Page 76 of The Courting of Bristol Keats
Her chin dipped in a nod. “As you wish. Good evening, Your Majesty.”
But as she left, he saw the bare swipe of her hand at her side, the hint of claws on her fingertips. Immediately the ground beneath his feet rumbled upward, like a plow furrowing the earth, and he stumbled back on the lawn. She disappeared into the night before he even got back to his feet. He had meant to talk to Eris that morning about her, but then the council members had pounced upon them.
“We’re ready,” Glennis said, interrupting his thoughts. “Should I call them down?”
Tyghan nodded, looking up at the observation deck. Melizan, Cosette, and Sloan, who didn’t usually watch from the deck, had taken front-row seats, most likely taking careful notes to cull a certain recruit from the pack. Bristol sat two rows back talking to Rose, oblivious to her possible fate.
From here forward, Tyghan would stay out of it. At least that was what he promised himself.
Are you denying there’s something between us?
His chest burned. He forced himself to look away from Bristol.Done, he reminded himself as he walked away.
Whatever the others decided, even Sloan, he would abide by it.
CHAPTER 52
It skulked through the air discreetly, the scent of decay, sulfur, and scheming. Just as magic had a scent, so did mayhem. But the air was electric at the training grounds. Anticipation for the maze was at a thunderous pinnacle. No one noticed the creeping mayhem that was as quiet as a spider spinning a web.
Except for Madame Chastain.
She nudged Olivia and Esmee where they all stood together in the shade of an oak observing the proceedings from afar. “Watch,” she warned.
Bristol and her fellow recruits milled near the starting position, waiting to see who would go first, but then there seemed to be a sudden discussion going on between Madame Chastain, Tyghan, and Kasta. Other officers joined them.
“Relax for a few minutes,” Cully told the recruits as he left to see what was going on.
“Probably a last-minute change,” Glennis added, and followed after him.
Avery blew out a ruffled breath. They were all stressed, and waiting only made it worse. They wanted to get this over with. Sashka shook her head, then did the angriest handstand Bristol had ever seen.
“I wish I could do one of those,” Hollis mused, shaking her head. Her pink curls shivered on her shoulders.
Julia stood nearby with rapt attention, watching the distant discussion. Bristol wondered if she was able to read lips.
Rose wandered over by the middle entrance to the maze. She raised her brows mischievously to Bristol. “Maybe I’ll just scout out a few things while they figure out what they want for lunch.” She slipped inside, unnoticed. Bristol didn’t know if scouting ahead of time was cheating or not, but if it helped Rose get through the maze, she didn’t care.
Bristol looked back at the knights, who were now turning, fanning out, searching for something, and then a shout came from Olivia, who was some distance away on a knoll. “Shadow!” she yelled, and pointed to a small rowan bush near the far corner of the maze. Pandemonium broke out. Knights ran for weapons.
The sun was high. Shadows were everywhere. Bristol didn’t understand why one shadow caused such a disturbance.
Julia watched, her gaze frozen. “It’s unanchored,” she said.
Bristol still didn’t know what that meant—but then she saw it. The shadow tucked beneath the bush moved, traveled across open ground to elude its pursuers, like it had a mind of its own.
“Clear!” came a call overhead. Everyone stopped running, and Bristol looked up just in time to see Melizan standing at the edge of the observation deck, a golden spear poised in her hand. She threw it with lightning speed, its whir razor-sharp, cutting the air just over Bristol’s head with precision. It hit its target, landing in the middle of the shadow, appearing to pin it in place.
And then something happened.
The shadow transformed. It grew in volume, no longer a flat darkness staining the ground, but taking shape. Human shape. The knights ran over, a few kneeling beside it. Bristol and the other recruits walked closer to see what was happening. By the time they reached it, the figure was fully human—a Danu knight—with the spear piercing his chest.
Dalagorn dropped to his knees and wept. Quin stepped close behind him, squeezing the ogre’s broad shoulders.
Tyghan cradled the young man’s head in his lap. “It’s all right, Liam. Shhh. You’re home.”
“Nisa?” Kasta asked.
“At peace,” Liam answered. “She slit her throat.” Tears rolled from the corners of the young man’s eyes. “As I should have done. I was too slow. I’m sorry. I failed you.”
