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September 3 - September 8, 2025
For every girl who has ever felt powerless
Before he can even finish his remark, I’m pushing his sword to the ground and pinning it under my own before swiveling behind him. In one swift motion, I kick my boot up, sliding a dagger from it to settle the sharp tip against his back. “I’m sorry, what was that, Your Majesty?” I release my hold on him, and he turns as I sweep into a mocking bow while tucking the dagger back into my boot.
Men would likely go extinct without women to coddle them.
“Do you always fall into the arms of handsome strangers, or is this a new thing for you?” His question displays that dimple again when a grin settles on his face, revealing white, straight teeth. “No, only the cocky ones.” I smile coolly while he looks at me like I’m a puzzle he’s trying to decipher, amusement playing all over his face. Distract him. He chuckles and runs a hand through his ebony hair, only managing to make the waves messier. Gray eyes search mine as he says, “Well, looks like I’ve made quite the first impression then.”
hi kaii
on both his cheeks. I force myself to ignore them as I add, “And thank you for saving me from eating cobblestone. I seem to be cursed with clumsiness.” “Well, your clumsiness found me, so I’d hardly call it a curse,” he says simply, now leaning against the wall, hands in pockets.
“My informants know of a family harboring an Ordinary near Loot Alley,” Father continues, sounding slightly bored. “I need you to investigate and eradicate the problem.”
yall thinking what im thinking?
Bowls still sticky with porridge are piled within it, waiting to be cleaned. Five. Five bowls when there are only four mouths to feed. Interesting. “Well, then you won’t mind if I take a look around?”
uh oh
“Every girl deserves something equally as pretty and deadly as they are,”
She holds herself with a certain confidence that tells me there was once a time when she did not. And just like that, I am suddenly, annoyingly intrigued. She clearly has no idea who I am. Perfect.
And then something catches my eye. I blink away the blurriness long enough to see something glint in the light behind the Silencer—the sun reflecting off a mass of silver hair.
“I wouldn’t know, seeing that no one has ever saved me before.” There’s the ghost of a smirk on his face, offering me a glimpse of that annoying dimple. “Well, let me enlighten you. When someone saves your life, a polite thank-you will suffice.” “Maybe,” he sighs and leans in closer, “but not for those who steal from me.”
darn
He has the rare ability to sense another’s power and use it himself….
how cool is that
His expression is annoyingly neutral, never taking his eyes off mine as he places his hand in my own. “You know, I’ve never met a thief with manners. And it seems you’re most definitely not the exception.”
The prince needs guards to drag prisoners to the Scorches. Triumph begins to bloom in my chest, but I stamp it down. Something’s not right. Normally, the town would be gossiping for days about who was banished and why. The criminals would have been paraded through the city, drawing a crowd to watch them walk to their death. But I haven’t heard a single word uttered about this. Odd, considering they usually flaunt the banishments, use them as examples, show them off to warn the kingdom of what happens when you cross the king. He didn’t want anyone to know about it.
He begins backing away, all while reaching into his pouch to pull out a coin. With a flick, it’s flying toward me. I barely have enough time to throw out my hand and catch it as he says, “Something to remember me by.” He’s several steps from me now, though his eyes are still locked on mine. “Oh, and darling?” “Paedyn.” “You were right.” He takes another step backward. I huff out a sigh. “I’m not sure I should even listen to what you’re about to say since you didn’t address me by my name, which is—” “Paedyn,” the sound of my name from his lips cuts me off, “the ladies do love me.” And with a
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oh he is so tea
Because the final name scrolled in large letters for all to see is far too familiar. PAEDYN GRAY
oh how fun
The utter helplessness as I lay there, completely at the mercy of a mere man. But then she showed up. Paedyn. A Mundane. A Psychic, a fighter, a thief. And yet, the only one willing to help for whatever reason. The only one able to help.
“Can’t stop thinking about the girl who saved your life, huh?” By way of politely answering, I spin and throw a knife at my brother. It just barely skims past the side of his head, sinking into a target far behind him with a thud. He blinks at me. “Touchy subject, I take it?” I push past him and rip the blade from the wood. “Now, what would give you that impression?” I shrug casually. “She clearly wants nothing to do with me.” I like a challenge. “And besides,” I add, clearing the thought from my head, “it’s not like I’m ever going to see her again.”
oh this is gonna be fun
This is going to make the Trials far more difficult. Now, I’ll not only be protecting myself, but also a little brother who nearly faints at the sight of blood.
