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“I’m fine,” I ground out, swallowing hard. “I’m just—”
“Sad,” Father finished for me, nodding to Liam. “I feel the same, Kiara.”
But it wasn’tonlysadness I felt. No. What I felt was akin to waking from a dream, one that had thoroughly dug its claws into my mind, refusing to let go.
My eyes drifted back to the commander as if they were made to see only him.
I watched in fascination as the most feared man in Asidia ran his hands through his mare’s wild mane, soothing the beast as it impatiently kicked at the stones.
My pulse hammered against my throat when he lifted his head, his gaze seeming to find me instantly. Almost as if I’d called his name.
I hissed, tearing my eyes away from the commander and directing them to the chipped cobblestones at my feet. I kept my head down until the names of the selected were shouted, and even then, I looked anywhere but at him.
Adam, a brawny seventeen-year-old, stepped up when his name sounded. A tawny leather string kept his fine raven hair from his face, his sharp features as foreboding as his protruding muscles.
I’d known him since we were young. Adam, and boys like him, trained their entire lives to join the Brotherhood of the Knights, even if they hadn’t made this year mandatory for all eligible recruits.
I scoffed, my upper lip curling as I glared.
Liam looked visibly out of place beside the others—all tall, gangly limbs, purplish bruises painted below each glassy eye. I cringed at the fear swimming in his deep-blue irises.
He didn’t belong there. Not withthem. It wasn’t fair. I would give anything to go in his place. Not that girls weren’t allowed, notofficially, but they hadn’t called one girl’s name at any of the previous gatherings.
Adam sidled up to Liam, a haughty sneer painting his wicked features.
Just yesterday, he’d cornered me and Liam outside the trading post with his buddies. I had grown used to the snickers and slurs; ever since my accident in the woods ten years ago, people gossiped, and none of it was kind. But when he’d set his vicious sights on my brother—shoving into his chest and calling him an invalid—I’d acted on instinct, punching him square in the face. Whereas I’d laughed when he’d doubled over in pain, Adam hadn’t found me fracturing his nose all that amusing.
His nose was still swollen, and the bruises below his eyes had turned a ghastly yellow and purple. I smiled at him from across the street when he met my stare, his eyes narrowing into catlike slits.
I should have known my triumph wouldn’t last.
My vindictive smile fell as Adam leaned to whisper into my brother’s ears, his dark gaze never once leaving mine. My entire body became stone as Liam’s handsome face morphed into a mask of fury. An emotion I’d never seen him wear.
Adam shot me a smug sneer as he pulled away, turning his body to face the commander and the Knights. The final name was being called, this nightmare nearing its end…but whatever vile poison Adam had spewed into Liam’s ears had its intended effect.
One second Adam stood there, beaming with pride, and the next, he was a blur, knocked sideways by rushing limbs.
I thought I might have screamed Liam’s name, but the world became muffled, the crowded square closing in on all sides.
Blood roared in my ears, and my legs instinctively picked up into a run, bringing me straight over to where Adam twisted my brother onto his back, pinning him to the dusty stones.
I definitely shouted a name, but this time it was Adam’s. Or a very foul adjective in its place.
Every head in the crowd swiveled my way before whipping back to the scandalous scene unfolding.
“Adam!” I shouted, nearly upon them. Liam was gasping for air, swinging wildly at his opponent, who held him down with infuriating ease.
“Leave. Him. Alone.”
Panting and clawing at the air now, I realized Liam wasn’t swinging to strike but struggling tobreathe.
Anger—raw and red and dipped in flames—overcame me.
And then I was in front of Adam, my fist colliding with his already bruised face. Even beneath the protection of my gloves, my knuckles stung from the impact.
Still I kept going, delivering another hit to his jaw, only satisfied when he pulled back, his bottom lip open and bleeding.
Droplets fell to the ashen stones, Adam’s polished boots covered in crimson splatters.
