Page 78 of The Amber Sunburst

“I’m not doing it on purpose,” Zeno shrieks.

Today, they have decided that they need to know whether ‘Alexander would make a good horse’. Eudoxia’s not even sure how they came up with it. All she knows is that Zeno is currently clinging to Alexander’s back, trying to control him with his hair.

“Suuure. Just like you’re not ripping out my beautiful hair on purpose.”

“I’m not!”

“We all know you want my luscious locks for yourself, Mr. Crew Cut.”

Zeno gasps, and leans back in an attempt to tip them both over, which probably means it’s time for her to get involved.

She reaches out and stabilizes them. “You guys are the worst.”

“No, Alexander’s the worst. He’s a bad horse. I don’t know why we thought you’d be a good one.”

“Well, obviously because we assumed you’d be good at riding me,” Alexander says lewdly, thrusting his hips as best he can with a human-sized leech attached to him.

“Bold of you to assume you wouldn’t be riding me,” Zeno says, laughing.

“I go both ways, darlin’.”

Before Eudoxia can scoff, someone stalks over to them with too much speed to be a casual passerby. She’s a second too late to stop them grabbing the back of Zeno’s collar and yanking, sending Zeno and Alexander tumbling to the floor.

Before they can sputter at Eudoxia for toppling them, they notice Kleitos standing next to her.

“You guys are such screw-ups,” Kleitos snarks.

Alexander smiles up at him, way too big to be earnest.

“Yeah, we totally are,” he says sweetly. “Thanks for noticing.”

Kleitos opens his mouth to respond but then shakes his head violently and turns to Eudoxia and Zeno.

“You barely made it through the Trial, huh, Zeno?” he asks.

“You really think that’s going to get under my skin?”

“Not your skin. Your little fanboy’s over here,” Kleitos says, pointing to Eudoxia. Forms, she hates his stupid, too-long face and his beady eyes.

“We have plans,” Eudoxia says dismissively. She helps Zeno up, and the three of them continue to the sparring rooms.

“And what exactly would those be, huh?”

“None of your business,” she shoots back.

He tugs her away from the boys by the back of her shirt and shoves her up against the wall.

Zeno and Alexander jump to attention immediately, but they know not to fight her battles for her. As much as Kleitos loves to call Zeno her guard dog, he’s been beaten by her fists more times than Zeno has even spoken to him.

“I think I’ll make it my business.” Kleitos’ breath fans hot on her face and his overapplied cologne floods her nostrils.

“Will you, now?”

“Yes.”

“You really are obsessed with me, aren’t you?” she mocks, tilting her head to the side and leaning in close.

Kleitos huffs in frustration and throws her back up against the wall, slamming his hand by her head. “You are nothing.”