Empire of Flame and Thorns (Flame and Thorns #1)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

T o my surprise, I also make it all the way back to my room without getting Draven’s sword shoved through my chest. In hindsight, what I did to him back there might have been a mistake. Especially that mocking little bow at the end. But damn, it felt good. And besides, he’s the one who decided to interfere and mess with my test first. He deserved everything he got.

The corridor is empty when I arrive at the door to my room. Since I was worried that Draven might try to ambush me, I took the long way back. Everyone else must already be inside their rooms.

I glance towards the room two doors down from me. It belonged to a fae man with incredibly enhanced hearing. Now, it’s empty. About ten percent of everyone who walked into that room today was deemed unworthy to continue the trials and were kicked out. He was one of them. I know that I should probably feel bad for them, but I’m really just relieved since it will mean less competition for me.

After sliding out my key, I unlock my door and slip inside.

I only make it two steps into the room before I freeze. Blinking, I stare at the large white box on my bed. That most certainly wasn’t there before. And the room was locked. So who put it there? Who else has keys?

Approaching warily, I study the strange package. There is a thick silver ribbon around the rectangular box. Towards the middle is a note, kept in place by the ribbon.

My mind churns. Is it some kind of trap? It can’t have been one of the other contestants. The room was locked. And besides, we were all at the test together. It must have been one of the dragon shifters. They probably have a set of extra keys for every room.

Just the thought that they can come and go as they please inside my room makes uneasiness slither through my stomach like a cold snake. But it’s not as if I can do anything about it. I need to be here and win these trials, so I must play by their rules.

Carefully reaching forward, I grab the edge of the note and pull it towards me.

Nothing explodes.

Since that’s a good sign, I flip the note open as well.

Only a few sentences, written in swirling black script, meet me. I read them quickly. And then I have to read them again. And again.

Congratulations on becoming a full and worthy participant in the Atonement Trials. To celebrate the start of the trials, there will be a ball this evening, and you are cordially invited to attend. Wear the clothes that have been so generously provided for you.

My head spins.

A ball? We’re going to have a ball? Why? I thought these Atonement Trials were supposed to be brutal tests of power. But so far, all we’ve done is to sleep in comfortable beds, eat delicious food, and show off our magic in a safe and comfortable one-on-one display. There has to be more to this. It has to be some kind of trick or something.

After setting down the note on my bed, I gently untie the ribbon. Then I angle my body as far away from the box as I can before I lift the lid, just in case it will explode or there is a venomous snake in there or something.

But when I remove the lid, all that meets me is shimmering silver fabric. Disbelief swirls inside me as I lift it up to find a gorgeous dress. Made of silver silk and white gemstones, it looks like liquid starlight.

I run my hand down the length of it.

A small noise comes from the back of my throat, and I close my eyes briefly, because of how silky smooth and absolutely perfect the dress is.

By Mabona, it’s the most breathtaking dress I have ever seen. And someone has given it to me . It has to be some kind of elaborate trap.

And if it is, I need to find out.

Reluctantly putting the dress back in the box, I hurry across the room and towards the door. I need to know if anyone else has received a box like this. If it’s just me, then I will know that it is indeed a trap.

Yanking the door open, I stride out into the corridor outside.

And slam right into someone’s chest.

A huff sounds as the guy stumbles back a step.

I suck in a sharp breath, expecting to find Draven’s furious eyes glaring down at me.

But when I raise my gaze, I’m not met by the dragon commander’s odd one-colored eyes. Instead, a pair of eyes that are a mix of blue and gold blink at me in surprise. I take a step back, trying to reorient myself.

A fae man with long red hair stares back at me. He has one hand raised, as if he was just about to knock on my door. After another few seconds, he seems to realize that his hand is still raised, because he gives his head a quick shake as if to clear it and then lowers his hand.

“Sorry,” he says. A sheepish smile blows across his face. “I was just about to knock on your door but then you flew out of it so fast that I didn’t have time to back away.”

I clear my throat a bit self-consciously. “Yeah, I’m sorry. I, uhm…” Trailing off, I study his face while running through all the names and magical abilities from the test earlier. At last, a memory clicks into place. “It’s Fenriel, right? The guy with the hawk?”

