Page 33 of Vicious Princess (The Trials of Death and Honor #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

C oming back to real life after the mission feels surreal. Almost half the bunk beds are empty, serving as a reminder of how dangerous the path I have chosen is. And I’m not even an Ezkai yet.

I have only a few scratches here and there, plus aching muscles and a couple of rough bruises around my ribs. No broken bones. The gods must be watching over me.

We have one day to recover, and then we’re back to our lectures. As if nothing happened.

As if our lives weren’t altered forever less than twenty-four hours earlier.

As I sit in the emotional-manipulation lecture, I can see Ezkai Cassandra’s lips move as she speaks. But her words don’t register with me.

All I hear are the screams, the clashing of blades, and the deafening explosion that still rings in my ears.

I can’t believe I went on a mission with the Ezkai General of Ekios himself.

“—Wildarrow?” Ezkai Cassandra’s voice reaches me.

I blink, startled. Her eyebrows rise.

Clearing my throat, I sit up straighter. “Excuse me, could you repeat the question?”

“I asked if you’d like to be the first to give this exercise a go,” Ezkai Cassandra says.

Oh, shit.

“Ah, sure. Why not,” I say and rise to my feet.

“Good luck,” Roman whispers as I pass him and descend the stairs to the dais where two chairs stand next to Ezkai Cassandra.

I take a seat and wait. Today is not my best day when it comes to concentration, but I try to get my emotions under control.

Everyone in the auditorium gasps when a stocky dwarf with deep-purple eyes and matching long hair enters the lecture call. I manage to contain my surprise on the outside. But on the inside, I’m so shocked to see a dwarf that it takes me a couple of heartbeats to recover.

She wears a long sage-green tunic that reaches the middle of her thighs and matching pants. Her feet are wrapped in brown leather sandals.

“Lowe, thank you so much for joining us for today’s lecture,” Ezkai Cassandra says. She gestures at the chair in front of me. “Please, take a seat and get comfortable.”

Lowe sits down and levels me with a curious gaze. She doesn’t look hostile. But she’s not quite friendly either.

“As you’re all aware, the minds of fae, humans, and dwarfs are slightly different,” Ezkai Cassandra says, facing the cadets.

A few snorts go around the auditorium, but Ezkai Cassandra ignores them. I roll my eyes. I don’t dare to look at Kata, but I bet she’s having a field day right now with her lackeys, mocking the human and dwarf sitting at the front of the auditorium.

And sure enough, a moment later, it shows.

Bloom cackles. “A dwarf and a human come into the bar?—”

“ Enough .” Ezkai Cassandra’s voice carries through the lecture hall, powerfully bouncing off the walls.

The silence that falls is deafening. “I won’t have you mocking other cadets or our guests who generously offer their time to help you train your abilities.

You better learn some respect, or you will not see your graduation day. ”

I bite the inside of my cheek to stifle a smug smirk.

“Now, back to the lecture,” Ezkai Cassandra says, her voice softer once again.

“The differences between the minds and emotions are little, and only the most advanced Decarios may notice the shifts. Wildarrow, you had the pleasure of trying to manipulate fae emotions. Why don’t you do the same with Lowe right here and see if you can tell the difference. ”

I roll my shoulders, then inhale, and with an exhale, I open my senses.

The first blow of emotions from Lowe is overwhelming, just like with the fae. I close my eyes to shut down all the visual noise and home in my focus on the intricate waves of emotion.

Lowe’s curiosity makes the tips of my fingertips tingle. I survey it and then let it go so I can dive deeper. I’m not certain what I’m looking for exactly, but I gently sort through the ripples until?—

I cock my head to the side. “Huh.”

“What is it, Wildarrow?” Ezkai Cassandra’s voice is amused. “Did you get it?”

Frowning, I say. “Maybe… The fae emotions were vivid and full of color. Quick and sharp, like lightning. Warm like a live flame. Lowe’s emotions are much more…

” I pause, looking for the right word. “ Muted is not the right word… Grounded, maybe? Much more solid and consistent. When I try to sort through them, it feels like I’m running my finger through grass or earth. ”

When Ezkai Cassandra doesn’t speak, I open my eyes and glance at her. She watches me with parted lips and wide eyes full of awe.

“That’s right,” she says after a moment. “You’re absolutely right. Well done, Wildarrow.”

Pride swells my chest, and I smile at the instructor.

“I assume you have manipulated human emotions in the past.” It’s not a question, but I nod at the instructor. “Can you recall from memory any differences in how human emotions feel compared to those of fae or dwarves?”

Ezkai Cassandra’s question makes me pause and think.

Before coming here, I was so used to the way human emotions feel, I never paused to analyze it too much. Back in Wetra, they didn’t train us about other species.

“Human emotions are much more muted compared to fae and dwarfs,” I finally say.

“Now that I think of it, grasping them feels like trying to manage running water, cool and slippery. Some humans are so erratic, controlling their emotions feels like trying to save yourself from drowning in open water.”

The auditorium is quiet.

Ezkai Cassandra smiles. “That’s fascinating. Thank you for sharing your insights, Cadet Wildarrow. Now, do you want to give it a go and try to manipulate Lowe’s emotions?”

I roll my shoulders and turn my attention to the dwarf in front of me. There’s a challenge in her stark gaze. Of course , I shouldn’t have expected anything less.

Inhaling deeply, I close my eyes. I know it’s the wrong thing to do. When I’m in the field, during a mission, there’s no time to do it and meditate on what my enemy is feeling.

But I’m not there yet.

Lowe’s emotions wrap around me like a warm blanket. The soft tendrils prod at my flesh, as if trying to figure out what on earth is inside me. Rarely do I ever meet someone as curious as Lowe.

I gently push her curiosity away and focus on carrying a warm wave of happiness towards her. At first, I have a hard time, especially when her curiosity tangles with the emotion I’m trying to project.

I frown and curl my hands into fists.

With a slow exhale, I send more mental power into being a little more insistent on replacing her curiosity with joy. Slowly, the warm wave overtakes her tingly curiosity. Every muscle in my body is tense, my heart pumping hard.

When the sweetest laugh reaches my ears, my eyes snap open. Lowe giggles, her eyes sparkling, full of joy.

I can’t help the startled laugh that escapes me. I fucking did it.

“Well done, Wildarrow,” Ezkai Cassandra says. “You may return to your seat.” I rise, and she turns to the rest of the group. “Who’s next?”

Kata rises a hand.

“Come on down, Cadet Nightingale,” Ezkai Cassandra says.

My stomach drops, any excitement about nailing this exercise gone in a blink of an eye.

Our gazes lock as I climb the stairs to my seat and she descends. There’s nothing but pure amusement in her gaze, which shakes me to the core.

I should have killed her when I had my chance.

From the way the corner of her mouth curls as she passes me, it’s clear this bitch is going to be a problem for me.