Page 10 of Starfall

“Come back!” I shouted at the closed door. Anything to take the stabbing away. The little vixen was torturing me. She probably enjoyed it, too. I screamed her name over and over, hating myself for it, but unable to stop.

A minute passed, and the pain eased slightly enough for me to use the chair to haul myself to my feet. Sweat slicked my forehead, my legs struggling to hold me up.

“Ari!”

The door flung open. “No need to shout,” she singsonged, her voice a mockery of a song. Victory shone in the silver of her depraved eyes.

She bumped into my shoulder as she sidled past me, and I almost fell back down. That had to be a new record—not even in the ring had I fallen as much as I had in the last ten hours.

The ache in my chest lessened to a manageable burn when she took a seat at the table and steepled her hands. I glowered, moving slowly to take my seat.

“An actual star maiden, eh?” I asked, my throat as dry as sandpaper. “Not a witch?”

“Not a witch.”

“I wish you were a witch,” I muttered, earning a withering look from across the table. I groaned in defeat. “Fine. Let’s pretend I believe in star maidens and the Eternal for just one second. Tell me whatever the hell it is that you need from me, so I never have to see your face again.”

She beamed at my response like I’d complimented her .

“It would be my honor. Believe me, I don’t particularly enjoy your company either.”

I rolled my eyes and motioned with my hands for her to continue.

Ari repeated her earlier declaration, though she delved further into detail this time, ensuring I understood the gravity of her— our —situation.She told me of Maldia, of the Chosen, and the star maidens themselves. I listened, keeping my mouth shut. Mainly, because speaking hurt.

Ari spoke of how my dreams reached out to her about my mother. How she wished to cure her. I stiffened, my jaw clenching at the mention of the woman I slowly watched perish over the years. Ari paused, but I waved her on to finish.

“So, since I touched you at midnight, I still have to grant you a wish, regardless of your loss. If I don’t”—she averted her gaze, staring out the kitchen window—“If I don’t complete the ritual in fourteen days, then my sisters will rot away in a realm between worlds.”

When she finished, she grabbed her mug and took a sip, almost appearing sheepish. Scared, perhaps.

The bond was all too real. If that was true, then…

Shit. Was I truly believing all of this? Did I even have a choice?

“I would never have prayed to a star maiden.” I arched a brow. “I never prayed to anyone.” Well, aside from once.

“You wouldn’t have known even if you did,” she answered. “You were unconscious.”

“Obviously,” I muttered. “But if you’re real…”

“Yes?” She leaned closer, eager.

“You asked me what I wanted last night,” I finally said, hating that I planned to ask the question perched on my lips.

Ari nodded.

I groaned into my palms. “Then what I want, the only thing I truly desire, is to…” I hesitated, scratching at my stubble while my eyes fell to my lap.

“Tell me,” Ari insisted, forcing what I believed to be an encouraging smile to her lips. “Whatever you want can’t be that bad.”

“Oh, it’s plenty idiotic.” I shook my head, a wayward curl dropping into my eyes. “I want—I want to be the Aura Festival champion and get into the Bleeding Hearts’ Tent.” I lifted my chin to meet Ari’s surprised expression.

At her obvious confusion, I explained. “It’s the winner of a grand match put on by my boss during the Aura Festival.

The winner gets enough coin to start a new life, aside from access to the practically exclusive and highly guarded Bleeding Hearts’ Tent.

” My voice lowered. “And I need access, so that means I need to win. I can do the rest without assistance. My opponent this year is supposedly…unbeatable. He’s never lost a fight, and I’ve been told he’s twice my size. ”

Her entire face scrunched together. “You want to win this fight and get into that tent? That’s it?”

She didn’t believe me. Hell, I wouldn’t either. It sounded too simple?—

Because it was.

My throat bobbed. “I—there was this woman,” I began, and she rolled her eyes, making me scowl in return.

Ari wanted the damned wish, and she’d hear me out.

“She and I were in love. Still are in love,” I clarified.

“Her father is making her marry some rich asshole on the last night of the festival. If I can get to her in time and with enough coin, I can help her escape. As it is right now, her father is doing his best to keep me far away, but he can’t deny me entry if I win the championship. ”

“I see,” Ari mused, pinching her chin in thought. “Love is the one thing I can’t grant, but if the woman you’re pining after shares your affections, then I see no issue.” She glanced at her hands and frowned. It didn’t appear as if she felt too confident now.

“What is it?” I asked, leaning forward.

“Well…” She lifted her head, pinning me with those penetrating eyes again. “There’s just one problem. And to be fair, I would have considered it earlier, but I’ve been rather preoccupied.”

“I can’t wait to hear about this problem.” If we went through all of this for nothing, I’d lose my damned mind.

“The Eternal’s power was supposed to flow through me at midnight, but since that didn’t happen, we might have to get…creative.”

No. No. No.

“Creative how? ”

“Don’t you worry about it!” she chirped, her smile too wide to be real. “I have powers of my own, and it’s the envy of all my sisters. Mind control really does frighten some people.”

“Mind control? As in, you can command people to do your bidding?” I swear to the heavens, if she used that shit on me?—

“I won’t use it on you,” she said, seeming to read my mind. “But it can be a powerful tool if wielded properly. I can shift their direction in whatever way I desire, and make it feel like it was their own idea.” A diabolical sparkle shone in her eyes.

I hesitated, staring at a fabled star maiden who wouldn’t back down. It wasn’t as if I didn’t need to go to Persh anyway, and if she had such a power as she claimed, it could come in handy. Still, I let the silence spread, enjoying how she squirmed in anticipation.

When she appeared ready to burst, I decided to put her out of her misery. Holding out my hand, I reached across the table. “I think we have ourselves an understanding. But you’ll leave me alone afterward?”

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Gladly.”

Ari stared at my outstretched offer before tentatively wrapping her fingers around mine and giving me a gentle shake.

A shock of energy pulsed up my arm at the same moment her eyes lifted.

I flinched, a tingling ache pulsating on my index finger.

Bringing it beneath the table, I watched as a white outline of a star shimmered before extinguishing altogether.

Ari gasped, and when I peered over the table, she held up her finger as though she’d experienced the same thing. Our eyes locked and held.

“I might be the biggest idiot to ever walk the Earth,” I mumbled with a shake of my head.

Ari grinned, flashing me her teeth. “I won’t argue with you on that one.”