Page 47 of The Onyx Covenant

Aria leans in close beside me. “See the ice queen across the table?” Her voice drops to a whisper as she tilts her head subtly toward Selene.

I follow her gaze, noting how Selene’s attention remains fixed on Theron, nibbling on her food as she studies him laughing with Kieran. “What about her?”

“Found out something interesting today.” Aria spears a glazed carrot, pretending to be casual. “That’s who Theron was supposed to select as his partner for the Harvest Ritual. Everyone expected it… including her.”

I nearly choke on my food. “All right, that explains the animosity.”

“Mm-hmm. Her father and Theron’s had some kind of arrangement.” She takes a sip from her goblet. “Until Theron went rogue and chose you instead.”

“She might be responsible for my attack, then,” I whisper in her ear.

“Jealousy’s an ugly thing.” Aria shrugs, but her expression is serious. “Watch your back with that one. Wounded pride makes people dangerous.”

That’s when Selene leans forward, practically draping herself across the table.

“I was surprised to see you paired with the priestess, Theron. Especially after what happened between us in the western forest last moon.”

My hand freezes halfway to my mouth, curious as much as everyone else at the table now listening.

Theron’s jaw tightens, but Selene answers before he can.

“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” Her voice drops to a stage whisper. “We were hunting, just the two of us. One thing led to another, and…” She trails off with a suggestive smile. “Let’s just say his mouth is good for more than just giving orders.”

Heat floods my face, but it’s not from embarrassment. It’s from fury. I don’t have any claim on Theron, yet the thought of him with Selene makes me want to leap across the table and claw her eyes out.

“Is your memory really that bad, or do you just enjoy rewriting history?” Theron asks mildly. “What actually happened was you tripped over your own feet and took us both down a ravine. The only thing my mouth did that day was curse when I hit every rock on the way down.”

Kieran bursts out laughing. “That was the time you came back looking like you’d wrestled with a pig in the mud!” He slaps the table. “And you”—he points at Selene—“you claimed a twisted ankle and had three warriors carry you back to camp on a stretcher!”

Even some of the Elios join in the laughter, and Selene’s face contorts with rage.

“Laugh all you want,” she hisses. “We’ll see who’s laughing when the trials are over.”

“Probably still Kieran,” I say, and more laughter erupts.

She huffs, folding her arms over her chest.

Erebus fills his plate with more food, glancing over at her. “You started it, so I can’t help you out. Maybe just enjoy the meal,” he says simply before returning to his plate.

Selene’s mouth drops open in shock, and even I’m surprised. The massive Umbra warrior has barely spoken two words all evening.

“Trouble in paradise?” Kieran stage-whispers, earning a death glare from Selene.

I glance around the table, taking stock of everyone. Most of the Elios are clustered together, speaking in hushed tones while shooting suspicious glances at their Umbra opponents. Some seem to be getting along, heads bent close in conversation, while others look like they’re planning how to murder each other in their sleep.

“They’re all staring at us,” I murmur to Theron.

He follows my gaze around the table. “Let them wonder.”

“You don’t care what they think?”

“Do you?”

The question catches me off guard. Do I care? The Elios have never fully accepted me anyway—too scholarly, the Alpha’s daughter—and the Umbra see me as an outsider, a potential threat. Maybe that’s why being paired with Theron doesn’t feel as wrong as it should.

“I care about surviving,” I finally admit.

His hand finds my knee under the table, and I nearly jump out of my skin at the contact. “Then we’re on the same page.”

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