Page 23 of This Shattered Star

Ignoring the heat sprouting along the base of my spine, spreading to the lower parts of my stomach, I bit the inside of my cheek. Refused to play his game.

When I played with fire, it would be mine.Onlymine.

A familiar voice called out from behind us. Followed by the echo of angry footfalls. “Bastard! You almost burnt my boots!”

Kodhan had been right, after all.

Despite the accusation, he turned with a smile brighter than the flames he’d conjured. “My apologies.”

“My apologies? So it will bemy apologieswhen my fist connects with your nose?” Brannon challenged, crossing the length of the corridor with Theia at his side. Their clothes were twin to ours. It made them look all the more threatening.

“They’re just boots.”

“Just boots.” Brannon pointed an accusatory finger. Several char-marks did mar his boots. He’d ditched the rings. A pity, but they had no real value here. “Try getting through these trials barefooted, and then come and speak to me.” He inclined his chin towards me. “Good to see you’re still in one piece, Eloise.”

“I’m still in one piece too, if you haven’t noticed.” Kodhan crossed his arms over his chest.

Brannon sighed. “Unfortunately.”

Theia jabbed her elbow into his ribs, although her smile betrayed her amusement. She stepped closer to me. “You kept your promise.”

Not entirely sure of what to say, I cleared my throat. “Why wouldn’t I? It wasn’t a very difficult one to keep.”

Her smile grew even wider than Kodhan’s.

“Come on, we’ll talk behind an extra set of hinges. There are likely sixteen angry competitors about to run amok, thanks toyou.” Brannon shot an agitated glare in Kodhan’s direction, who didn’t look the least bit guilty.

He picked another stray piece of ash off his sleeve. “Like I’ve said before. I’m efficient.”

And that was all he spared before we trailed back to Brannon’s room.

It looked exactly like mine. It held the same empty hearth, a bed, chair, and a sad excuse for a mirror hung on the wall facing the bed. Theia’s room was a few doors off. Closer in distance than mine and Kodhan’s, which saved them the initial trouble of finding each other.

Sensing my stare, Kodhan narrowed his eyes at me before claiming the edge of the bed, resting both elbows on his knees. “We found Theia and Brannon.”

“An astute observation.”

“You said that you would explain. So, speak.”

I knew we didn’t have the blessings of time on our side. But I perched on the chair, crossing one leg over the other before leaning back against the hearth. “I’m not a dog.”

“No?”

“Kodhan.” Theia’s warning sliced through the thickness in the air. Sharper than the blade at my hip. “Don’t be an ass.”

“Seems like that’s all he knows how to do,” I remarked, fidgeting with the hilt of his blade.

Theia tucked a strand of copper hair behind her ear, eyes flickering upwards as if praying for extra patience. “Is this about how you took his dagger from him?”

“What makes you think I took it from him?”

“He would never willingly hand it over.” The seriousness of her tone had me letting go of the hilt. “He’s not dead, which means you must have fought him for it and won. And if youwon…” A small smile. “I could learn a thing or two from someone as skilled as yourself.”

Brannon nodded in agreement, then added, “I know you have at least one hundred reasons not to trust any of us. We understand that. Really, we do.” His amber eyes softened. “But this is new for us, too. We’re used to our ways. Aware of all our strengths and weaknesses.”

“We’re allies now. Our best chance at survival is if we work together.” Theia’s smile grew into something warm, reassuring.

Gnawing on the inside of my cheek, I avoided Kodhan’s expectant look. Brannon’s room was too damned small. I had no place to hide. No corner to fade into.