Page 121 of Vicious Princess
Ezkai Gavriel surveys the room. “Ezkai Bella takes blade competitions. Cadet Wildarrow, you’re assigned to archery.”
My stomach flips. I meet his gaze, steady.
“Ezkai Will here is a Phantom Ranger,” Ezkai Cassandra says. “Could send him.”
“Losing a cadet is better than losing a captain,” Ezkai Gavriel says flatly. I ignore the sting in my chest. “Also, ahuman Decarios amongst the fae will draw attention.” His eyes glitter with something dark. “Besides, Wildarrow supported this path. Let her see it through. Let her learn what consequences leadership brings.”
I lift my chin. “Yes, sir.”
Roman nudges my arm and quietly says, “Don’t screw it up, princess.”
I smirk. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“You need disguises,” Ezkai Gavriel says.
“We’ll handle it,” I say.
This time when Ezkai Gavriel looks at me, something flickers in his gaze. Not approval. But maybe, just maybe, a hint of respect.
We splitinto pairs to shop at the nearby tailor’s for something to help us all blend in. Last time I went inside that underground establishment, we wore our Ezkai leathers. But I was with Daegel, and even if back then I didn’t understand why, the rules of the game are different without him next to me.
Again and again, my thoughts return to Daegel.
It’s frustrating, and the last thing I want. But also, the worry within me is hard to ignore. I can only hope he’s okay and the General didn’t punish him.
Roman’s with me. Uncharacteristically silent.
I bump my shoulder into his arm because he’s taller than me. “Did you swallow your tongue?”
He eyes me sideways. “Maybe.”
“Seriously. What’s up?” We round the corner of the street and enter a narrow alley full of small shops. “Are you nervous about the mission?”
“I’m curiouswhyit looks like my human friend knows more about this underground gambling parlor than the rest of us.”
My steps halt.
Roman stops and turns to face me, an eyebrow arched. Our gazes lock. We stand there in silence for a while. I’m not sure what to say, because I don’t want to lie. But I can’t tell him the truth either.
At least not the full truth.
“Keeping secrets?”
“You can’t blame me for it,” I say, pushing at his chest. “It’s not like the fae have been welcoming me with open arms. Excuse me if I had to keep to myself until Kata disappeared and you all decided I can be part of the group.”
Roman’s gaze softens a little. “I’m sorry Nightingale tortured you. I feel terrible about not helping you or at least telling you what was to come.”
I cross my arms. “As you should.”
“I deserve that,” Roman says with a sigh. “However, I thought we were friends. Or, at least, we’re on the way to being friends. So I think, as your only friend, or soon-to-be friend, I have a right to be curious about where on earth you know about things others don’t.”
I can’t tell him everything, but I can tell him something.
“You know that Ezkai Daegel was my mentor, right?” Roman’s eyes sparkle. I jab my finger in the middle of his chest. “Don’t fucking start with me.” He lifts his palms in defense and nods. “Well, we trained almost every night, because I struggled to connect with my bow. One training session he brought me to a weird place to watch other archers master their bows. I didn’t know it then, but some of the…contestants were Caligos. They even had one Decarios who was a Phantom Ranger. Later as I was reading about Caligos, I realized that this place was run by them.”
Roman’s eyes widen. “No way.”
I nod. “Yes, way.”
