Page 51 of This Shattered Star

“What are you doing here?” I asked accusingly, keeping my voice low. Then I remembered. It washer room. “Never mind. I’m the one who should be sorry.” Both ends of the corridor appeared empty. But people could be anywhere, listening.

“Brannon snores. And Kodhan wouldn’t speak to either of us after you left. He locked himself in his room and hasn’t openedup since. I couldn’t sleep.” She shrugged one shoulder before sparing an equally dubious look towards our surroundings. “And I wanted to come and check up on you.”

“I couldn’t sleep either,” I admitted. “But I’m alright. No one has tried to come in.” I forced relief into my voice, if only to camouflage the nerves threatening to claw their way out of my stomach.

“That’s good,” she nodded, but her brows lowered. She wasn’t buying it. “What areyoudoing? It looked like you were going somewhere.”

“I thought I heard something,” I lied.

“I know a woman on a mission when I see one. And you have that look,” Theia pressed. “I won’t alert the boys, if that’s what you’re worried about.” My gut feeling told me she wouldn’t move until I told the truth. And I didn’t have time to waste trying to convince her of otherwise.

Sighing, I checked both sides of the corridor once more for good measure. “I can’t tell you any details.”

“So youaregoing somewhere.”

“Yes.”

“Unless there’s a secret room I’m unaware of, there aren’t many places to go while avoiding an encounter with other competitors. If you’re headed somewhere dangerous, I need—”

“I can’t tell you,” I repeated, struggling to keep my voice low. Theia meant well. That much was clear. But I couldn’t argue with her, especially not here.

“Then don’t. But I’m coming with you.” A statement that wasn’t up for negotiation.

I tried to come up with a plausible excuse but came up short. Maverick would be livid if word of this got out. But then again, if I died in the next trial, his anger would be wasted on thin air.

“Fine,” I ground out, already aiming for the grandfather clock. She matched my pace with a bright, innocent smile. Almost gleeful. “You can’t tell a single soul about this.”

“Understood,” she replied, mimicking the motions of locking her lips shut with an invisible key.Just like Brannon.I almost smiled.

I wanted to be alone. Time to breathe properly. But maybe her company wouldn’t prove entirely terrible.

The grandfather clock sat in the same abandoned hallway, untouched. I nearly wept in relief. Its hands had stopped its mindless spinning, pointing to actual numbers. It didn’t matter that they were crooked, bordering on upside-down.Two-seventeen, the hands read.Perfect.

“Let me guess. He gave you another hint?” Theia asked.

“Something like that.” I tilted my head for her to follow. “Come on.” We had to take advantage of every single remaining minute.

“He seems to have a thing for time, doesn’t he?” she pondered.

He did seem to favor time where his hints were concerned. But his hints kept me alive, and therefore I had no real reason to question them further.

Someone who wasn’t careful would’ve already lost themselves in the maze-like corridors. But I was desperate. If I remembered correctly, only a few of them separated us from the exit leading to that alcove. I could already taste the fresh air, crisp and clean compared to the thick layers of dust smeared across the walls, constantly floating up my nose.

At our next turn, any hope I had was instantly shredded into a million pieces of disappointment. My boot scuffed loudly against the floor as I halted, inches away from the crossed arms of another competitor. Three of them stood shoulder to shoulder, like they’d been waiting for an unfortunate soul to stumble upon their web. And we’d walked right into it.

Behind my back, my hands clenched into tight fists.Now our chances of making it outside were close to none.Running into trouble was one thing. Being outnumbered was another.Just our luck.

“What’s this, then?” the first one asked, eyes brightening like he’d been handed a trove of gold. “Trying to sneak away?”

The second elbowed the third and said, “That’s against the rules. I wonder who will punish them? The king certainly doesn’t seem to be around.”

“Darion. Elias. Lachlan. A pleasure, as always.” Theia dipped her chin in greeting, her voice lacquered thick with false sweetness. She placed herself between me and the three of them, far from subtly.

Albeit hearing their names for the first time, I recognized those faces. They were the ones who reached the end of Strength first alongside the woman who could manipulate the vines. The woman who Kodhan had burned right in front of me. The man who’d spoke first, Darion, was the one who’d glared at me like he wished he could tear me apart with his bare hands.

“Cut the false pleasantries. The company you keep speaks for you.” Darion advanced a step, but Theia didn’t budge an inch, lifting her chin at him instead. Though he was taller, the way she looked down her nose at him made him seem several inches shorter.

“The company I keep is none of your business,” Theia replied evenly.