ra

With a huff, I blow away the strand that escaped from my braid.

I’m sweaty and tired. My breathing is growing morebored, and a drop of sweat trickles down my back. 1 grip the hilt of the sword tightly and adjust the position of my feet on the ground.

“What’s the reason for tonight’s party?” I ask.

It’s been days since Abraxas informed me of the celebration, and during that time, I still haven’t managed to take him down. We’ve increased the hours I spend training; not that I have anything better to do here, though Ciro doesn’t seem very pleased about it. Even so, he manages to arrange every meal in mypany, and at each one, he manages to draw out an unexpected smile from me. I’vee to the conclusion that he’s a good person–the problem is that his past haunts him.

*Since when do they need a reason to throw a party?” he replies.

I don’t miss the way he refers to the other vampires as if he weren’t one of them.

“There’s always some hidden motive.”

“Just like you’re trying to distract me now?i” /i

I let out a growl and lunge at him with all the force I can muster. This time I manage to make him step back a few inches. He raises his eyebrows in surprise and curves his lips into a defiant smile. When I attack again, Abraxas responds to my blows with grace and precision. We enact this dance of swords for so long that I consider stopping, until a noise catches both our attention.

A majestic deer, with antlers like a crown, watches us from the forest undergrowth. I wonder how it got here. The animal bewitches me with its chilling ck eyes. I blink to shake off the feeling and realize this is the perfect moment–the one I’ve been waiting for.

I don’t overthink it. I strike as fast as a viper, as silently as I can. Abraxas raises his sword toote, my blow destabilizes him, and afraid I might

not achieve my goal, I jab my elbow into his side. Everything happens with unbearable slowness before my eyes. Abraxas drops his sword

and falls to one knee, hitting the ground hard.

I smile in satisfaction and ce the tip of my wooden sword under his chin.

“Looks like I’ve wonb./bb” /b

“Little cheat.”

“I’d rather say I made good use of the circumstances.”

His smile shows no trace of annoyance, more like pride. With my sword still beneath his chin, he looks directly into my eyesb.. /b

“I believe they’re waiting for you.”

I nce over my shoulder and see that, indeed, both Naida and rissa are waiting at the edge of the training field with pleasant smiles and a parasol.

“First you need to-”

When I turn my gaze back to him, I realize he’s gone, leaving me talking to myself like an idiot. I suppress a string of curses, drop my weapon, and cast onest nce toward the forest–but the animal has vanished too. I head over to meet my handmaidens.

201

“Do you have any color preference for tonight’s dress?” Naida asks.

I shrug, still annoyed and unable to believe Abraxas had the nerve to vanish without fulfilling his end of the deal. Sure, I won in a slightly underhanded way–but I won. It’s not cheating to use your opponent’s distractions.

We enter the vi, where the atmosphere is calm and quiet. I’m not surprised to find a wide assortment of dressesid out across my bed. They help me bathe in record time, and by the time I realize it, my hair cascades down my back and a crown of fresh flowers is woven into it. The result, as always, is magnificent. Every time the two of them work their magic on me, I look in the mirror and wonder if the girl staring back is really me.

“Stunning.”

All three of us stifle a gasp of surprise as we turn toward the door. Ciro leans against the frame, dressed in a perfect suit with no trace of his usual vests. I scan him quickly, stopping on his eyes, still fixed on me.

“You think so?”

I clear my throat and smooth down the dress. Yes, it really is dazzling, with a fabric that fades from a deep crimson around my chest into night–ck in the skirt. Around my neck is a cor of obsidian stones, so heavy that no one could doubt their authenticity.

“I don’t think I know it for certain.” He steps into the room. “You take my breath away, ra.”

Naida and rissa choose that exact moment to leave, though I can tell they do so reluctantly. Ciro offers me his arm, and with a few steps, I close the distance between us. Like everything that surrounds him, the carriage he’s chosen tonight is elegant–fit for a king. I suppose having the surname Amery is almost like being royalty. If the distance between Ciro’s vi and Aeron’s mansion is any indication of their rtionship, I’d say it’s quite close. No wonder then that Cassian lives the farthest away, though I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t want it any other way. He may radiate charisma and charm, but he’s not exactly a social soul.

“Is there anything expected of me tonight?” I ask.

Ciro frowns slightly and gives me a puzzled look.

“Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know… I guess I’m nervous.”

I don’t tell him that most of the nerves are because of my imminent encounter with Cassian and the tremendous effort I’ll need to make not to let my heart betray me.

“It’s just another party. You don’t have to be nervous. Besides, your friend Walter will be there.”