Page 15 of The Breaker of Stars

That was fine. I didn’t intend to back out of this fight.

I reached for the parchment, but the man pulled it away at the last moment. “You can sign, but her signature is the one that matters.”

My voice dropped into a growl as his eyes landed on Vale, and I nearly snapped the pen in half. “Why?”

The man’s eyes dragged over me, snagging on the blades tucked into the vambraces at my wrist, where the mystlight illuminated a distinct Mystique sigil. Damien’s balls.

“Should’ve left the foreign blades at home,” he said.

Vale had convinced me to leave my scythe at the inn, but I hadn’t been comfortable without any weapons. I should have bought triple blades, even if just for show.

“Everyone who loses is required to give a reading,” he continued. “You clearly are not capable of doing that.”

“And if I win?” I asked.

He scoffed. “If you win against Ledger, you’ll hear from her.” He gestured over his shoulder where a dark curtain was drawn, beaded chains dangling before it. “True names only. The ink will know.”

Grumbling, I signed the slip of paper and slid it to Vale. Wary eyes met mine.

I dropped my voice low enough that only she would hear and swore, “You’re not going to have to read. I won’t let that happen.”

“Cypherion,” she whispered, “I’m rethinking this?—”

“You’re rethinking this?” I snapped, brows raised. Was she concerned for me? And why did a part of me want her to be?

“Yes, I am rethinking this! It involves me.” Her eyes locked on the paper, my signature blatant and shining. Full first name and everything. “I can’t attempt anything here.”

The fear in her tone grated through my chest. I shoved that away.

She was worried about herself. Only herself, as always. Fine, but I would do what I needed to win this information and stay true to my cause here.

“I promise you won’t come near a reading, Vale. No incense, nothing.” She hesitated, not meeting my eyes, so I took a step closer. “I swore to protect you when I accepted this mission. I swore to see you back to Starsearcher Territory to retrieve whatever answers we could find and fix your sessions so you can aid Ophelia. I won’t let that vow break in something as basic as a fighting ring.”

Her brows drew together, working through something I’d said. Or something I didn’t. Spirits, I didn’t know. But whatever it was had a small bead of hurt widening in her eyes.

“I know these people, Cypherion. You don’t.”

Apparently my promises held little weight to her, because she didn’t even acknowledge it.

“This is happening, Vale.” My tone was harsher than usual, but desperation was sending my nerves into a riot. We didn’t have time for this, and I couldn’t afford the distraction.

No matter how much it twisted my gut.

“You may be a victor in Damenal, but here they won’t—” Her eyes flitted around the dim room, latching onto someone or something, I didn’t care. I kept my stare on her and didn’t miss when she took a sharp breath, lifted her chin, and blinked a few times.

Unsettled.

Spirits, it ripped at that stirring instinct in my chest, but I fought it down, locked all the doors that it may try to escape through.

“They won’t play fair,” Vale said. Why did she even care?

“Good thing I won’t either, Stargirl.” I tapped the paper. “Sign.”

She mumbled something beneath her breath, but as I started taping up my hands, she did as I said. We didn’t speak as I discarded my vambraces and weapons, removing my tunic and tying back part of my hair with a leather band.

Once the bet was sealed behind the counter, I turned away, ready to storm toward the rope and shut out the jeering crowd. But Vale snatched my arm just above the tape. Skin against skin, her warmth rocked through my body.

“Be careful,” she muttered, only loud enough for me to hear.

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