Page 23 of The Chosen Fae

"Do you know why Rune wanted to choose mostly females for her team?"

"There's no telling what she's thinking sometimes," Stone said, and honestly, that was the truth.

"Maybe she doesn't want to win the games."

He had considered that. But when he returned to his room, he found Ena had given him a brand new dagger he could use for cleaning fish and the like. It had a small dragon on the handle, like Ena was. He loved it.

At breakfast the next morning, Vesper ached to show Stone he was more powerful than him. Stone didn't know why Vesper was so fixated on him, unless he figured Stone was the only one who would really challenge him in any of the missions.

It wasn't long before Vesper crossed the floor to where Stone was sitting in the cafeteria, drew his sword, and pointed it at Stone.

He could have ignored Vesper. Maybe Stone should have, but he wasn't one to ever give in during a difficult situation. He caught Rune's eye as she sat at another table, watching him.

In fact, everyone was.

He wondered how Rune would view his reaction. She was the only one he cared about as far as her opinion went.

Stone got up slowly from his chair and pulled his sword. He could have just left his sword in the sheath and talked it out. But when another fae threatened him with a sword, which was smarter? To draw his sword, prepared to fight if he had to, to defend himself from an aggressor? Or pretend he wasn't worried about the meaningless threat?

Stone preferred to be armed and ready.

Everyone fell silent; no one ate as they waited to see what happened next.

"What?" Stone asked Vesper, his sword hanging at his side, not as threatening as Vesper's.

"Why didn't you select me for the tug-of-war contest to be on your team? You knew I would lose when I was on Rune's team."

"Rune needed some strong guys on her side. If she hadn't had them, there wouldn't have been any competition at all." Stone could see that would have been fine with Vesper. He just wanted to win no matter what.

"You're an idiot."

"It was fairer." Stone wouldn't change his mind.

"You don't know how to sword fight."

"Nope, just a beginner."

Vesper gave him an evil smile. Yep, that's how Vesper liked it—no challenge, just an instant win.

Vesper’s sword was special, like Stone’s was. It had flames on the hilt. He wondered who had given him the sword and what power it held. He still couldn't believe that Rune’s sword could paralyze body parts that were cut with it. But after he learned that Maeve had tried to suffocate her and was sent home, he was glad for it. He would have done the same thing to her or worse.

Vesper finally sheathed his sword. "We'll continue this later."

Stone figured he would. He just didn't seem like the kind of person who would give up a grudge.

Then Stone put his sword away and sat down to finish his meal. He glanced at Rune. She sighed and resumed eating her own meal.

With all the fae competitors still watching them, Vesper was so furious with Stone that he turned and headed for Stone again, his eyes darkened, and he quickly drew his sword. Jumping from his seat, Stone reacted automatically and unsheathed his sword, blocking the attack with a resounding clank. Vesper was more skilled in his footwork and his sword thrusts, but Stone was quick, too, and he had a strength that his opponent wasn’t ready for.

He struck back, striking Vesper’s sword so hard that he lost it.

Vesper's sword slid along the floor, and he turned to pounce on it. That should have been the end of it. Stone had won, but Vesper jumped to his feet and went after Stone again. Only this time, he was rattled, and he wasn't carefully planning his moves. Vesper swung his sword twice at Stone; both times, Stone blocked them, but he also fell back, unable to hold his ground.

As soon as Vesper tried to thrust his sword at him again, Stone struck it just as hard as the last time, but this time, he held onto it, barely.

Vesper's sword glowed with red-orange flames. Vesper eyed the sword with surprise. But then he wore the cruelest expression and sliced at Stone again, this time with the flames stretching out.

Stone jumped back so he wasn't burned. But then his own sword glowed blue and looked like ice. He figured his sword would just melt against Vesper's fire sword, but he didn't have any choice. Vesper wasn't giving up.