My eyes snag on a particular arrangement of letters before my breath snags in my throat. There, at the bottom of the list, lies a name I’ve thought of far more than I care to admit. It’s her.
I’m here to escort you to the palace, where you will be staying until the Trials are over.”
SHES GOING TO THE PALACE???
And then a deep and annoyingly amused voice comes from the end of the table, directly across from me. “And I’m Kai. But you already knew that.”
She’s here. Kitt was howling with laughter when he discovered exactly who Paedyn Gray was, though a flick of one of my knives shut him up real quick. But even while raising his hands in surrender, he couldn’t stop babbling about how funny the whole situation was. And he’s right. It is laughable. The Psychic girl who unwittingly saved a prince she clearly couldn’t care less about is now rewarded for it by being forced into Trials that could kill her. And now she’s sitting right in front of me.
Introductions are quickly exchanged between Andy, Braxton, Jax, Sadie, Blair, and the newcomers Ace and Hera. And yet she still hasn’t even bothered to look at me. That just won’t do. “And I’m Kai. But you already knew that.” That finally gets her attention.
HEAVY ON THE THAT JUST WONT DO
As I look at the masked anger growing on her face, something tells me she’d rather go hungry tonight. And that won’t do.
I watch as a young, redheaded guard saunters up to Paedyn with a grin. And suddenly, I’m stepping between them before I can stop myself. “I’ll take it from here.”
“Don’t get used to it,” I say with a quick smirk. “My room just happens to be across from yours, so I might as well be a gentleman just this once.” I shove my hands into my pockets as we begin walking again, this time with her at my side.
oh funn
On an impulse I can’t seem to ignore, my fingers catch her chin and lift her face up toward mine. She’s too stunned to move, and I take advantage of it. “I would have thought you could avoid a direct hit like this. Guess you’re not as skilled of a fighter as I thought.” I shrug and tilt her head toward the light, casually examining the angry cut in her lip. Oh, but she’s no longer standing there stunned, still, and silent. In one swift movement, she grabs my wrist from under her chin and twists it outward with a jerk, sending a shooting pain up my arm. Then she’s gripping my shirt and shoving
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oop
“Careful, Highness. I wouldn’t want to spill royal blood.” She’s mocking me and it’s an adorable attempt. I lean toward her, letting the sharp steel of my own blade bite into my throat, drawing a thin line of hot blood. “Careful, darling. You forget that spilling blood is what I do best.”
The man’s disdain for Paedyn was more than obvious as he recapped what she had sensed from him. And yet, he failed to mention how he’d hit her. Perhaps I’ll relieve him of one of his hands, so he never has the opportunity to lay it on a woman again.
Fine. I’ll play along. I slip a hand from my pocket and reach around her back, slowly, holding her gaze all the while. She looks at me, confusion written all over her face, though her hold on the knife is firm. She and I both know she won’t actually slit my throat, so I’m not the least bit worried as I continue to wrap my arm behind her until my fingers brush against the cold handle of a dagger tucked into the band of her pants.
Smiling down at her, I slide out the dagger slowly, my fingers briefly brushing against her lower back. I think I hear the faintest gasp slip past her lips as I press her own knife to her throat, mirroring what she’s doing to me.
“Mark my words, Prince, I will be your undoing.” I lean in, ignoring the knife against my throat as I murmur, “Oh, darling, I look forward to it.”
She moves to pull away, to leave me and this conversation, but I catch her wrist. She stills at my touch, and my eyes lock with hers as I guide her hand, and the knife clutched within it, to my chest. The blade lined with my own blood meets the fabric of my shirt, and her knuckles brush my chest as I wipe her dagger clean.
“So much for not spilling royal blood,” I sigh. She exhales slowly. “It was going to happen sooner or later.” “So, I should get used to this?” “You should expect this.” I smile. “Then I look forward to our next encounter.” I wink and she rolls her eyes before slipping my dagger back into its sheath and returning her own to the band of her pants. And then she’s brushing past my arm and heading for her door. “Always a pleasure,” I say, striding to my own room across the hall. “Unfortunately, I’m afraid I can’t say the same.” I see the flash of a grin before she steps into her room, swinging the
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My fingers stray to my neck, feeling the sticky warmth of my blood there. This girl might be the death of me. Literally.
