“Of course you would.” I handed the beer off to Alexei, because I didn’t need to drink before this was all over. “But it was really Emma’s doing.”
“Sure was!” Odette cheered. She was on Theo’s back, and raised a fist in victory. “We need to start planning things for the coronation party!”
“Hold on, guys. Don’t celebrate just yet,” Emma said. “There’s still one more round to go.”
“Yeah, and you’ll totally crush it,” Delmare said. “You’ve only got to kick the last couple standing out of the competition. It should be easy compared to all the other challenges.”
I forced a grimace. I certainly hoped so.
Kiara was standing near the entrance of the tent. She barely smiled as we passed. “Well done, both of you.”
“Thanks,” I said. I nodded to her, and turned to the group. “Can you guys give us a bit of space? Emma and I need to strategize.”
There were a few more claps and cheers as Emma and I ducked into the tent. Kiara eyed me before she swept away. Kiara wasn’t dumb. She knew what was really on my mind.
Once I was certain we were alone, I faced my mate. “Emma, what’s going on?” I crossed my arms. “A couple of weeks ago you were struggling to do minor magic. Now you’re flinging spells around like some master sorceress.”
Emma’s expression hardened. “Hey, maybe I do well under pressure,” she said. “Back off, all right?”
I raised an eyebrow. I didn’t like that tone. “I’m your mate, and your partner for the Contest. I deserve to know. If something’s going on, and you’re using magic to manipulate our placings, you’d better tell me now.” I made sure my voice sounded stern.
Emma stared at me blankly. Then she sighed and removed her cloak, reaching inside her armor. “It’s this.”
I didn’t recognize what she brought out— not at first. But when I caught sight of the black lace, and the dark stone dangling from it, I put the pieces together. The necklace. The one we stole from Lady Korva. I’d forgotten all about it. And Emma was wearing it in theContest?!
My temper broke. I stormed forward and yanked the necklace off her neck. The lace snapped easily. The stone itself was blazing hot— I could feel it leaving blisters on my palm.
“Hey!” Emma shouted. “Give that back!”
“Like hell! Do you realize what’s going to happen if this necklace is found on you? We’ll be forced out of the Contest!” I hissed. I tossed it to the other side of the tent. I was furious. I didn’t care where it went.
“Kiara gave me a potion before the last round started. How is that any different?” she asked.
“It was anenergy potion! Those are allowed!” I shouted. “Unseelie magic isn’t!”
“Keep your voice down!” she hissed. “So I cheated. So what?”
“So what? Do you think this is a joke?”
Emma stormed forward, her hands balled into fists. “Can you honestly say that if I hadn’t had that necklace with me, that we would’ve survived that race, or the fight with the monster? Because if I didn’t, I’m pretty sure we’d be dead right now. I used dark magic to saveyour life.”
That shut me up. I knew she was right. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without that necklace. One or both of us would have perished.
Yet that wasn’t the only thing I was concerned about. “Did you honestly make this decision of your own accord without even bothering to consult me? I thought we were a team!”
“You don’t understand. The hag came to me. She said this was the only way,” Emma stated.
“You saw the hagagainand you didn’t tell me?” By the gods, I just wanted to keep that thingawayfrom her!
“I prayed to Milonna and asked for her help. She sent me the hag. She told me we wouldn’t win unless we used the necklace,” she insisted.
“I don’t want to win this way!” I hissed.
“I don’t care what you want, Ethan. There’s more we’re risking than your honor if we lose,” she snapped back.
“You don’t know what that necklace is doing to you. Stuff like this always comes with a price,” I said.
“And I’m willing to accept it in order to help us win!” Emma’s hand moved to her neck. She rubbed it, as if it was bothering her.
