Page 42 of A Sword of Shadow and Deceit

Ruen’s expression sours. “Don’t play your stupid games, Kalix,” he growls. “You remember what Theos and I warned you of.”

“What?” Kalix blinks with seemingly feigned innocence. Though, for some reason, I don’t think it’s feigned. Perhaps he truly thinks his actions are fun and game-like. As much as I’d watched him over the course of the last few weeks, picking up on even the smallest hints in his attitude and changes, I’ve noticed that he appears to be more unaware of the expectations of others. He doesn’t get insulted by comments that would enrage others. He seeks pleasure when he can—fucking any willing Mortal God or Terra that catches his eye—even if that pleasure has pain mixed in.

The only reason I haven’t gotten caught up in his recreational activities as of yet, I suspect, is because of the other two. Footsteps prick at my ears and I turn and bow as Theos approaches, his booted feet scuffing the dirt out of his way.

“Master Theos,” I greet politely. Golden eyes move over me before ultimately, he appears to decide to ignore me in favor of his brothers.

“Darius?” He sets his eyes on Ruen.

“He’s ready,” Ruen replies.

Theos grits his teeth and a low growl erupts from his throat. “He has the brawn but not the prowess. They’ll eat him alive in advanced placement.”

“Then he’ll learn how to develop the prowess, Theos,” Ruen says. “You can’t protect him forever.”

Placing his hands on his hips, Theos glowers at his brother. “I’m not protecting him, damn it.”

Ruen doesn’t back down. “He’s your friend.”

Moments of tense silence pass between them. Theos neither refutes Ruen’s words nor does Ruen recant them. It breaks with a muttered curse and Theos turning away to kick at the dirt. “Axlan thinks we should move up with Enid and Darius,” Theos states.

Ruen nods as if he’d been expecting as much. “We’ve done our job of inspecting the class,” he says. “I doubt we’ll see any improvement with the rest of them until next semester.”

“Does that mean more fun?” Kalix inquires, jostling me against him as he bends slightly and tilts his head to the side. My insides contract and release as I repress the urge to fling his arm off of me and slug him in his face. I didn’t realize how much I disliked being touched without consent until someone was constantly doing it.

“It means a schedule change,” Theos answers. “Our new training class will be shifted to a more advanced time.” Finally, he turns and looks at me. “You won’t be required to attend, Terra.”

Though a part of me is relieved to find out that I won’t have to stand at the sidelines of yet another of their classes, another part of me is curious as to the reason. “Am I bothering you, Master Theos?”

I don’t know if it’s the sound of his name or his status that irritates him, but whatever the case, once the question is past my lips, his entire face contorts. Theos scowls at me, his golden gaze darkening at the edges. “Terra don’t ask questions,” he barks. “They follow orders. Nothing more.”

Kalix snickers and leans into me even harder, forcing me to plant my feet and widen my stance on the ground to keep upright. “He’s still bitter about you thwarting his plot to embarrass you with Malachi,” Kalix half whispers, half chuckles. He’s making it incredibly obvious that he has no intention of hiding his words from his brother and is in fact using them to anger him further.

“Keep your mouth shut, Kalix,” Theos snaps. “I didn’t see you offering any solution anyway.”

Green eyes alight on me. “No, I don’t wish to run this one off just yet,” he says. His words are coated in charm and if I’ve learned anything in my life, it’s that charming men are often the most dangerous. Prickles of awareness spread over the back of my neck.

Sensing someone’s eyes, I turn slightly and peer over my shoulder. A girl with hair blacker than a raven’s wing pulled taut enough to make the sides of her face appear higher than is natural glares across the arena. Thick eyelashes lower and crystalline blue eyes glower right at me. Her full lips are twisted and scowling, turning her expression into one of both rage and disgust. A dreadful feeling blossoms in my lower belly. Somehow, I know that I should avoid that one at all costs.

“Enid and Darius might be able to match each other in battle, but the rest of this group is practically hopeless,” Ruen comments, drawing my attention back to him.

Theos blows out a breath. “Agreed. They’re in for a sore awakening once they reach their upper years,” he says. “End-of-semester one-on-ones will be a bloodbath.”

Kalix laughs, throwing his head back with great amusement. “It always is!” he crows.

My curiosity gets the better of me. “May I ask what you’re referring to?”

All gazes fall on me. Kalix smirks. Theos frowns, but it’s Ruen who answers. “All of us are required to hold our own against another of our same status,” he says. “We’re tested on the usage of our ability and fighting skills at the end of every semester in one-on-one battles.”

“The Third Tiers always come out with their bodies ravaged,” Kalix says jovially, as if the thought of someone’s pain is amusing to him. Who am I kidding? It is. The psychopath.

Theos sighs and reaches up, scrubbing a hand down his face. “God Axlan asked us to attend his lower classes for a few weeks to pick out the best students to be moved up,” he admits. “But even with Enid’s and Darius’ skills, I suspect they’ll have a rough time during the battles.”

“Will you also be fighting?” I ask.

Ruen and Theos exchange a look before nodding. “All Tiers are required to fight, no exceptions,” Ruen replies.

It’s an interesting piece of information. “What’s the reason?”

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