Page 74 of The Incendiary

No. I stopped myself. Hell no. I would not be grateful to Elias Winterton for a single thing he taught me. Not ever, but especially not now.

But even if I refused to admit it, I was grateful, because Mavic had just wrenched himself free from Finch’s grasp and was running right toward me, red banner still tucked securely in the back of his pants.

“Go!” He waved me in Mina’s direction. “Go, go, go!”

I sprinted over to Mina, who still lay on the ground, then I grabbed her hand and pulled her in the direction of the fortress. I wasn’t sure how long we ran, but we didn’t stop until we were just outside the fortress walls.

When we reached the north entrance, everyone but Mavic and I were bent at the waist and gasping for breath.

“Thanks for your help, Hoss!” Mavic glared at the young man I suspected was Valda’s brother or cousin. He seemed to be one of the most capable cadets on their team.

“I’m not interested in getting in Draven Finch’s way to help the Brinnean.” Hoss stood tall and opened the door to the fortress, which was thankfully unlocked for us. “That’s your prerogative, Reed.”

“The Brinnean just won this test for us! And now, my older sister is one step closer to getting to spend her first year as a mother in a big, old magnificent room on the top level!” Mavic blocked Hoss’s way so Mina and I could enter the fortress first. I hadn’t known Mavic to sound so angry. “Fera, you take both banners.” He handed me their red.

“What?” I shifted my weight and winced at the pain in my calf. The adrenaline had dulled the sting from the arrow hit, but after such an abrupt stop, it was returning. “That’s not nec⁠—”

“You saved me from an ugly necklace of bruises.” Mavic rubbed at the spot on his neck where he’d nearly been strangled. “And my beautiful face still is preserved, which means I probably have you to thank for getting laid this weekend.”

“Good gods.” Mina exhaled a tired groan.

He ignored her and pressed on. “And you saved Mina from who knows what.” He paled as his own words settled. Had Mina not ducked when I told her to, she’d likely be dead.

Mina cleared her throat. “You take them.” She took the red banner from Mavic and shoved it into my arms. “Commander Winterton shouldn’t make you prove yourself any more than the rest of us.”

I glanced at the other cadets, none of whom protested despite their distrusting glares.

“Go.” Mavic nudged me toward Elias’s quarters. His other hand tightened on Mina’s shoulder, even when she tried to shift out of his grasp. Cadets were meant to be safe from other cadets. It was difficult to stomach what Finch had almost done.

Guards glowered at me while I limped to Elias’s quarters, two banners draped over my left arm, then braced myself for the arrogant thief on the other side of the door.

I entered to find him lounging in his chair, arms lazily crossed over his broad chest. His blue-gray eyes widened excitedly at the sight of me. “Well, isn’t this a lovely surprise?”

The mere sight of him flushed away my nerves, replaced by blood-heating rage. I hid my limp as best I could and stabbed through both banners with a blade, pinning them to his wooden desk. I didn’t care that I left a nasty dent. He would have to sand and refinish the surface to get rid of it.

I hoped it took him hours. I hoped it took him days.

Who was I kidding? He’d make someone else do it.

Elias leaned forward, focused on my leg wound. “Are you bleeding on my floor, Fera?”

“Yes,” I admitted shamelessly. “The red team won.”

He cocked his head. “Are you sure about that, Fera?”

“Yes,” I said again, gesturing to the red banner. “You almost had Finch bringing me in here, but he made the mistake of underestimating me, which, as I’m sure you’ve learned by now, isn’t a smart thing to do.”

“Shame.” Elias tsked and shook his head. “Where is Finch now?”

“Limping and moping around in a field, probably. When he returns, he’ll need the infirmary.”

His brow rose. “How bad is he?”

Bad enough to kill someone as harmless as Mina Reed.

“You can go see for yourself,” I said instead. “Bring him some roses while you’re at it. I’m sure he’ll appreciate you warming him up before he kisses your ass like everyone else does.” I imagined the sycophants weren’t any better in the Caves. Worse, probably.

He laughed and wagged his fingers between my eyes. “That fire you have is quite admirable. I’m pleased to have brought more of that out of you today.”