Page 33 of Of Nightmares & Fire
Mavros scoffs into his goblet, “...and fatal ends,” he coughs to cover his words.
My eyes flick from Mavros to Kyros and then to the man they both openly taunt before I clear my throat and take a deep breath.They both have a death wish.
The staff brings out breakfast, thankfully interrupting whatever pissing contest is happening, and the other men jump right into talking business with my father. Marginally including me in conversation. I don’t listen to most of it. My awareness lingers on the man in front of me, and my mind constantly thinks of what happened last night. Had it not been for the balm, I wouldn’t have been here this morning. I would have survived, but the cost of my survival would have been high. Definitely higher than I would have been willing to pay.
A nudge of my foot makes my eyes jump forward. Kyros gives nothing away if it was he who touched me.Maybe it was an accident.He’s not looking at me for once, instead keeping his eyes narrowed on my father as he talks animatedly to Cadoc of Iroworth. Cadoc has leaned forward looking my way several times during the conversation, probably hoping I pay him attention. All of the suitors want my favor for the next challenge, and while I findhim kind and funny at times, he also seems very keen to want my father’s attention, just as much as mine.
When the nudge happens again, I jerk a little less subtly because it is much higher on my leg this time. Most certainly intentional. Kyros tilts his head, eyeing me, and I can't tell if he is messing with me. I look around nervously as the touch on my leg continues to trail up the outside of it, lifting my dress in its wake. My breathing hitches, my lips parting as I keep my hooded gaze on the one man in the room I have felt drawn to since I ran into him at the market. When Kyros pushes his chair out a fraction and shifts in his seat, exposing the fact that whoever the foot belongs to couldn’t be him, my gaze shifts to my left down the line of suitors. None of them are looking at me, but Mavros stares a hole into the side of his brother's head.
Feeling more and more uncomfortable, I push my chair out, calling all attention to myself by default. Lifting my chin, I don’t let any distress over whatever was happening show. I smile broadly, thank everyone for coming to the breakfast, and look to my father, hoping that he will get on with the announcement. It's been some time after everyone has finished their meals. Might as well be now. My father stands, easily gathering the attention of the room.
“Thank you, sweet daughter. As Princess Astraea has mentioned, the reason we are here is other than to celebrate the win of Kyros.” He tips his chin at the man mentioned, then continues. “I want to also call attention to the next challenge. As the winner of the last challenge, Kyros of Diemos will be sitting out this round, ensuring that the next winner is someone new. You may re-enterthe challenges in the next round.” He says, and I watch Kyros as his jaw feathers, but he doesn’t remove his gaze from my father.
“Additionally, the next challenge will be a bit of a journey and will not take place in the arena as the last one did. The ceremony for the princess’ favor will be held at the palace gates, but your next challenge will be in the Dunes of Parreth.” My father states calmly, smiling as he looks to the rest of the suitors. Commotion erupts around the table with the announcement. Pravin gleams, standing at the door with his arms crossed over his chest. This was likely his idea. My father doesn’t leave the walls of the palace for much. I can't see him willingly putting himself at risk.
A slow screech echoes through the room and causes the melee to fizzle out as all eyes turn to the source of the sound. Kyros holds a dagger about the size of my forearm in his hand, the sharp point digging into the stone table in front of us. It scratches loudly, gaining the attention he clearly wants.
“I will go on this journey and do whatever challenge you ask of the rest of the men here. I will not take to sitting back and playing a waiting game. I came here to win.” He growls low, and everyone’s eyes widen or brows hike. Everyone but my father and Mavros. No, the opposite is said of them. Their faces are stern with the anger they aim at Kyros.
“Brother.” Mavros utters through gritted teeth. “You have to play by the king's rules here in Eathian.Stay hereand keep the princess entertained for me until I get back and claim my win.” He says this with that same damn wink in my direction. The brothers lock eyes, and my father tilts his head. Interested in the dynamics ofthe two, no doubt. I’m sure this is a way to torture Kyros, but as it appears, the two brothers may not be as close as my father probably hoped.
A tension-filled silent moment passes as a seemingly short conversation is had between the two Diemos men through their glares. Everyone in the room is waiting to see what happens. Hoping that one of them will mess up. Hoping that one of them snaps. That they say the wrong thing in the presence of my father and get themselves killed before the challenge begins.
“When does this challenge take place?” Kyros growls.
“We leave at dawn.” Pravin announces stepping up to the head of the table with a wide stance and a grin aimed at my father.
“You have the rest of the day and the night to prepare with whatever you see fit. The journey will take two days to get there. The challenge should be relatively quick, then two days of travel back, given that there are no severe injuries. Tonight we will host another formal dinner and entertainment.”
“Fine.” Kyros growls. “Please, excuse me.” He does not wait to be dismissed. He wrenches open the door and storms from the room without another word.
Chapter twenty-five
Astraea
Idon’tknowhowto feel about the suitors' challenge not being at the palace and not being there to see the outcome. Something about the way that my father was looking at Kyros… That, the nightmare, and the challenge in the library the night before have me on edge. I don’t want any of them to die, obviously, but the Kahzal brothers have become something… I don’t know. They have presented a more genuine, maybe not friendship, but connection than many people who I have come in contact with inside these walls. I can’t let anything happen to Mavros.
“Astraea?” I look up from where I’ve wedged myself in the corner of the window seat in my room that overlooks the bailey. “Are you okay?” Colette asks, crossing the room to look out at what holds my attention.
“It seems they can't get enough fighting in.” I say, pulling my knees tighter into my chest and wrapping my arms around my legs. “Do you think anyone will die in the dunes?”
“I think your father wouldn’t choose a place like that if it didn’t pose the threat of death.” She watches in silence with me for a while before she speaks again. “I snuck out of your room last night.” My eyes snap to her.
“Last night?”
“I wasn't gone long, but when I returned, that's when I found you crying out in pain. I’m so sorry I wasn't there sooner. Maybe I could have woken you before that happened to you. I—”
“Don’t. Cole, whatever is going on with these dreams, nothing about it rides on your shoulders. You could have done nothing to prevent it.” My brow furrows as I think about if that is actually a true statement, and as though she can read the look on my face, she shakes her head in denial.
“You don’t know that. I—I was just trying to come to terms with what Kellan did. Both what he did for the king and then what he did to help me afterward. I had to thank him, because I know if it had been anyone else to dole out that punishment, I wouldn’t be here today, Astraea.” Her gaze drifts out the window again. “That’s not all I wanted to tell you, though.”
“What is it?” I ask, following her gaze where it lingers on the men fighting in the center of a training ring set up in the shaded area of the grounds. Mavros and Kyros are the ones fighting now, andthe rest of the men stand with their arms crossed as they silently watch. Their movements are different from the others. More fluid and relaxed.
“When I was meeting Kellan, it was in the stables… Kyros found us there. He was just returning with his horse. He said he was just letting his horse run, but why would he do that in the middle of the night?” Concern furrows her brow as she continues to watch them.
“You think he is lying?” She doesn’t answer but does shake her head.
“It makes sense. If his horse is used to running in Diemos, the weather there is much cooler and more wooded than desert. Daytime weather here could be too much for the horse.” She gives me a dubious look before turning away from the window. She strides to the wardrobe and pulls a swath of fabric from it and turns, placing a dress out on my lounge.
