Page 46 of Vicious Princess
Ahand lands on my shoulder. Immediately, my eyes snap open.
I don’t breathe.
I don’t move.
Slowly, my hand inches under my pillow, where I’ve kept my favorite blade since the night Kata almost drowned me.
I knew she’d come back for more.
Just as my fingers wrap around the handle, there’s a whisper: “Phoenix. Phoenix, wake up.”
It’s Roman’s voice.
With a sharp exhale, I let go of the blade and roll over.
Roman stands next to our bunk. He’s tall enough that we’re face-to-face without him having to stand on the edge of his bunk.
“What the fuck, Roman?” I whisper-yell at him.
He grins at me. “Come on, princess. Everyone’s headed to the burn rite. You can’t miss it.”
I frown, pushing myself up on my elbows. “Burn rite? What’s that?”
Roman grabs the corner of my blanket and tosses it aside. The cold of the night wraps tightly around my body, and I shiver.
“The burn rite is how Ezkai keep themselves entertained. Come on. You’re going.”
The last thing I want to do right now is go somewhere with my squad… It doesn’t look to me like I have a choice, though.
With a groan, I hop out of the bunk. Roman shoves my leather trousers into my hands.
“Believe me, you won’t regret it,” he says, giddy. I slide my pants over my hips and fasten the buttons. “You’ll thank me when you see all the shirtless Ezkai wresting in a ring.”
With a scoff, I slip into my leather jacket.Seriously? Half naked Ezkai rolling around in a fighting pit?That’s the last thing on my mind right now.
Before I can even finish lacing my boots, Roman is urging me out of the barracks and into the cold night. “Faster, princess. Before the show is over!”
“You’re unbearable,” I mutter, but dutifully follow him across the castle grounds.
Apparently this burn rite takes place in one of the bases on the other edge of the grounds, right next to the orchard.
Roman opens the door for me. For a second, I consider whether this is a trap. Whether Kata got Roman on board, and my fellow cadets are about to jump me.
But the familiar sweet and spicy scent makes my eyes water. And the sounds…the screams, shouts, and chants that reach my ears immediately perk me right up.
No way is this a trap for me.
We take the dark stairs down into the basement. With each step, the noise and the smell grow stronger.
It’s a bare-bones basement with stone floors and walls. In the middle of it is a makeshift round ring that’s been dug into the ground. Around the pit, a crowd of Ezkai watches the fight inside unfold.
“You want a drink?” Roman asks.
I follow his gaze to the makeshift bar on the left. Nothing but whiskey and ale line the shelves behind the lone bartender working real hard serving thirsty soldiers.
“Nah, I’m good,” I say.
“I need one. I’ll be back. Don’t get in trouble, okay?”
