Page 14 of House of Ydril

And I’m pissed at myself. He’smockingme and I’m still finding him so hot. Pathetic, Quinn, just straight-up pathetic.

To my surprise, that all disappears as soon as I come near the Tree. From a distance, it doesn’t look like much. But up close, it makes me feel things I don’t know how to put into words. Like it’s the first thing I’ve ever seen. Properly at least. I lift my hand and I place my palm on its bark. I’m not even thinking about the Trials. I just want to touch it.

And when I do, I feel this soothing energy course through my body. Like there’s peace beyond peace, sight beyond sight.

It startles me, that’s how big of a contrast it makes to this calm energy, when I see the light appear in the hollows of the carvings. And when it wraps around my wrist, all I can do is draw in a surprised breath.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

That’s all that’s going through my mind as I walk up to the Pied Piper, lowering my head so she can put the wreath around my neck.

There’s a strange look in her eyes as she whispers, “You surprise me, little mouse.”

She uses the same pet name she used when she kidnapped me to this place. But I find her ridiculously intimidating so I don’t say anything. My body can’t make up its mind so it does something between a nod and a shrug before I fix my gaze on where I’m supposed to go next. I join the other Chosen, turning to face the crowd, but not before I catch Faust looking at me with surprise in his eyes.

And sure, it’s fine formeto not have expected this. But the Little Prince? How dare he.

So instead of showing how I really feel, which comes down to a mix of confusion and sheer terror, I force myself to throw him the smuggest smile I can muster. I see him shake his head slightly before he looks away. Doesn’t matter. I’ll make him eat his words.

“It is a fine number,” I hear the Pied Piper’s smooth voice boom out, “twenty four. Let us congratulate our Chosen, as well as the one I’m putting in charge of all of them.” She turns to give the prince a smile. “This year’s Ringleader, Andreas Faust.”

My head snaps in his direction and I see his lips curl into a smile as he waves at the audience, who are now clapping and cheering like crazy. And just like that, my own smile slides right off my face.

Chapter eight

Ispendthedayafter the Selection in a sort of haze, my eyes darting to the tattoo on my wrist what feels like every two minutes. I keep expecting it not to be there. It’s only late at night that I meet up with Nuala for dinner. And as soon as I spot her, waiting for me in front of the cafeteria, I see that her spirits are still low.

She doesn’t even get anything to eat. Sitting in front of two plates, one for dinner, one for dessert, I throw her a worried glance.

“You know,” I start, convinced she just needs a change of perspective, “I did some catching up with the previous Trials today, just to see what I’ve gotten myself into. And last year, this fae girl stepped on the wrong spot in the Arena…” I lean a bit forward, dropping my voice to a whisper. “And got spiked to death. Just like that.”

“I know,” she says flatly. “I was there.”

“Oh, of course you were,” I reply, but I’m still surprised by her reaction. “Anyway, my point is, I’d give my left tit just to be able to say ‘No, thanks’ to all of that.”

And I finish with a light laugh, but Nuala’s face just turns to stone.

“You know how many times I’ve heard someone say that?” she says, bitterness lacing her voice. “And you know how many times it came from someone whowasn’tchosen? Zero.”

I feel my eyebrows pulling down. “Are you seriously mad at me for being chosen?”

She just looks at me for a second. “What’re you talking about?” There’s no more bitterness in her voice, just confusion. “Oh shit, Quinn, sorry,” she says and face-palms herself. “I mean, I don’t really like it that you got chosen, but only because you yourself don’t seem to be thrilled.”

I just wave my hand, showing that it’s all water under the bridge. “Then what?” I insist. “Do you really care about it allthismuch?”

“Idon’t,” she says with a shake of her head. “I mean, it involves a lot of fighting. And believe me, I don’t even like having to watch. That girl you mentioned earlier?” She leans a bit forward, as if she’s embarrassed. “Iwasthere, but I was covering my eyes the entire time.”

“So what’s the problem?”

She huffs out a breath. “You know I have six brothers.”

I nod.

“Well, what you don’t know is thatallsix of them,” she says and rolls her eyes, “are these amazing shifters who won a lot of the Champion Titles while they were here.”

“Ah,” I just say, slowly nodding to show how much I get it. I lean a bit forward so I can give her a slap on the shoulder. “But you just have to keep training. I’m sure you’ll be able to compete with them someday.”

She shakes her head vigorously. “No, really, don’t worry about it. I was just being stupid, letting these pressures that have nothing to do with my own wishes mess with my head.”

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