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Theron cursed as Xadrian stumbled, nearly falling in front of the beast. I wanted to reach out and help him, but I knew there was nothing I could do. Then, in a burst of brilliant magic, Xadrian brought up a spear from the sand before him, launching it up into the beast’s soft belly. It roared in pain, collapsing forward and attendants ran out, dragging the thrashing beast back into the darkness. He rolled to his feet with a jaunty smile, as if he’d planned it all, and the crowd went wild.
Xadrian turned to the royal platform, bowing to the emperor before his eyes found mine.
“Salfár magic,” Raenisa sniffed. “That doesn’t seem sporting.”
Theron lifted a shoulder. “A warrior uses all the tools at his disposal.” He followed Xadrian’s gaze, finding it locked on me, and scowled. “Come on. There won’t be any more bouts until they fix all those holes.”
He took my arm in his, drawing me away to break my attention from the man in the Colosseum.
I couldn’t help but compare them.
Theron with his hungry eyes and hidden hurts, his sharp wit, and the parts of himself he was constantly hiding from the world...
And then there was Xadrian, with his air of mystery and seductive charm. He was everything Theron wasn’t: open, confident, and unapologetically himself. I was drawn to him, even though he was just as bad as the rest of them.
I shook my head. These thoughts wouldn’t help me on my mission. The real question was, why had his magic affected me like that? As if it was a language that I’d once spoken, half-forgotten in a new land. I needed information, and I thought I knew who to ask.
Chapter 19
Theron
“Ihavenothingtowear,” Kael complained, frowning at her full wardrobe.
“Put on one of those,” I waved at the rack of colorful dresses as I shot her an amused grin. “It’s just a dinner party,” I said, hiding my worry about tonight.
I’d received an invitation from Varzorn himself to attend him during a party, one to which they invited only the high houses. I knew better than to hope, but it would be the perfect opportunity for him to give me my new orders in the Niothe. And finally kick Theodas back into the ranks where he belonged.
“I don’t have anything to wear,” she said, her voice tight. “Can you call for Kadir?”
I frowned, and she gave me a small smile as if trying to win me over even though I knew she despised me. Though maybe I was winning her over more than I’d thought. She’s been acting strange, but less combative. Perhaps things between us were changing? Regardless, it felt good to take care of her and if she wanted more clothes, then I’d give them to her.
“Of course.” She smiled at me, and my heart thumped painfully. It was the first time I’d seen a genuine smile on her face, and she wasbreathtaking. Her green eyes shone like emeralds, softening the hard lines of her features into a beauty that had to rival the goddesses that once walked the earth. She had to be a daughter of Thanja because I’d seen nothing more beautiful than her at this moment. Not even the cascading waterfalls in the north or the sun setting over the seas held the same majesty. Her smile faltered at the look on my face, and I wondered what she saw in my expression.
I cleared my throat. “I’ll send for the tailor.” Striding away, I found the attendant in the hall and sent a message for Kadir to come at once.
Kael eyed me when I returned to the living room. I stalked forward, intent on claiming her. A knock at the door interrupted me and I swore. Damn Kadir for his punctuality.
“Come in,” I called and Zora busted in with her bright smile and bubbly nature on full display as she squealed, while Oz looked serious and studious as always.
“Theron!” Zora exclaimed, throwing her arms around me. “It’s been too long!”
“It’s good to see you, Zora,” I said, hugging her back. “And you too, Oz.”
Oz nodded at me, his eyes already scanning the room for something to read before he walked over to my bookshelf and pulled one off the shelf.
“Less than ten seconds before you grabbed a book,” Zora called to her twin as she flopped onto the couch, patting the space beside her for Kael to sit down. “That has to be a record, even for you, Oz.”
Kael looked between us, her expression bewildered when Zora turned to her. “We’ve been here for days and go nowhere but the library. What’s the point of coming?”
“Um.” Kael shot me an alarmed look that made me laugh.
“To visit me?” I asked, sitting down on Kael’s other side and stretching my arm over the back of the couch and behind her shoulders.
“And report to my mother what happens here,” Oz said without looking up from his book, one of my histories of Adraedor. “She still doesn’t want to risk coming to court after what happened to your father.”
My expression darkened. I didn’t need a reminder of that. It was etched into my mind like the carvings that Zora created, never to be smoothed away. I avoided Kael’s questioning glance, instead toying with one of her curls and changing the subject. “How’s the research going?”
“It’s going well,” he said, his tone clipped. “I’m making progress.”
