Page 57 of Reckless
A heavy silence settles over us at the thought of so much death. So many people thatIled into the arena. So many innocent lives lost fighting for what they believed was right. Whatisright.
“So, that’s how we ended up here,” Finn says finally. “And how we found you.”
I smile, shaking my head at the three of them. “How did you know it was me?”
“Well,” Lenny chimes in, “it helped that the group of you was laying around a fire. Helped us see you while you couldn’t see us—even if you were awake. As for knowing it was you…” He laughs, turning to tug at my unraveling braid. “Most of this was covering your face and reflecting the light.”
“You were like a little beacon in the night,” Finn says cheerily.
I laugh lightly, watching Leena roll her eyes before adding, “The Imperials weren’t hard to take care of, considering they were asleep. Not to mention that you took care of the Enforcer for us.”
“Yeah, well, none of them would have even woken up if Leena”—Finn throws a glance in her direction—“hadn’t hit a guy in the arm and sent him screaming.”
Even in the pale moonlight, I can easily see the fire burning in Leena’s brown eyes. “That,” she says through clenched teeth, “is because you bumped me.”
“Whatever you say, Leeny,” Finn singsongs, earning him a jab to the ribs.
I listen to the two of them bicker until Lenny leans back toward me. “How have you been, Pae? I mean, after everything?” He glances behind him, seeming to take in all of me with a single look. “I wasn’t sure if you were even alive. We eventually went back to the Resistance house—your house—and it was—”
“Burned to the ground?” I finish for him. “Yeah, I was inside itwhen that happened.” I glare at the Enforcer walking several yards ahead of us, hoping he can feel my gaze burning into his back.
Lenny shakes his head. “You are a little cockroach, you know that?”
“Plagues,” I snort. “You really know what a girl wants to hear, don’t you?”
“No, I mean, I’m convinced you can survive anything.”
“Yeah, well, I’m convinced that’s becoming a curse,” I say quietly.
“Come on, don’t say that,” Lenny says softly. “Don’t live to die. Die because you lived.” A pause. “Or something like that. Listen, you’ve earned every breath. So enjoy it.”
I sigh. “Well, there’s not much to enjoy in the desert.”
“My company.”
“Like I said,” I say with a smile. “Not much to enjoy.”
“Watch it, Princess,” Lenny warns. “I’m the one controlling this beast you’re so scared of.”
I roll my eyes at his back even while squeezing him tighter. We’re silent for a stretch of sand before Lenny says, “At least I’ve been able to see your face every day. You’re plastered all over Ilya.”
“In Dor, too,” I add. “Tando. Probably Izram.”
“The price on your head is…” He lets out a low whistle.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “That’s what happens when you murder a king, I guess.”
I can feel him preparing to ask before he finally opens his mouth. “Paedyn, how did that even—”
“I was running back from the castle,” I say quietly. “I made a promise and couldn’t leave without something.” I fidget with the unraveling hem of my vest, feeling the phantom of Adena’s skilled fingers. “And he was just standing outside the Bowl, bloody and holding a sword. Then… then he just attacked me, like he’d beenwaiting for the moment.” I shake my head. “He said things about my dad and the Resistance, but it’s mostly a blur now.”
Lies.
I relive the moment every time I close my eyes.
Lenny turns, tracing the jagged scar down my neck with worried eyes. “He did that to you?”
I swallow. “You didn’t see what I did to him.”
