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CHAPTER 19
The Blood Rise beganjust a few days later.
Draven had been avoiding me since we got back from Noctasia. Part of me thought I’d offended him by ignoring him the day we returned. Even though my silence had had nothing to do with him, I knew he didn’t know that. I’d been meaning to say something, but suddenly I was out of time.
I woke up to find Draven gone and Breena knocking furiously at the bedroom door.
“Let me guess,” I said blearily, rubbing sleep from my eyes. “Another garden party? I’ll pass.”
“Not a garden party,” Breena said, looking offended by the very suggestion. “Can you really not know?”
“Know what?” I wasn’t going to come out and say that the prince didn’t exactly keep me well-informed. Besides, it was probably pretty obvious.
Breena hemmed and hawed a moment. “Prince Kairos didn’t explicitly say so, but I know he will want you there.”
“Want me where?” I demanded.
“The Blood Rise,” she hissed. “It begins in an hour. Surely you wish to watch the first challenge...”
“I do,” I cut in sharply. “Of course, I do! What do I need? Where do I go?”
“Let me dress you and then I’ve asked for an escort to meet you at your suite,” Breena said.
“Perfect. Let’s hurry. I want to leave as soon as possible.”
The thought suddenly struck me that Draven could die today. Then I shoved it away. That was an impossibility if there ever was one. He was as hard as nails, as strong as steel, and as infuriatingly stubborn as a brick wall. He’d be fine.
But regardless of how fine he’d be, I wanted to watch whatever was taking place. I didn’t trust Sephone as far as I could throw her and Avriel even less.
There had to be someone there for Draven. Someone watching who was on his side, no matter what.
With not a little irritation, I realized that person had somehow become me.
Maybe I’d tuck the letter opener in my boot, just in case. I’d brought it back from Noctasia. A memento, if you will.
“You need to look your best,” Breena was muttering, half to herself, half to me, as she swept through the pile of clothing she’d carried in, then flung open the doors of my wardrobe. “Something striking. Something fearless.”
She had the right idea, I had to admit. I wondered what she’d put me in.
She lifted a long gown from the pile she had carried in. It was a dove white, as pure as freshly fallen snow.
“White?” I said dubiously. “Are you sure this will strike fear into the hearts of our enemies?”
Breena shook her head stubbornly. “It’s not about striking fear. It’s about showing how different you are from them.”
I stared at the dress. “It’s rather... elaborate.”
