Page 75 of This Shattered Star

“Why?”

“Because, Eloise, I never pinned you as a tease.”

It took monumental amounts of effort to cast away whatever spell he’d woven around my muscles. I managed to snatch my wrist out of his hand. Then spun on my heel, and aimed to leave. Only when my back was to him did I loosen the breath I’d been holding hostage since he’d smiled.

“Where are you going?” he called out with a small laugh.

I thanked the stars that he couldn’t see the furious blush that had already crept along my cheeks. “Anywhere you’re not.”Beangry, nothing else,I ordered myself, but every thump of my heart, every nerve, battled against me.

He laughed again, loudly, and unabashedly.

I prayed to the stars almost daily. For unimportant things. Life-altering things. Hearing that laugh again…

The stars would have to suffer through yet another prayer, it seemed.

I shoved the thought away. Buried it in the furthest corners of my mind. Theia may make pretty promises, but her allegiance was to Kodhan first. I didn’t need her airing out my treacherous thoughts. My stubborn, traitorous,uselessfeelings.

All but three feet into were made into the corridor before I was met with the metal breastplate of a guard, who looked down at me like I was a misbehaving child out of bed after hours. Either he’d been waiting, or I was incredibly unlucky. My bets were on the latter.

“Eloise Fennhaven,” his gravelly voice boomed far too loudly. Any other competitor nearby would know exactly where I was now. “Your presence has been requested by His Majesty.”

“She’s not going anywhere.” I jumped as Kodhan’s shoulder bumped mine. Stars, he moved fast.

The man’s hand went to the pommel of his sword. “You dare defy his orders?”

Brannon was at my other side in an instant. “Wherever she goes, we go.”

“No. You both stay here. I’m sure it’s nothing,” I protested, but Theia nudged Kodhan out of the way. Laid a hand on my arm.

“The king’sorderswere that the Starlight Trials be completed with allies. What he asks would be defying his own word, and would hinder Eloise’s performance. You cannot single her out.” Theia’s words were steady. But my focus was trained on her hand, resting on my arm. A slight tremor racked her fingers.

She wasn’t nervous to face this guard. Far from it. She’d wiped the other one’s memory without a single thought. Had brought three extremely powerful competitors to their knees in an instant.

I narrowed my eyes at her. The slight draw of her brows. The tightness around her mouth. She was afraid, I deduced. But of what?

Of course.She was worried I’d reveal their secret. They all were.

“We move as one, or not at all,” Brannon said, rolling his shoulders. Readying to fight.

We move as one, or not at all.

They defended me like I was one of their own.

One of them.

The guard snickered. “You’ll all die as one, too. Your heads on pikes, the lot of you, if you don’t let the mutt come with me.”

Heat sprouted at my back; a sure sign Kodhan’s flames had come out to parry. “I dare you to say that again. Slowly.”

I reached back in attempts to stop him from advancing on the guard, who drew his sword. My hand smacked against hard, unflinching muscle. “Let it go. I’ll be fine.” I dared a quick glance over my shoulder. I expected Kodhan to argue. Instead, his eyes were downcast, fixed solely on my hand, now flat against his chest.

“I’ll be fine,” I repeated to Theia and Brannon. “I’m sure I’ll return quickly enough.”

“We’ll come looking for you if that isn’t the case,” Brannon swore. By the determined set of his face, I worried they would cut down as many of Maverick’s guards as they needed in order to find me. Even if that meant jeopardizing their places in the final trial.

I slid a few paces closer to the guard. “Just trust me,” I pleaded, facing my three allies. “Stay put. And don’t draw attention to yourselves.” It was the last thing they needed.

They said nothing, though Theia gave a reluctant nod. Her deep frown was far from reassuring.