“What happened?” Adrianna asked, bracing a hand against her hip. A curt manner, but I saw the nerves brewing beneath.
Goldwyn brushed the hail from the shoulders of her black and silver uniform. At least she didn’t seem upset. Just annoyed. “Hilda’s playing the middle. She’s not punishing either side. Although, she’s upheld Wilder’s judgment that Dimitri’s Boars have failed the trial. She’ll allow them to fight for their place in the arena, if another pack fails.”
Bleak expressions were exchanged.
Adrianna took the words right out of my mouth, “If they get that chance, they’ll win.”
Goldwyn didn’t bother denying it. She nodded. “No doubt, but right now you have other, more pressing concerns.”
My pulse sped up. Cai had lied to Goldwyn about how we’d “stolen” Maggie’s hair. We’d agreed on our journey back to Kasi that the truth would only lead to difficult questions about the reading I’d offered in exchange. So what was she referring to?
“Dimitri won’t forget this slight. You’ve made his pack of vicious vipers look weak,” Goldwyn said, her eyes twinkling, her mouth quirking. “And if they stay, he’ll have a group of angry male fae with which to lash out at you all.”
Cai collapsed back on his bed and stretched luxuriously. “Gods, how did that dickless wonder become a mentor here, anyway?”
My eyes instinctively shifted to Adrianna, then to Frazer. They both looked uneasy. Goldwyn hadn’t been our instructor long. We didn’t know how she’d react, nor how casual or free we could be.
But she just regarded Cai in cool amusement. “As refreshing as your lack of propriety is, Caiden,” she emphasized his full name with a smile, “I will not discuss the politics of this place. Not only do I find it deathly dull, but it also wouldn’t help you.” She stepped closer. All humor gone. “However, I will say that Dimitri is a vindictive male who’s amassed a killer reputation for pettiness.”
Cai barked a mocking laugh.
“Don’t underestimate him.” She snapped a little there. “You’ve embarrassed him, and now he’ll use whatever influence he has to come after you. So, I have to ask, is there anything he can use against you?”
Where should we start? Everything could be used against us. Our secrets had secrets at this point. Not that we could tell her that.
Adrianna was the first to speak. “If he’s determined to have us thrown out, it won’t matter what’s true or not. He could just make shit up or twist the truth.”
Goldwyn’s brow furrowed as she tilted her head. “True enough. He’s already tried to get Serena kicked out.”
“What?”
That came out more loudly than I’d anticipated.
Everyone stared at me.
Goldwyn’s lips thinned. “During the meeting today, he accused you of seducing your mentor.”
Anger—and maybe a bit of shame—flooded my cheeks.
“Hilda didn’t care much,” Goldwyn said. “Technically, it isn’t even against the rules, especially since he passed your training off to me. Speaking of which, it’s another two days until the next trial’s announced. We should make use of the time and continue your lessons.”
Gods damn it.
“You don’t have to do that,” Frazer said, cutting a sidelong glance to me. “Our pack will be training with one another from now on.”
A fissure of surprise ran through me. Cai and Liora exchanged looks that said the same thing. But Adrianna nodded and flexed her fingers. “That’s right.”
Ho, ho. That was a change.
Goldwyn was all swagger and audacious smiles. “That’s your decision, but Serena won’t be rid of me so easily. Besides, Wilder’s very noble and all that, but to survive here, she’ll need someone to teach her to play rough. And that happens to be my specialty.”
Two days passed, during which Goldwyn and Frazer took responsibility for my training. Their combative styles were fresh and different, so they gave me a whole host of new tricks and counterattacks. Adrianna stepped into the role of mentor for Liora and Cai, but only when she thought he was doing something wrong. So, all the time.
Every hour of our pack’s time was carefully regimented and exhausting. But without saying a word to one another, we’d taken Maggie’s words to heart. None of us trained alone. We were together every minute, which had its own frictions and challenges. One good thing came out of it though—my bond with Frazer strengthened. Now, whenever we were apart, which wasn’t often, I could track him easily and vice versa. I cherished the thought that one day, no matter the distance or the ocean separating us, we’d find our way back to each other.
Thanks to the full days and dreamless nights, I didn’t have time to dwell on certain unpleasant truths. One, however, was difficult to avoid; it breathed down my neck daily. Wilder’s pack had failed the trial. They’d battled it out in the ring with Tysion and his thugs. Except it wasn’t a battle—more like a three-minute slaughter. It culminated in the Bats being dismissed from camp with a few broken bones for their trouble, while Tysion and his gang remained. Goldwyn’s warning about Dimitri’s possible wrath was just one more reason we stuck together. On the evening of the second day, however, as the instructors—and oddly, Bert—gathered the remaining four packs in the ring, it proved impossible to avoid certain feelings. Specifically, a gut-wrenching pain triggered by a set of green eyes and wings.
As always, Liora saw through the cracks in my pathetic attempt at an unfeeling mask. She moved an inch closer, her shoulder brushing mine in solidarity. Adrianna mimicked her, standing closer on my right side. I didn’t know if it was for the same reasons, but it warmed my heart, nonetheless.
Mikael was the first mentor to speak, his voice deep and rumbling, with little feeling. “Tomorrow, the third trial begins, and it’ll be a hunt for sprites.”
A hiss of whispers broke out among the recruits.
“Silence,” Dimitri drawled.
The whispering ceased immediately. Mikael continued without missing a beat. “You must bring down two sprites per pack. You may choose any sprite as long as they’re classified as a threat to fae and humankind.”
Dimitri interrupted with a flick of his wrist. “Of course, if you really want to impress, you could bring back a devos sprite.” He said it with a nasty smirk in our direction.
Cecile said in her quiet tones, “Those sprites have been classified as first-class killers. Do not attempt to slay one unless you are confident.” Cecile clasped her hands behind her back and went on. “If you fail to bring back evidence of the kill, you will be automatically expelled. No second chances in the ring. If you succeed, however, you are to present your proof to Bert.”
Cecile’s eyes slid to Goldwyn, who picked up the conversation. “We’re recommending that the packs split into teams of two or three, to improve your chances of success. You’ll only have six days this time, so be smart about how you approach this one.”
Frazer caught my eye. Together?
A tendril of his dry humor reached me.
Of course, brata.
His lip quivered.
My stomach dropped at the sound of Wilder’s voice. “And we’re also allowing magic again, for those among you who can use it.”
“So, just Cai then,” Dimitri barked, glaring over at our pack. “A clear bias, which we must squash.”
“Well, if we’re going to quibble over fairness, perhaps we should discuss allowing the fae to fly to their destinations while the humans walk?” Goldwyn sounded lightly.
Wow. She really liked poking the monster.
Dimitri looked like he’d swallowed poison as spontaneous murmurs broke out among the recruits.
Wilder cut across the noise by teasing in a droll voice, “Goldwyn, that’s not very helpful.”
“Apologies,” Goldwyn purred.
Wilder shot her a smile that had my guts boiling with a very unwelcome emotion. He faced the recruits. “You may leave at any time tomorrow. We won’t be seeing you off again.”