Madge’s hands stilled over her instruments, and she closed her eyes briefly. “Go on, dear, your father will have my head on a spike if he hears you saw this.”
“I can stay, I can help...”
“Nothing to help now. The boy’s dead.” Madge wiped her crinkled fingers clean of the gore.
Dead, not just taken or missing. The proof of the danger lurking so close to her home lay pulseless on the slab before her.
Helaina had seen many dead bodies in this wing, yet she felt close to vomiting.
How could they possibly fight this?
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
Breyer’s white teeth flashed with pleasure. “Yes, please,Helaina, do get up.”
Helaina glared at her.
The commotion in the chasm had returned, echoing all around her as the crowd began filing toward the exits. Soon, only Manos, Breyer, and Fee remained as Theodon kept his overbearing position at her back.
“You can’t be serious,” Helaina said. “My leg isn’t healed. I’m exhausted and sore from your ridiculous exercises. I’m the only mortal soldier here. She holds an unfair advantage.”
What Breyer had insinuated about Adriel, that he was a criminal, a deviant, had burned her chest with hate. Of course she had retaliated. But that all-consuming rage was gone, and her ability to see logic and reason kicked in. Helaina had no intention of fighting anyone, least of all a female twice her size. Why had she instigated this whole mess?
She turned to the side to meet Theodon’s peculiar yet exquisite eyes. His entire self was exquisite, but it was just a handsome costume, a mask for the horned demon he hid beneath.
“You think your enemies care about what’s fair? That they will take pity on you because you are weak or hurt? This is how you prepare for a trial. This is how you learn to fight. Besides, you hold a rather impressive advantage yourself.”
Helaina arched her brow, not understanding.
“Malicious powers seem to be hindered with your touch. I haven’t quite figured out how, but as long as you keep your hands on Breyer, up there it should be afairfight.”
Breyer scowled. “You mean that’s why I couldn’t shift? This sewer rat can mute my magic?”
“If your intent is to harm, it would appear so,” Theodon answered. “Does that bother you?”
“Not at all,” Breyer fired back. “I’ll tear her throat out with my bare teeth if I have to. With one arm tied behind my back.”
“I would rein in that cockiness if I were you,” Manos piped up from the background, laughing. “She had a good hold on you a few minutes ago.”
Breyer sneered in his direction.
He grinned back sheepishly. “What? It’s true.”
Helaina put her head in her hands, wishing everyone would shut up and that the giant bear breathing down her neck would leave her alone. Then his words sank in.
“Wait... how did you know her powers can’t hurt me?”
Theodon hesitated. “Because my own powers can’t touch you.”
They all fell still at that.
Before Helaina could ask for a more direct explanation, he gave another order. “So stop with the list of excuses, and get up.”
She was so sick of him. “I said no. She can fight someone else.”
The silence became heavier, the others riveted.
“Outside, all of you—now,” Theodon’s voice boomed.
