're

nds frozen in midair, half-laced behind hi

ssed into a thin line. "I said I'm

shut. "What do you mean 'a relative'? What r

n my surname. I talked to mother about it and she thought I should check them out. So

ebrows drawn low. "Why no

swered. "If there's any truth to the rumors, if someone from her bloodline s

beside Jason, her arms folding tight

uickly. "Just a few days,

ow fell in slow, lazy flurries around the

ed. "We could've

to him. "I need t

." Jayson said, slightly lett

Mia had more going on in her h

ftly from the pat

re le

s hood slipped back, revealing tight braids frizzed at the end

." Mia w

en stopped herself. "Is it tr

"Just... I need time. Space. T

l to her sides.

stretched out horizontally. She was

ows. You must be so sad to come out now." Mi

know if

hen smiled with

say you had a r

hat's not the truth I can't

uldn't trust me ei

just can't let anyone kno

walked toward her, boots crunching s

r her coat. "I just... I thought we were starting to unders

uilt wavered. "I've been alone for so long, Raven. I'm used to

tirred bet

Raven said. "Even if

broke in M

her eyes slowly. "You seem to

on't seem to understand the conne

d. "Why does this

that didn't reach her eyes

swear it. I just have to know what's out the

ook Mia's hand calloused against callou

softly. "

en she met with Kira. "We

hy

go ge

n's window and he stepped

t not going to talk about how Jayson's been actin

roaned.

gety. And don't think I didn't notice

racted," Ja

ause you're the o

ight. Fine. You want the truth?" He looked at Mia, someth

ked. "Wai

she was acting. She had seen Jayson on the d

everything happened so fast. And I... I

entering the bloodiest tournamen

Mia. "I have to. For my

ished from

re we're not hunted for being dif

e faltered

id this a long time ago. I love you, Mia. Even when you were hidde

e in forever, Mia

ira whose eyes had filled up in te

slightly, "I

ra.

n held Mia as she t

too." the words cam

ingers before pressing his lips to hers sof

rying to hold onto a future she

part, Jason whispered, "St

t hesitat

thers had gone to bed, Mia s

r with stares that screa

t lay there quietly still being shy fro

ed with heat. The sheets were tangled around their legs, forgotten, as his mouth presse

to him, her fingers threading

name-barely whis

g and tasting, teeth grazing lips in the kind of kiss that felt like it could last forever and still not be eno

, feeling the hard press of him against her thigh. There

ed lower, down the valley between her breasts, then suckled one nipple between his lips, making her gasp a

" she breathed, desp

ettle between her thighs. He looked up at her,

whispered.

s all i

s trembling beneath him. Then he gripped her hips, dragged her closer, and in

, his forehead pressing to hers as he began to move long, r

meeting in broken kisses. The room was filled with the sound of skin on skin, bre

tightly, legs locking around his

stop," she moaned, her voi

ing, strokes deeper, rougher. "You feel so good," he

t, hot, unstoppable. She clung to him, panting, her

n she s

. He tried to cover her mouth so she wouldn't scream anymore as he had family members next door.. Ja

and spilled inside her, every muscle taut,

together, chests heaving as the afterglow

circles on his damp skin. "Thin

ps to her temple. "We might've j

miss you." Mi

But now I kno

ing today,

. You too

" And they let the

ayson got up.

erious. MIA!" J

't sleep in but

gh the early hush of morni

't look

sed, one brow lifted. "You were

track

tilted her h

turned to he

other log into the ash, and poked the

le with a travel sack laid ou

u'll need to leave befo

nd began folding the cl

, one for travel. Rations for three days. A small bla

p a flat s

a brow. "

ng to prove your sta

ok the ring, slipping it onto

u, Mia. Not just the Trials. The secrets. The weight of who

own. "I'm sc

eans you still have something to lose. Ju

ck sounded

ared quietly at

e offered a small nod. "B

d Jessi. "I'll win the first

much, and Mia was grateful. Her thoughts swirled like winter winds, memo

loomed ahead like a fortress carved from the bones of the mountain. Sto

stepped back. "This is the last place

tightly. "Will you co

t you won't see me. I'll be watchi

into a tight embrace. "I don'

, fiercely wrapped her arms around Mia. "You'd sti

Mia took her first st

scroll, narrowed his eyes at the n

s tomorrow. Find your barrac

and walke

rs training, shouting, testing each othe

sons of noble blood lau

ircling, blades glinting in the late sunlig

ence wa

across the ya

in H

. Eyes n

e barracks, heart po

readi

e edge of t