The room was a decent size.A comfortable-looking leather couch draped in furs sat in the middle of the room.Flames roared in the fireplace across from it, and a huge television was mounted on the wall above.A small desk sat against the wall, and a dining table and chairs were arranged beside a huge window that looked out to the ocean.The kitchenette with a mini fridge took up a small area on the opposite wall.
There were two more doors.One had Ursula carved into it, the other Silas.
At least we had our own bedrooms.
“I’m gonna shower and hit the sack,” I said, needing to put some space between us.It was too quiet and he was on the other side of the room, but that was still too damn close right then.
I opened the door and walked in, and when I turned back, Silas was watching me, stoic as always, giving away nothing.
I winked, and gave him a good look at my middle finger.“Night, angel.”Then shut the door.
And released a long breath.
“Night, Urs,” he said low from the other side of the door, so close, I jumped.
I said nothing and pressed my hand to my racing heart.
Shit.
Five
Silas
The ship creakedas we carved our way through calm, emerald seas.Sea birds squawked overhead, then dove from blue skies to scoop up small fish from the ocean for their breakfast.
Despite what Felditch said when we arrived yesterday, he hadn’t shared what today’s event would be.After we’d eaten, he’d led us along a path, through an orchard behind the manor, and down to the beach, where several dinghies waited at the end of a short pier to take us out to this ship.He hadn’t joined us.
We’d been sailing for a couple of hours.I curled my fingers around the railing, watching the land move farther and farther away.Now all I could really see were the distant mountains.I had no sense of what was to come.No internal alarm or warning signal.I was going into every event blind, and I fucking hated it.I didn’t care about myself, what I hated most was not knowing if Ursula was in the firing line.
She stood several yards away, her gaze seemingly trained on the horizon as well.Her stance appeared relaxed, but there was a stiffness to her shoulders as she subtly assessed our opponents.I still couldn’t believe she’d agreed to our truce, yet I was relieved beyond measure that she had.This tournament was going to be hard enough as it was.Being able to strategize for upcoming events without constantly having my guard up would be nice.
Who was I fooling?Just being able to talk to her, look at her, be near her was pure fucking bliss.
The breeze had the shimmering red strands of her hair dancing, and the sun had given her cheeks a touch of pink.She absently licked her lips, dragging her teeth over the lower one as she searched for weaknesses among the other teams.I sucked in a breath, and even though turning away from her was a herculean feat, I couldn’t let her catch me staring.Light burst down from the sky just as I was turning away, startling the hell out of everyone, and Felditch landed on the deck.
He rose to his full height, a smile spread across his face and his arms spread wide.“Today is the first official day of the tournament!I hope you’re all as excited as I am for you to get started.”
Water slapped against the hull, causing the ship to sway, and I gripped for the railing.
“Your first trial is a simple one, something easy to get you started,” he said, that broad smile still on his face.
Shadows creeped over the deck.Clouds were gathering above us.It had been clear a moment ago.
“This one is so much fun!”he said and clapped his hands, the sound abnormally loud.
Lightning forked down from the sky rapidly darkening with heavy, turbulent clouds.
Felditch clapped again, and a boom of thunder echoed around us.“The point of every task is to test your limits, and for some of you”—he winked, exaggeratedly—“beyond!”
Beyond our limits?In other words, death.
His smile didn’t waver.His lips were a deeper red, and with the darkening sky causing shadows on his face, the male looked maniacal.The sun was nowhere to be found now, and his skin seemed paler, a dirty, chalky white, while his vibrant orange hair and eyes still managed to glow.He looked like a fucked-up, serial-killing circus clown.
“Are you ready?”he yelled, his voice morphing into a demonic growl, like some twisted ringmaster hyping up a nonexistent audience, never mind that he’d just exuberantly informed us that not everyone gathered here would survive whatever he had planned for us.
The wolves bumped fists, while the witches cast wary glances at each other, their lips moving in unison, spelling quietly, preparing as best they could for whatever was to come.The cats attempted to pump themselves up, while terror filled their eyes, and the vampires became hyperalert.The angels, however, stood there showing no fear, no reaction whatsoever.
Ursula closed the space between us, and my instincts bellowed for me to grab her hand.I didn’t, even as my self-control crumbled a little more.