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She looks me up and down before she says another word. “I know just the book!” Excitement fills her voice as her joyful aura wraps around me.

* * *

Sasha leadsme to the dining room. As we walk in, I notice the other contestants seated alongside a few unfamiliar faces. I’m placed beside a stunning woman with brown hair and hazel eyes. Her beauty is almost intimidating.

“Good morning,” she says, her voice smooth and melodic.

“Good morning. Are the royals coming to eat breakfast with us? I don’t see any of them here,” I ask.

“Apparently,” she says, rolling her eyes, “but their pompous royal asses are always late, and we have to starve while waiting for them.”

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes my lips. I think I am going to like this one, whoever she is. She seems kind, genuine. I notice she steals a grape from a platter in front of her and pops it into her mouth. She faces me, and places a finger to her lips, smiling widely—a silent way of telling me not to tell on her for eating before the king and other royals arrive. Oh, Idolike her. I smile back, appreciating her rebellious spirit.

Suddenly, Vanna enters, and everyone stands. I follow suit, bowing along with everyone else. Double burning hells, I hate Vanna.

“Be seated. Please eat,” Vanna says, not bothering to look at us. As I sit, my eyes meet Elm’s down the table, then Larah’s. Larah wears the same expression. We’re all aware we’re dining with the very woman who ruined our lives. Adrenaline surges through me, and rage boils just beneath the surface. Elm shakes his head slightly, a silent warning not to act impulsively. He knows me well—too well. I would strike now, but he would want me to wait and plan it out. I grunt… She is so close. I can almost taste the sweet revenge on my tongue.

Not wanting to ruin our chances for visceral vengeance, I decide to eat my breakfast instead—well, the fruit, not the slab of ham on my plate. The fruit is sweet and juicy but isn’t nearly as delicious as vengeance would be.

“Gods and goddesses, they are just letting the gutter rats from the Drifts sit with us and dine with us now?” the woman across from me scoffs. “They didn’t dine with us last time.”

I look up and see a woman with long black hair and gray eyes peering at the woman next to me.

“Oh, hush, Cora,” my new companion says.

Cora scoffs again.

The woman next to me leans over, and whispers in my ear, “She always has a stick up her ass. Ignore her.”

A slow smirk forms on my face, and I pay no mind to the gray eyes looking at me.

Cora shoves her chair back, and gets up from the table, taking her plate with her, leaving the dining room.

Suddenly, the woman next to me stands, and I seehimwalking over to her.

“Lukene!” she squeals.

They embrace each other quickly. He looks at me, assessing me with those mysterious green eyes. Are they together? He has a genuine smile when he greets her. He walks over to the other side of the table, and sits directly in front of her.

“Good morning, Lilyana. You look as beautiful as ever,” he says. That name… it sounds so familiar.

“Thank you, brother,” she replies.

Brother? Brother! Oh goddess, she is the youngest royal princess. I fight to keep my jaw from dropping. She seems sweet and approachable—nothing like I expected a royal to be. She catches my eye and smiles warmly, only deepening the confusion spinning in my head. Is this some sort of game? Why are we dining with royals, and why is she being kind?

I stare at my food, not all that hungry now. I begin to push the food around on my plate. Suddenly, I feel it. That tingling sensation, and I just know he is looking at me. I won’t look up. I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing I can sense his stare.

“You actually need toeatyour food,” Prince Lukene states. His voice is deep and gruff, cutting through my resolve.

Well, that makes me look up and glare at him. His face is devoid of any emotion, and he repeats himself as if I didn’t just hear him, strumming his fingers on the table. “You need to eat your food.”

“I am not a child. I know when I am hungry,” I bite back. My defiance snakes around us, thickening the air.

“Lukene…” Lilyana begins; however Prince Lukene puts his hand up to stop her from talking.

“How are you going to train if you aren’t eating enough?” He leans back in his chair, arms folded, while he cocks his head slightly to the side. Assessing. Calculating.

“I ate much less than this in the Hollows and still trained daily for the ring. I will be fine.” Who does he think he is? I would have eaten more, but now I don’t want to just because he told me to. He narrows his eyes at me as I notice we have many people watching us now.