Page 68 of Dance of the Phoenix
When we arrived at the room, Logan started stretching, obviously expecting a rigorous last session before the money time tomorrow, but I had a different plan. “Logan,” I said, drawing his attention, “we’re going to change our plan.”
His lips curved downward, showing his evident displeasure. “And what do you mean by that?” he asked in a dangerously low tone.
“Instead of taking the pair together, we’re going to split the duties,” I said, my voice resolute. “I’m taking Eleanor. You’ll take Jebediah.”
Logan glared at me. “And why, dare I ask, would you want to do that?”
Instead of skirting around the truth, I decided, for once, to be up-front about it. “Eleanor is a friend,” I told him, capturing his gaze with mine. “I’ll decide what to do with her, not you.”
It seemed my words struck a nerve. “It’s not up to you to decide,” he hissed, walking toward me. “We’re supposed to be ateam, Aileen. After you berated me all those times about putting my issues with you aside to take this on, now you want to go back on your words?”
My hands curled into fists. “It has nothing to do with you.”
“It haseverythingto do with me!” Logan snapped, reaching me and grabbing my arm. “You don’t get to change the plan at the last minute because of a personal issue. You’re supposed to cover my fucking ass,Aileen. What if your ‘friend’ comes after me? Will you let her kill me because she’s more of a ‘friend’ to you than I am now?”
I threw his hand off me. “She can’t even harm you, Logan,” I snapped, my emotions getting the better of me. “You’reGifted, for God’s sake, and she’s a mere Common!”
“Unless she has great teamwork with herGiftedpartner!” he snapped back, grabbing my shoulders now. “Whatever she means to you, I refuse to let you fuck me over because of your personal feelings!”
“Let me go!” I yelled, grabbing his arms and attempting to throw him off me again, but he persisted.
“Not until you come to your fucking senses!” he seethed, and I suddenly realized he was in my face, and my back was touching the wall. “It’s not just about you or even me, Aileen! We’re representing the Rayne League members! We’re representing our Lord! The very Lord you mess around with!”
I glowered at him. “This has nothing to do—”
“Jesus, Aileen,everyonehaseverythingto do with this shit show!” he cut me off with a growl, leaning so close his nose touched mine. “I don’t care if you decide you have morals. I don’t care if she’s your friend. The Hecatomb isn’t just about you. We all have to survive this fuckfest, and that means we need to fight tooth and nail to get out alive!”
He released me so hard, I flailed for a moment before balancing myself, watching him as he headed to the middle of the room. “Now, stick to the fucking plan, Aileen, so we can both get to see another day.”
Chapter 36
Ragnor
The last thing he wanted was to stay in his room, but Ragnor’s sense of duty and friendship, despite everything that had happened between them, didn’t let him leave Eliza’s side.
She’d been sleeping for who knew how long, and yet Eliza refused to wake. Ragnor would’ve been worried had it not been for the visit he received from Luceras in the night prior.
Luceras, whose expressively colorful junglelike eyes usually expressed nothing, had peered at the sleeping Eliza with what Ragnor would’ve called concern had Luceras been any other species but a Malachi.
Ragnor had pretended not to see when Luceras reached out to Eliza, caressing her hair once, before he nodded to Ragnor and left.
Now Ragnor was saddled with the uncomfortable feeling that if harm came to Eliza, he would make an adversary out of a powerful being.
So despite his gnawing worry over Aileen and her upcoming battle the next day against a vampire she considered a friend, he couldn’t leave Eliza’s side.
The spectacle of Renaldi’s hosting of the opening ceremony rested heavily on his mind too. But that was neither here nor there. Nothing he could do about it now.
“Eliza,” he said, weary of all the troubles that seemed to pile up without an end in sight. “I know you’re strong enough to wake up from ... whatever this is. I need you to tell me what’s going on.” Maybe then, at least, he would be able to resolve one of his many problems.
To his surprise, Eliza stirred. Then, slowly, her single eye opened. She turned her head to where he sat on the chair near the bed, and her eye widened. “What ...” she croaked, shock written over her face.
Ragnor gave her a humorless smile. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? I can get you something if you want.”
She pushed herself into a sitting position and looked away. “I don’t ...” She swallowed hard before peering back at him. “Where are we? This isn’t the Rayne League.”
“The Hecatomb arena,” Ragnor replied simply, watching as another wave of shock caused her to freeze.
“Oh,” she said, frowning. “Shit. Is the Hecatomb happening now? How long have I been asleep?” She paused. “Why am I here? I was supposed to be recuperating at Alby’s ...”
