Page 120 of Steel Heart Iron Claws

Really, I almostfeel bad for the guy.

Artain picks up his bow. “Time to take our places.”

I pick up my own bow, slinging it and my quiver over my shoulder. Then, gently, I touch Sabine’s chin and, for a brief second, everything else falls away. “I found you once, little violet. I’ll find you again.”

She leans her head into my palm. “We’ll find each other across any distance.”

Artain chuckles darkly. “So serious, aren’t you both? Please. It’s agame.”

I feel an itch somewhere in the center of my back that I can’t scratch. My instincts whisper that this isn’t a game, no matter how they dress it up with rules and wagers. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that nothing in this world is ever as straightforward as it appears, especially when the fae are involved.

But what choice do we have?

As if reading my mind, Artain spins back around with a finger raised.

“Oh! I almost forgot.” A wicked curl tugs at his lips. “There’sonemore thing to mention.”

Chapter 32

Sabine

That pretty faebastard.

The Night Hunt is on the verge of starting. Any second now, the rooftop bellringer will signal Seventh Hour, when I’m supposed to run into Vallen Forest and hide. Already, I feel the pull of animals in the woods calling to me, standing by to help me. Sensing my need.

But now? A shiver runs up my limbs. I exchange a nervous look with Basten as I hug my arms close.

“You can’t change the rules now, Artain,” I spit.

“There’s no change.” Artain plucks a tiny green inchworm off his tunic. “The deal we struck is binding. It’s really more of a…footnote.”

My stomach tightens. I don’t have time for this. I only have an hour to get a head start from Artain. Once that bell rings, I need torun.

“What kind of fae bullshit is this?” Basten demands, the cords in his neck straining.

Artain holds the inchworm up to the light, watching it crawl down his finger. “If Lord Basten wins,you’ll be free to leave Drahallen Hall with him, Lady Sabine. As per our terms. However, at that point, our game will be over. Including its binding rules. There will be nothing to stop me from putting an arrow in his skullthen.” He puffs on the inchworm to send it flying into the air. “How’s this for a footnote? If Lord Basten wins, I kill him right after.”

My cheeks blaze red. “That isn’t fair!”

Artain smooths a wrinkle out of his tunic. “Itisfair. It adheres to our deal.”

Anger floods me as I fight the urge to grab his bowstring and wind it around his neck. As much as I want to see his pretty eyes bulge out, I have to be smart. Quick thinking, too. Because that bell is going to ring at any moment. And Artain won’t wait around twiddling his thumbs for me to argue with him.

“You gods-damned lying bastard.” Basten draws his hunting knife in one smooth move. “If we can kill each other outside of the game, then I’ll do the honors now, before it even starts.”

He lunges for Artain, but Artain has his bow at the ready.He was waiting for this.Basten’s blade catches Artain’s bow in the center, deep enough to stick in the wood. Artain gives a cold smile as he draws his own hunting knife with his free hand.

“You’re welcome to try,” Artain hisses.

“Basten, don’t!” I yell. “You can’t win hand-to-hand combat against a god!”

But Basten ignores me, circling Artain in a fighting stance.

Gods, he’s going to get himself killed.

“Wait!” I lurch forward to grab Artain’s sleeve, holding his arm back, and say in a rush, “End the game now. Or waitfor the bell and end it then. You’ve won, Artain. That’s what you want, isn’t it? I’ll spend a night with you!”

“Sabine,no.” Basten wrenches his knife out of Artain’s bow with an angry grunt.

---