Total pages in book: 214
Estimated words: 195876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 979(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 653(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 195876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 979(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 653(@300wpm)
Before I can respond, Mireen steps in. “Whether or not we can trust Raith, at least we know we have Typhon on our side.” A small smile plays across her lips as she watches the small flying fish that now hovers near my shoulder. "Even if he is... modest in size, assuming he won't risk showing his true form during the Crucible."
"I will show her modest when I consume a small village in front of her eyes."
"You will not."
"No, I will not. But I could, and that is the point."
"I'm not sure yet," I say to Mireen's point about whether Typhon will be able to show his true form. "But I know I'm not going to let any of you die just to preserve the secret about him."
"This is all great," Beck says. "But I'm starving, and the dining hall is going to fill up if we don't get our asses moving soon. So... can we continue this conversation over food?"
We make our way through the tower's winding stone staircase, our earlier lightness now tempered by the news of Malakai's expanding coalition. The dining hall will be packed this time of evening, but none of us have the luxury of skipping meals with the Crucible so close.
"What do we actually know about the Crucible itself?" I ask as we descend. "Beyond the whole 'teams of five' thing?"
"It's a test of survival and combat skills in unknown terrain," Ambrose replies. "From what I've gathered, they drop us somewhere remote and we have to navigate to a specific location while other teams try to eliminate us. I've spoken with upper-year students and consulted texts. The details change every year, but these generalities do seem to stay the same."
"Eliminate as in...?"
"Kill, incapacitate, whatever gets the job done," Ambrose says bluntly.
Beck shrugs as we walk through a long hall lined with tapestries painted in faded oils. Each shows famous battles and primals with huge, impossibly large elementals locked in combat. "I heard there's more at stake than just the winning team getting promoted to legacy status. They apparently use our performance to help decide our assignments and positions after graduation. Fuck up too badly, and you'll wind up getting sent behind enemy lines on a suicide mission or something."
"I doubt that," I say.
"Doubt all you want," Beck says with upturned palms. "I'm only saying what I've heard."
"What you heard from some girl you were sleeping with?" Mireen asks.
"Hey," Beck snaps. "The words spoken over pillows are often the most true."
As we cross the courtyard, snowflakes drift lazily from a steel-gray sky. The cold bites through my uniform, but I barely notice. My attention is fixed on a tall, scarred figure standing at the edge of the training yard, watching me with eyes like torches in the darkness.
Raith.
Even from this distance, his gaze burns into me, igniting a heat that washes away the cold evening air. My body remembers the feel of his hands, the press of his mouth against mine, the solid weight of him pinning me against the wall.
Behind him stands his fire panther, Pyrin, its flaming form more substantial than before, more detailed. The elemental's fiery eyes seem to track me as well, its head tilted in what almost looks like curiosity.
Mireen follows my gaze and sighs. "Just go already."
"What?" I tear my eyes away from Raith to look at her.
"We all know you want to talk to him," she says, a knowing smirk on her face. "I’ll just bring you something to eat later.”
"I don't—" I start to protest, but Beck cuts me off.
"Come on, Nessa. It's painfully obvious." He gestures vaguely at my face. "You get all... glowy when you see him."
"Glowy?" I sputter.
"It's an accurate assessment," Ambrose confirms. "Your pupils dilate, your respiration increases, and your cheeks flush. Classic signals of sexual arousal and attraction."
"Have you been studying me?"
He shrugs. "The signs are rather obvious, Nessa."
I want to argue, but Raith is already moving away, heading toward the eastern section of campus. If I'm going to catch him, it has to be now.
"Fine," I concede. "I'll meet you all later."
"You know," Mireen says, her voice dropping so only I can hear, "you don't have to be ashamed of wanting him. I know I've made it hard for you to feel okay about it, and I'm sorry for that. I just... want to make sure you're careful. Okay? I care about you, and I know you trust him, but..."
"But what?"
Her eyes are serious, the crescent scar beneath one eye catching the dim light. "But I've watched people I care about die because they trusted the wrong person. I couldn't bear it if that happened to you, too."
The sincerity in her voice catches me off guard.
"I'll be careful," I promise. "I'm not as reckless as you think."
She raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Use protection,” she teases.