Page 16 of The Lost Siren

“I don’tdojealousy.” His eyes were hard chips of purple ice. “Anything I want, I simplytake.”

He backed away, and I tried in vain to slow the rapid thudding of my heart against my chest. He gave me a mock bow.

“Until tomorrow,siren.”

He went through the second door on the right, locking it behind him. I spent the rest of the night with my knives, trying to hit a particular crack in the stone wall and imagining it was Benedict’s face.

SEVEN

On the second day of the Games, I woke up wondering what the task would be. Flinging open the wardrobe, I brazenly pulled on one of the shorter dresses. It ended well above the thigh, and I frowned. I added a pair of breeches underneath, and it was tolerable. The green velvet suited me and acted as a tunic when paired with the breeches. I wasn’t sure if I’d strapped the sheaths on correctly, but at least they were there and within reach. I stood, feeling much more prepared to take on the world. I braided the front part of my hair away from my eyes, but kept the rest flowing free down my back. I slid on the flat, leather boots, and I was ready.

Georg was nowhere to be found, but I felt confident in my ability to get back to the arena myself. After a few nerve-wracking twists and turns the pathway took a sudden steep incline and I grinned: I’d done it. I walked to the balcony to a roar of welcome. The Drakens rose to their feet upon seeing me, cheering and clapping, stomping their feet and flashing their fangs. Embarrassed, I gave a shy wave, and sat down on my throne. Benedict was already there, looking grumpy at my happiness. Figures.

“Word travels fast in a stone prison. Every Draken is dreaming of their own evening with you.”

I was proud of myself for not flinching when Benedict’s voice whispered by my ear. I didn’t bother turning to face him, or even look at him. I had friends here now and didn’t need to beg him for attention or help.

“If it’s such a prison, let them leave.” A growl was his response, and my stomach flipped in giddiness. What was it about annoying him that sent my heart racing and my blood pumping?

“I can’t.”

I flicked an imaginary piece of dirt off my neckline.

“Why not?”

He hissed back his reply. “You are a pathetic little human who understandsnothing.”

I lifted an eyebrow, casting my gaze around as more Drakens arrived. “Word aboutwhattraveled fast?” He grunted in annoyance.

“Kieran admits things could have gotten out of hand yesterday, and D’Arcy even agrees that you should have a...chaperonepresent for the future.” He nearly spit the words out, and I lifted my chin in satisfaction. He continued, a mean look in his eyes.

“I don’t see the point; if you die, I could just take another—"

My dagger flashed downwards, striking the stone edge of the armrest where his hand had been only a split second earlier. He slowly turned his head to me, and now he wassmiling.

“Thatwasnaughty.”

I looked away, covering the flush of my chest. Benedict only seemed to like me when I was angry. And why did my heart race when he looked at me like that?

D’Arcy appeared in the middle of the pit and started speaking, but Benedict was far more interested in more.

“Were you always this much trouble?”

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. I refused to look over at him, but hefeltclose enough to be practically touching my arm. Benedict slid one finger down my shoulder, covering my forearm. I bit back a curse, hyper aware of every slight movement he made. He was just trying to distract me, to keep me from listening to D’Arcy!

“Just making sure you don’tgoanywhere, siren.”

I snorted.

“And it has nothing to do with how you’ve got your hand on my dagger?”

“Bold words for a breeding cow.”

His words stung, and my hands curled into fists on the edge of my chair. I imagined several creative ways I could murder him; if I had as much power as he claimed, maybe the other Drakens would even clap as I did it. Then we could all leave the mountain together and live happily ever after. Benedict turned sullen when I flinched and turned away.

D’Arcy’s voice painted a magnificent tale about an island covered in flowers and fruit, protected from outsiders by jagged cliffs and the powerful voice magicks: the island of Lyoness. I tried to focus, but Benedict’s words affected me more than I wanted to admit. They could call me an honored guest all they wanted, but in the end, I was just a piece of flesh being used, no different than the women at the breeding house.

“Today is round two of the Games!” D’Arcy’s blue eyes shot towards our balcony once before turning back to the crowd.

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