Page 111 of The Prince's Captive

MARCELLA

Marcella was losing track of the days.

She knew she’d been in Areator for at least two months, more likely three when Gavril started having her spar with magic. He’d taken her to his people’sacademiethe day after. And after that, she’d spent the rest of the night in her cell praying that giving him any hints about the Heart had earned her trust instead of arousing suspicion. She didn’t want him to realize she was up to something, but she needed to know where it was. If she was granted a miracle and managed to capture Gavril, she couldn’t leave without the Heart.

If anything, she could leave with the Heart and without Gavril.

But he’d given little away himself, so she was going to keep her eyes open for an opportunity to get more information about his work with the Heart out of him. Thankfully, after that day, they continued sparring with magic.

Every few days she would be brought out to spar again. Not every other day like before, and not even with a consistent pattern that she could determine.

It just happened.

The third time she was brought out to spar with magic, she spotted Aimilia in the group watching. Fewer guards and only academic this time. Of course, Aimilia had walked up in the middle of her first round with Gavril that day, but Marcella knew her obnoxious red hair anywhere.

Luckily, the distraction wasn’t really enough of one to change her match. Marcella was holding back. She was only using runes she knew Gavril and his soldiers had already seen her use before in her capture and failed escape.

For whatever reason the Inimicus gathered around them were taking notes, they weren’t going to be learning her people’s runes.

And she didn’t need to.

Gavril was holding back as well. She just couldn’t figure out why.

She still won most of the rounds.

Gavril was flat on his back and Marcella held a half-formed rune in the air hovering over him when she spotted the obnoxious shock of red hair moving into the ring. Just as Marcella banished her half-formed rune to help Gavril up, Aimilia was there first, grabbing the hand he’d started to reach toward Marcella in anticipation, and then she was hauling him up.

Marcella lowered both hands and stepped back, looking away to make it seem like she wasn’t listening.

Aimilia didn’t let go of Gavril’s hand when he was on his feet; she jerked him forward and started reaching for his face with her other hand. “—me see it.”

Gavril jerked back, but her grip only tightened and she kept trying to grab him. “See what—nothing to see—off!”

“—give me that—know you—no one knows you better than I do—show me—” Aimilia kept grabbing at him.

Marcella wasn’t sure what she was witnessing or hearing, but she was moving before she could think twice. Aimilia let out a sharp gasp as Marcella’s hands sank into her chiton and ripped her back. Gavril’s eyes doubled in size again as he stumbled back out of Aimilia’s grip and Aimilia tried to twist out of Marcella’s grip. Marcella ducked under her, shoving her back until Marcella stood between her and Gavril.

Aimilia’s hair was falling out of her braided crown and she gaped at Marcella. Marcella could feel Gavril’s eyes on her as well, but she didn’t dare turn her back to the obnoxious redhead.

Aimilia’s eyes darted between Marcella and then behind her to Gavril. She spat, “—lupawell, haven’t you?—know your secrets—shame—or does she just bark and whine—command?”

Hands were grabbing her, and Marcella was being pushed behind Gavril as he snapped, “Enough! What—purpose?”

“—a break—actually accomplishing your mission—holding—useful that way.”

Gavril scoffed. “—kill her?—not—doing—my way.”

Aimilia shot Marcella a glare. “—brother—not impressed—gotten—heard—men sent—supply—found nothing—lupalied—”

Gavril snapped. “Aimilia—my patience—insult me—vile things—her fault our soldiers—couldn’t find—Sordes supply—own—a girl who—always wanted me—attend my brother’s every word—his bidding.”

Aimilia shook her head. “—ever considered—one reason Nikias and I—same page about something?—fighting every instinct—strangle him when I’m—presence—doing it for you—one thing in common. You. How much we— brother is right. She—you—fear—going to take—see clearly—”

“—not doing—promised?—magic—I would?—not more—thanmea uxorem?—you and my brother want?” Gavril waved her off. “Go—off to him—leave me andmea uxorem—”

Aimilia turned on her heel and rushed off.

Gavril turned back to Marcella and spoke in her tongue, “Again.”

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