Page 154 of On Wings of Blood

Naveen glanced down at his hands, clearly not wanting to engage with the highblood girls.

But Regan and her friends weren’t about to let it go.

“You know, Larissa,” Regan drawled. “I think the little dwarf thinks his flute solo might actually impress someone. I mean, maybe if it was a show for children.”

She and the other two girls laughed as if what she’d said was hilarious.

Larissa leaned down, icy blonde curls framing her pretty but cruel face. “Oh, Naveen,” she cooed. “You’re not seriously planning on embarrassing yourself in front of the entire school at the Frostfire Festival with that terrible solo, are you? I mean, I’ve heard dying cats sound better.” She laughed loudly.

I suddenly remembered seeing Larissa in the ensemble. She’d been standing in the second row and also holding a flute.

“Naveen is more than ready for Frostfire,” I said firmly, narrowing my eyes at her. “Unlike some people, he actually earned his place in the orchestra with skill.”

I had the satisfaction of seeing my jibe hit home as Larissa’s face flushed with anger.

Gretchen looked down at me, her lips curling. “So protective of the dwarf. Why? Are you two screwing? Blake won’t like sharing with a dwarf, will he, Regan?” She laughed, but Regan, I noticed, did not. “But then, you must be used to having to look out for your little misfit friends. Especially since none of you will ever fit in here yourselves.”

Gretchen’s gaze passed over me with disdain, as if to say nothing about me was good enough to be in the same room as them. Then she looked at Naveen. “Better hope you don’t wind up in House Drakharrow next year, dwarf boy. We don’t tolerate losers like you.”

I ignored her and looked up at Regan. “I liked you better that first day of class when you were pretending to be kind. Jealousy doesn't suit you, Regan. Maybe you and your friends should focus more on your own lives rather than trying to tear everyone around you down. We all have to work together here, you know.”

Larissa and Gretchen gaped at me, while Regan’s face flitted between anger at the “jealousy” comment to confusion.

“Well, isn’t she a naive little thing?” Gretchen said finally. “Let’s go, Regan. I don't want to be seen hanging around the loser table for too long.”

“See you around, little blightborn bitch,” Larissa said, in a sing-song voice.

The two girls started walking away. Regan began to follow. I was surprised she wasn’t leading their little pack.

Maybe that was why I decided now was my chance.

Sliding off the bench, I stood up quickly. “Regan, can I talk to you alone for a minute?”

I looked down at Naveen. “I’ll be right back,” I mouthed. He nodded.

Regan hadn’t acknowledged my request. But she hadn’t walked away either.

She waited for me as I walked into the aisle, then started walking alongside her.

“What do you want?” she snapped. “Make it quick.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I know the Consort Games are coming up.”

She glanced at me. “Oh, you know that, do you? What else do you know about them?”

“I know we’re supposed to work together,” I said as calmly as I could. “To survive. That sounds pretty important, doesn’t it? Survival.”

She tossed her head. “I’ll survive with or without you.”

“Yes, but it doesn’t have to be without me. We could help each other. Work as a team.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I thought you didn’t want any of this.”

“If you mean Blake and being part of this little triad, then I still don’t. But I do want to live. Don’t you? Wouldn’t we be stronger if we helped one another?”

She didn’t respond. I watched her face. Was she considering what I’d said?

“I don’t know all of the details of these Games, but we’re clearly supposed to be proving ourselves. Won’t it make you, you know,lookbetter if we work as a team? Isn’t that what Blake would want?”

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