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Her body hitting the earth was the only sound in the room aside from the thudding in my ears.
There were no snickers or whoops of encouragement from the recruits. Just an oppressive silence.
I could no longer hold myself back. At the sight of her small form, broken and bleeding on the ground, my heart gave another sharp twinge, and an onslaught of rage drove me into the light of the pit.
Kiara’s amber eyes locked on mine as if she knew where I’d been standing the entire time. The heat in my chest grew unbearable the longer I stared at her, and only when her lids fluttered shut did it vanish altogether…
Leaving nothing but frigid cold in its wake.
Chapter Nine
Kiara
So far, the girl appears strong. Maddox chose her, just as you suspected he would.
Letter from Lieutenant Harlow to King Cirian,
year 50 of the curse
I awoke to a wide-eyed Patrick hovering over me.
“Damn, Ki,” he said, nothing but a blur of brown curls and green eyes. They shone with a tangible concern.
“P-Patrick.” My voice sounded garbled. That must have been one hells of a knockout.
“How are you feeling?” The three floating Patricks became two.
“I feel like I probably look,” I grumbled, the pinch of anger from earlier resurfacing.
Patrick let out a strained chuckle. “Yeah, you don’t look too good,” he admitted, the coolness of his hand stinging my face. I jerked at the contact, a bolt of fire and unease racing along my jaw. His eyes narrowed into slits before he brightened for me once more.
I hated that look. It made me feel like a fraud. I’d still hurt him in the ring.
“Did I get some good hits in, at least?” I asked, my poor attempt at lightening the mood.
Gods, talking hurt.
“Yeah,” he scoffed, shaking his head. “You got in a few.” Patrick hunched over, and I saw the bucket he’d placed on a wobbly stool beside my cot. I hissed as he pressed a chilled rag against my bruised and bloodied face, my hands fisting the thin sheets.
I’d wanted to protect him. Somewhere between walking into the center of the fighting pit and Harlow’s vicious decree, realization had struck me like…well, like a punch to the gut.
He’d been the only other recruit to approach me, the only person here who had made an effort to show me kindness, to smile and laugh with me. It didn’t help that he shared similarities with my brother, who would’ve been just as kind to an outsider as Patrick had been.
It made me want to do everything possible to keep him safe. Or as safe as possible in the Knights’ inner sanctum.
“How long have I been out?” I groaned as I pushed up into a sitting position, my head throbbing and burning. Black specks teased along the edges of my vision.
“An hour,” Patrick answered, avoiding my glare. “I was worried about you. I’m shocked you’re alive after going toe-to-toe with a trained Knight.”
Harlow had wanted to get a rise from me, sure, but I would bet fifty silver coins he hadn’t thought I’dstrikehim.
I was going to be the death of myself.
“I can’t stay long.” Patrick rose, the damp cloth slipping beneath the pink-tinged waters of the rusted bucket. “We have a few drills. Harlow only gave me permission to stay with you until you woke.”
That was surprising. I’d thought he’d toss me out on the street or to the Guard the second I’d shut my eyes.
“Patrick.” I stopped him before he could turn away. “I’m sorry for—”
