Page 162 of The Amber Sunburst

51

ZENO

There’s a gun in front of them.

And it’s pointed at Eudoxia.

The safety makes a resounding click when Kleitos turns it off, and then the world comes to a halt.

Everything goes slow, slow, slow until the bullet is fired and Zeno screams, “No!”

He whips around to stand in front of Eudoxia—better him shot than her—but instead of searing pain in his back, a sharp graze opens on his shoulder.

Zeno’s eyes move in quick succession: first to Eudoxia—always Eudoxia—frozen in the follow-through of a throw, wide-eyed and unharmed. Then to the bullet, lodged in the maze’s wall, barely a dent. Then to his spear, which was in his hand a second ago, sticking out of Kleitos’ arm.

“Plato and his prophecies, Eudoxia.”

She ignores him, lightly bumping his torn-open shoulder as she approaches Kleitos.

“Do you think this was a good idea now? Seeking me out, threatening me?” she asks, menacing without being loud.

“We had a deal,” he groans.

Eudoxia snarls. “You had blackmail, there’s a difference.”

Zeno takes up post right behind her, picking up the gun on his way. “Kleitos, you’re bested. Time to go.”

Kleitos scowls, then cringes in pain at the spear still embedded in his arm.

“You think you’ve won but you haven’t,” he gasps, smirking despite it all. “I saw her leave—your little brat.”

Eudoxia backs into Zeno’s chest. “What?”

“Lazarus had been gone from our room for too long, so this morning I went to investigate and there you were. With the girl. Telling her just where to go.”

“What are you saying?” she grits out.

“It’s an insurance policy.”

“How’s that?”

“I told Councilwoman Apollonia.” He coughs, and Zeno’s heart stops. “I said she should expect one of you dumbasses to come after the kid. And if I didn’t win the Trial, I told her to go fetch the girl herself.”

Zeno opens his mouth, but Eudoxia speaks first. “You think the Councilwoman is going to listen to you?” she asks, calm despite the fire in her eyes. “You think she’s not going to send someone after my sister right now, damn the Trials?”

“She said⁠—”

“I don’t care what she said!” Eudoxia yells, the dam of her ‘silent’ anger finally broken. Her hands twitch like she’s going to do something awful with them. “You screwed me over, you arrogant asshole. You put a ten-year-old girl in danger. And, what, you’re proud of yourself?”

“I needed leverage, and now I have it.”

Eudoxia laughs, a terrible sound. “You have nothing. Apollonia won’t wait for you. And now I need to get to my sister and you’re in the way.”

Her voice is vicious enough to echo through the maze. Kleitos’ smug facade turns fearful. He pushes up to run away, but Eudoxia slams her high-top on his chest.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she croons, murderous in a way that makes Zeno flinch.

It’s bad that he finds this really attractive, right? Because it’s also scaring the Forms out of him.