Page 67 of The Heart Trials

Dorian

Jace

Caelus

If we’re ranking people on trust, Caelus or Dorian would have to be first. But if we’re ranking it based on who I’m pretending to be interested in, who I’d rather betray, that’s an entirely different order. I tap my pencil on my paper, realizing that everyone else is done writing and are shoving their answers into an envelope already.

My hands are slick. I bite my lip, shield my paper from the person in front of me, and scribble my scores before hiding them inside an envelope.

Kade 5

Finn 4

Orrick 6

Rhythe 9

Titus 8

Lee 7

Dorian 2

Jace 3

Caelus 1

“Back to the arena,” the guard says. “We’re ready for our next elimination.”

21

We sit in the arena around the firepit and no one speaks.

I’m pressed back against my seat. I’ve never felt more unprepared. Maybe I should have ranked Caelus last instead of being honest, just in case there’s any way my scores could be chased back to me. But would it even matter if they are tabulating everyone’s responses? Dreth is here this morning, staring daggers at me like I’ve done something else wrong.

When he brings the stack of scores over to the pit, he clears his throat. “The next elimination is tomorrow morning,” he says. “You will spend today and tonight taking one person on a date in Skyhaven. If you’re going to become a citizen, you should get to know what it’s like to be Skyborn.”

A quick count makes my pulse race; there are an odd number of contestants. Someone isn’t going to have a date. That can’t help chances at elimination. Maybe I should have been nicer to Kade and Orrick, or made more friends. I glare at the papers in Dreth’s hand.

“Those who rank highest get to choose their date first,” he says. “If you don’t have a date, you’re cut.”

Gasps sweep the arena, and I peer into the audience seats with the feeling again that we’re being watched. But even during the day, the recessed seating of the arena is cloaked in shadow from the curvature of the partial ceiling.

“What’s the elimination tomorrow based on?” someone who I don’t know asks.

“You have to engage in meaningful affection with someone,” Dreth says.

“What is that?” the stranger asks.

Exactly my question.

Dreth pulls Talia by the arm toward him and lays his mouth on hers. Jace tenses, and I fear if his jaw clenches any harder, he will break a tooth.

“Get off of me!” She shoves him away and smacks him across the face. Hard. Then she freezes and stares at the ground. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she mutters.

But Dreth goes on, unfazed. “That meant nothing to her or me.”

Talia shuffles back in line beside Jace.