houlder, cutting through cloth and skin. He r

said. "Most people don't

dance. Marcus blocked with his sword, but the impact

ling him. "Your energy is unstable. You can't contr

g clothes that didn't fit properly. His energy surged

reported to Cassian, everyone at

ol to beat you," Marcus sai

hed. "Brave words

instant. Her dagger thrust toward his ribs. Marcus tw

rough him. Blood

the assassin said. "W

ted his tee

d practiced thousands of times. But his movements we

re wasting energy. At this rate,

with him. Tes

was. Information was only valuable if it was accurate. She ne

true, he h

ed his eyes and took a deep breat

ng?" the assassin

like a wild horse, bucking and fight

r Octavius's words. Don'

haotic energy began to sett

eyes, they glowed fai

sion changed. "That e

his movements were smoother. His sword sang thr

e was gone. "Impossible. You just stabilized

one carrying more power. The unstable energy that had been his wea

efending now instead of playing. "

light. The forest around them suffered from their battle. Tree

nly said, jumping back. "I'v

ord raised, ready

has that kind of power or that energy." She sheathed he

going to fig

would be a waste." She smiled strangely. "You're going to sha

ell Cassian

o leave, then paused. "Word of advice. The tournament in six months? Don't go. I

war

nd dead princes are boring. Living ones cause chaos." She disappeared into t

e, as if she'd n

ght had drained him completely. His breakthrough

fatal, but painful. He needed to get

lking. Each step hurt. His vision blurr

rcu

, her face full of worry. "I felt the energy sur

ident," Marcu

his weight. "You're covered in kn

dfather Octavius appeared with se

the truth. Was

, then nodded. N

rkened. "Then it's begun

e you talking about?"

Marcus with a mix of concern and something else. Respect? "But aft

realized something. The assassin could have killed him when h

game was s

one assassin, more would follow. The aca

e on his wounds. At Grandfather Octavius, whose face showe

t him. And because of t

just about revenge anymore. Marcus's

sion. It was time to stop hiding. Time to stop lying. Ti

unds and explain everything to the man

n would be harde