The familiar whoosh of a knife cutting through the air has me ducking instinctively, feeling the whisper of a blade above my head before looking up just in time to see it sink into the target. A beautiful throw. But I’m far too pissed to admire it. I draw up to my full height and whirl on my heel, eyes locking on the gray ones a few yards away. He’s the perfect picture of innocence: hands already in his pockets, hair ruffling in the breeze, and a lazy smirk on his lips. “Good reflexes, Gray.” That cocky son of a— “What the hell is wrong with you?” I stomp toward Kai, closing the distance
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I reach a hand to the shell of my ear where my fingers are quickly coated with sticky blood. She sent the knife flying into the target, but not before it left its mark on me. She cut me. On purpose. A muscle feathers in Kai’s jaw, the only indication of his temper. He remains hovering over me, refusing to turn toward Blair while half blocking me from her with his body. “Territorial, are we, Blair?” I say, looking from Kai to her blazing gaze.
Then he drops my wrist before gingerly tucking hair behind my ear, muttering, “You’re making a mess, Gray.” I blink at him, vaguely wondering if a wound this shallow made me lose enough blood to have me hallucinating. Something must be horribly wrong because the future Enforcer just gently tucked hair behind my ear so it wouldn’t get any bloodier than it already is.
My breath catches as he casually pulls my hair into his hands, combing the strands out of my face and away from my bloody ear. “What are you—?” I stop short, feeling the pattern he’s gently weaving. “Are you… braiding my hair?” “Why do you sound so surprised?” he asks simply, unaware that my mouth is hanging open in shock. His voice is full of that cocky challenge as he says, “What, do you need me to teach you how to?”
LMAO
“You do know that all of the hair is supposed to make it into the braid, correct?” “Odd way to say thank you, but I suppose that is the best I’ll get from you.” He leans in closer, lips lifted into a mocking grin. “Perhaps if you won’t let me teach you how to braid, you’ll consider letting me teach you some manners.”
I offer him a quick smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. “Well, let’s hope anxiety suits me as well.” “Is it the interviews that have you nervous, or is it something else?” His words are soft, curious.
Strong arms wrap around me before I feel the rumble of deep laughter coming from the broad chest I slammed into. Large hands are placed firmly on my hips and as my eyes adjust to the darkness, I can just make out the familiar curve of a smirk on Kai’s lips as he looks down at me. “Sloppy footwork, Gray. I’d hate to be your partner on the dance floor.”
yeah ok
Kai steps behind me, ducking his head so his chin nearly rests on my shoulder. “Too stubborn to ask for my help, Gray?” “No,” I say coolly. “Too strong to need it.” His next words are murmured close to my ear. “That’s what I like to hear.”
“Go on.” It’s Kai’s taunting voice I hear behind me. “Ask for my help, Gray.” I roll my eyes at the wall in front of me. “Stubborn, remember?” I hear Kitt chuckle before I feel hands brushing my legs. Startled, I look down, eyes landing on a bent head of messy black waves. Kai is gripping the bottom seam of my dress, his eyes flicking up to mine. “May I?” His voice is soft, tone amused. I swallow, roll my eyes once again, and nod against my better judgment. And then he’s ripping my dress. He tears the fabric easily, creating a slit up the side of my thigh, freeing me from the tight confines of
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“Perhaps Prince Kai? Seeing that he has the ability to use any power?” Tealah offers. “Not mine, remember?” I laugh lightly and so does she. “He won’t be a problem. In fact, we’ll see how far he makes it in these Trials without me there to save him.”
oh she dragging now
And well, toying with Paedyn. She’s been my main source of entertainment as of late. She’s entertaining. With her wit and stubbornness and obvious annoyance with me— Stop. I push thoughts of Paedyn from my mind as I stride through the large doors of the throne room.
lol
“Honey,” Mother says quietly, leaning toward me, “you look a little… well, bloody.” She cringes as her eyes roam over me, assessing her son. “Occupational hazard, Mother.”
Strands of Paedyn’s silver hair fall around her face in loose curls, the rest of it tied back into a messy knot at the nape of her neck. Her eyes are pinned to her plate, her thumb and silver ring tapping a steady beat against the wooden table. And then those ocean eyes slide up to mine. I tip my head toward her drumming thumb. “Is there something on your mind, Gray?”
I like a challenge. But she’s made it abundantly clear on what she wishes us to be: competition. Enemies. And more importantly, why isn’t that what I want as well?
