myself at her.
She turns, then grunts as Nicholas yanks her out of my way. I stumble, then fall flat on my face. Jace picks me up, and I turn to see her trying to pull herself free while his grip fastens like iron.
“Get off me, you ungrateful asshat,” she growls as she pries at Nicholas’ hand.
“You’ve used that insult already.”
“It’s so very fitting. Now get off.”
“Not until she knows not to tackle you. You just took an arrow to the chest, for fuck’s sake.”
My eyes bounce between them before landing on my friend. “I thought you were healed?” I say, my eyes watering as I look at her in horror. I could have hurt her. I could have killed her with a simple hug.
“Oh, now look what you’ve done.” Exasperated, she gives up trying to free herself as she turns to face me. “I’m fine, Arienna, I swear. The healer was really good. There’s no more pain or even a mark on me.”
“Let me see.”
