Page 39 of House of Lilith

Slowly, I spin around to take it all in, the old stone walls covered in ancient tapestries, the tall stained glass windows, the comfy, colorful armchairs and couches all around me.

“It’s where we come to waste time between classes,” I hear her say, less pissed-off this time. “There’s always people here ready to play a game and sometimes we throw parties, mostly on Fridays.”

I turn my eyes back to her just as this soft ping sounds from her clutch. She opens it to look inside, the screen of her phone glowing as she checks her messages.

I probably won’t see her again, except at the Games.

“You know,” I start as soon as she looks up at me again, not giving her a chance to say she has to leave, “I’ll forgive you for calling my questions stupid…” I pause, watching a little frown start creasing her forehead. I motion in the direction of the gym. “But you also didn’t want to give me the rematch that you owe me. AndthatI do take offense to.”

Her frown grows deeper as she shakes her head. “The rematch that I owe you? What’re you even talking about?”

I take a step closer, my lips curling into a smile. And I drop my voice a little. “Well, it was a great performance, the one you put on for me yesterday.” I pause for effect. “But you did manipulate me, so you couldn’t call it fair, the way you played.”

“Well, who fucking started it?” she says with an angry scoff.

I just shrug my shoulders, my smile growing wider at the sight of her big, dark eyes narrowing at me. “I never said I didn’t. I just said we needed a rematch.”

“Show up for the Second Game,” she snaps, albeit a bit less grumpily, “and you’ll get one.”

“That’s, like,monthsfrom now,” I protest.

It’s just at that moment that I hear someone clear their throat and my head snaps to my left, to the man standing next to one of the armchairs, his eyes narrowed as they dart between the two of us.

The prince. Thefiance.

“Max,” I hear her call out, softly and sweetly, and he fixes his eyes on her as she walks over to him with a smile lighting up her face.

The voice and the smile, the likes of which I haven’t heard or seen so far, make this bitterness flood my mouth.

“I’m not late, am I?” she asks as she loops her arm through his.

But it’s me he turns to look at as he says, coldly, “It’s fine.”

It’s then that she clears her throat and gestures at me. “Max, this is Howe, Nikolay’s Fiain buddy.”

We shake hands, locking eyes and exchanging one cold look as she says, “Howe, this is Max, one of our best players.”

“And your fiance,” he cuts in, throwing her this look.

I see the confusion on her face and I feel myself nudged to say, “Yeah, I know.”

The fiance locks eyes with me and just looks at me for a second, and it makes my jaw clench, the effort I have to put in to stop myself from showing exactly how much I don’t like him.

“Well,” I hear her say and I turn to look at her, seeing her get all awkward and a little pissed as she throws a glance at him, “I guess we’ll be going.”

She turns her eyes back onto me as I keep standing there, my mind buzzing.

“My brother,” she starts, still awkward though neither pissed nor cold, “he’ll be there to take you to every Game, and if you have any questions for him, just shoot him a text.”

I nod and I wave, feeling the fiance’s eyes on me, and there’s a tentative smile on her lips as she adds, “Good luck with everything.”

I watch them turn around and walk away. With every step she takes, my spirits get lower. And I can’t help thinking, especially considering that enormous rock on her finger, how the hell did I manage to forget about the fucking fiance?

Chapter 9 - Nyx

Itseemsthiswillbe a typical November day, at least judging by the view out the windows enchanted to show the castle grounds — a blend of muted grays and greens, bare branches and wind tugging at everything it can lay its ghostly fingers on.

But it’s going to be a good one, I think as I turn my focus back onto the comforting sounds, smells and sights of the cafeteria — metal against ceramic, garlic on bread, students buzzing around with trays in their hands.