The smile on his face gets even bigger and brighter. “Yes, that’s right.”

His eyes begin to glow, and a second later, a large white hawk appears on his shoulder. It ruffles its wings and then bumps its beak against the side of Fenriel’s head. He strokes the hawk’s feathers affectionately and then nudges its chin.

“This is Talon,” he explains, and I can hear the pride in his voice as he talks about his hawk. “He has been with me ever since I manifested my magic back when I was a kid.” After flashing his hawk another smile, he turns back to me and nods. “And you’re Selena, right? The one who had to deal with Draven Ryat instead of Imar.”

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“That was insane. I never thought I’d see him do something like that.” He furrows his brows slightly. “Though I still can’t figure out how you did it. What kind of magic do you have?”

Dread fills my stomach. I thought that he already knew, and that he was being nice to me anyway. But apparently, he missed what happened at breakfast. I swallow. I really don’t want to answer. But hiding it will only make it worse.

So I keep my voice neutral as I reply, “Emotion magic.”

Squeezing my hand into a fist, I brace myself for his reaction. For that moment when he understands what that means, and subconsciously takes a step back so that he’s not standing too close. For that moment when distrust flickers in his eyes. For that moment when this goes from being a pleasant conversation to a quick goodbye.

Fenriel raises his eyebrows.

I steel myself.

“That’s so cool!” he says, a wide smile on his face.

For a few seconds, I just stare at him. Completely dumbfounded. Cool? No one has ever said that my magic is cool before.

Since I can’t seem to unscramble my brain fast enough, the only thing that makes it out of my mouth is, “Uhm… thanks.”

“Anyway, as I was saying, I was just on my way over here to knock on your door,” he simply continues, as if my head isn’t still spinning. “So here’s the thing. When I got back, I found this really strange package on my bed. There was a note inviting me to a ball tonight and also some really fancy clothes that I’m supposed to wear. And I got kind of suspicious that it was a trap or something, so I just wanted to see if someone else had gotten it too.”

My mind finally snaps back into the present. Giving my head a quick shake, I clear out the final remnants of shock and then nod vigorously. “Yes, I did too. That’s why I was hurrying out of my room. I wanted to see if someone else had gotten it too.”

“Oh, okay, good. That’s good. Then it’s not a trap at least.” He cocks his head, a contemplative expression on his face, and absentmindedly pets his hawk again. “I wonder what that’s about though. A ball. It seems kind of… odd.”

“It’s their way of showing us that they own us,” a new voice suddenly says.

Both Fenriel and I jump in surprise and then whip around to face the source of the voice. Lavendera, the woman with tree magic, has appeared from the bathing chamber at the end of the hall. I stare at her. I didn’t even hear her open the door, let alone walk towards us. Apparently, Fenriel didn’t either.

Lavendera just continues moving towards us, seemingly oblivious to our shock.

“They’re hosting a ball and giving us beautiful clothes to wear and delicious food to eat in order to show us that they have the ability to make our lives better,” she says. She meets our eyes as she comes to a halt in front of us. “They do it so that we will know that they can do all that if they want to. That they can abolish the one meal system and can remove the restrictions on clothing and goods. And that they simply choose not to.”

“How do you know that?” Fenriel asks, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

Her eyes take on a faraway look, and she falls silent. Fenriel and I exchange a quick glance as Lavendera just continues to stare unseeing at the white stone wall behind us for another few seconds. Then she blinks. Repeatedly. And her brain apparently starts working again.

“I’ve… taken part in the Atonement Trials before,” she replies. A brief flash of hopelessness washes over her beautiful features, and she absentmindedly draws her fingers over the scar along her cheek and jaw. Then she abruptly drops her hand and looks us straight in the eye. “My advice? Wear the dress, smile, and do what they want.”

Before either of us can reply, she simply strides away.

Fenriel and I stare after her, both of us apparently feeling equally confused.

Then we turn back to each other.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you at the ball later then,” he says, managing a small smile.

“Yes.” I give him a nod. “Good luck.”

“Yeah, you too.”

“Thanks.”

Because by Mabona, I have a feeling that I’m going to need it.