Page 73 of Spirit Trials

“Try again. I can see finger marks around your neck. Somebody tried to strangle you, and I want to know who.”

“It’s over and done with. It’s not for you to worry about.” I sit up and throw back the blankets. “I’m really sorry about stealing your bed. The girls were using my bath, and I came in here to use yours and totally crashed. You should have woken me up.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine; it's your bed. I’m really sorry. I feel terrible that you didn’t sleep.” My voice is raspy and sore, and I take another drink of water.

“If I’d wanted to sleep, I would have climbed in bed next to you.” He says the words without looking away, and I suddenly don’t know what to say.

“Oh, okay. I need to head back to my room. I’ll uh—” I step towards the door.

“Farrah.”

I turn back around, but somebody knocks on the door. He scowls at it before walking past me and opening it. I hear a murmur of voices, and then he turns back to me. I take a step towards him. “Rysden, when was the last time you slept?”

“I only sleep when I know you’re safe under my roof.” His admission shocks me into complete silence.

I falter a moment, unsure what to say. “Have you heard anything about the next trial?” I finally ask.

“Yes. In the light of yesterday’s events, they want to move it forward.”

Unease grips me. “When is it?”

“Tomorrow.”

I work to keep any expression off my face. “Okay. We’ll be ready.”

His eyes bore into me. “This third trial is meant to eliminate everybody whose spirit animals haven’t shown. It’s going to be rough, but I don’t know what it’s going to be. I wish you didn’t have to do it.” I can hear the frustration in his voice.

I shake my head. “Could you just have a little faith in me that I can do this?”

“Faith in you?” He chuckles darkly. “Farrah, this is not about my faith in you. You have shocked me at every single turn. Every time I think you’re down and out for the count, you show me once again your warrior’s heart. It’s no longer a doubt in my mind that you could win this whole thing without a spirit animal.”

“Then why do you not want me to participate in this last trial?” I ask in exasperation.

He stares at me with those ridiculously dark, intense eyes. “Because I have this need to know that you’re safe, that you’re taken care of. I can’t breathe, sleep, or eat when you’re not around. And when I know that you could be in danger...” he runs a hand through his hair. “Do you have any idea what that does to me?” His words are soft.

“No.” I meet his gaze head-on. “Because you don’t tell me anything. I’m just the girl that you hate, that you keep secrets from.”

He scowls. “That’s not true.”

I raise a brow. “Isn’t it? You didn’t tell me that you were a prince, and the awful King was your father, and you didn’t tell me about Shade. You disappear for days on end without telling me what you’re doing, where you’re going. And most of the time, you act like you can’t stand me.”

He doesn’t refute anything I’m saying. “I’m used to keeping my distance from people,” he finally says quietly.

“Why?”

His eyes meet mine. “My father has convinced our people to fear me because Shade came to me so early.”

“So?”

“You have to understand. Our people are incredibly superstitious, so the fact that Shade came to me so early has always kept me at arm’s length from people. They weren’t going to let me even compete in the Spirit Trials, but they finally conceded if I didn’t use any of Shade’s power.”

I rear back. “Wait. Are you trying to tell me that people think you’re evil?” He nods, and I laugh. I don’t mean to, but it just sort of comes out. “I’m sorry,” I say covering my mouth with my hand, even as he narrows his eyes at me. “I’m sorry, Rysden; that’s just literally the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You’re one scary dude with your muscles and dark, thick hair and the markings on your arms I’ve caught glimpses of, and let’s not forget your surly moods—”

“I don’t have—”

I cut him off. “But you’re not evil; you don’t have an evil bone in your body.”