The woman who had originally blocked her way had appeared again, and was standing behind Luc.
“Thanks for starting this,” Ava said to her. “And for all your help.” She pulled the cloak from Luc’s fingers as he turned his head in surprise to look at his friend, held it close to her chest, and pushed her way through the crowd.
As she went, the Venyatux rubbed her shoulders, as was their way, to show pride and congratulations, and around her, she heard arguments about who had actually won.
It was the second time Luc had stopped a fight, although she had no complaints about either time.
Revek was bigger than her in every way. If he’d managed to land more than a glancing blow, she would have gone down. And she didn’t know if she’d have been able to get back up again.
As soon as she was free of the spectators, she settled the cloak around her again, pulled her scarf out of a pocket and wrapped it around her neck.
She slowed down, careful to avoid bumping into anyone, keeping to the shadows.
She didn’t think the see-me-not working she’d embroidered into her scarf was true invisibility, but she had found people’s eyes seemed to pass over her. As long as she didn’t make a noise or get in their way, she went where she liked without being noticed.
When she reached the edge of the Rising Wave, she suddenly stopped.
Where was she going?
Back to her tent to lick her wounds?
It felt like a defeat.
Like Luc’s friends had won and she was the one in retreat.
She turned back the way she had come, and saw Luc striding down a narrow walkway between tents, parallel to her own route, heading for the Venyatux side.
She pulled her scarf off, walked to intercept him.
“Looking for me?” she asked.
He stopped short. Stared at her. “Yes.”
“All I did was go looking for you,” she said. He opened his mouth and she lifted a hand to stop him. “Wait. I went looking for you, announced myself, and I was attacked. First that woman pulled a knife on me, and then Revek came at me with a throwing knife, a sword and then his bare hands. I don’t understand.” She passed a hand over her forehead, to push back her hair again. “I was just wondering how I was going to survive when you arrived.”
“There’s no excuse for it.” Luc seemed lost. And angry. “I wanted to make sure you were all right before I go speak to them. Did he hurt you?”
Her hand crept up to her shoulder, which was throbbing, but less so now she had her cloak on. She had worked healing into it when she’d come off worse in a sparring match, and had been delighted it worked. She was just as delighted now.
“Your shoulder?” He stepped closer but she stiffened and he stopped.
“He clipped me, that’s all.”
“Where will you be? I’ve been looking for you all afternoon, and to find you like that . . .” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Please tell me where I can find you after I’ve dealt with Massi and Rev.”
“I’m going to the bath tent. I need to soak for a bit after that. You can find me there.” She gathered her cloak tightly around her for comfort, and started across the narrow divide between the columns.
“Ava.”
She turned to look at him.
“I won’t let this come between us.”
She said nothing to that, simply turned and walked away. Because she didn’t know if that was even possible any more.
Chapter 10
Luc watched Ava vanish into the darkness on the Venyatu side, and felt as if she had slipped from his fingers. She was right to wonder how they had stumbled into this nightmare.
His life since he’d broken free of the Chosen camps had been as he’d decided it. He had taken back control of his life, and had made certain no one would have power over him again.
This . . . whatever this was . . . left him feeling as if he was back in the dark, helpless days when he was at the mercy of those who actively despised him.
A movement caught his attention, and he turned his head as Dak stepped out between two tents.
“This is worse than the old days,” he said, surprised at how steady his voice was. “At least then, you knew they hated you, and you expected them to make your life a living hell. This was done by two people I considered my family.”
Dak shuffled his feet. “I’m a culprit, too, with my attitude toward her yesterday. But I swear I had no idea this was coming.”
“We were just talking about Ava this afternoon.” Luc shook his head. Turned toward his tent. “Where’s Revek?”
He started walking.
“I’ll find him.” Dak melted into the darkness and Luc kept going.
When he reached his tent, which was more council chamber and meeting place than his bedroom, he found Massi standing outside the entrance, hands clasped together.
She jerked at the sight of him, then ducked inside.
He followed her in.
The crowd that had been there before had broken up, although there were a few small groups still left, haggling over the wagers that had been taken.
“I have no excuse.” Massi wrung her hands together. “I only intended to play with her a little, Luc. I promise. And even saying that makes me realize how poorly that reflects on me.”
“You wanted to play with her?” Luc said it slowly. “By pulling a knife?”
Massi’s cheeks went red. “I don’t know what came over me. All I’ve done is think about what happened, replay it, since you put an end to it. She told me who she was, so calm and normal, and I drew the knife. It felt good in my hand. The surprise on her face when . . .” She shook her head. “I wanted her to know I had the power to block her. That she couldn’t just come into our circle without some sacrifice.”
“Why would you want to play those games with her? Chosen camp games?” He was incredulous. This was what had been done to them. And he had promised it would never happen again.
And yet Massi had taken those lessons and applied them to his lover.
“When you say it out loud, I can see it clearly.” Massi rubbed the back of her hand over her mouth. “I can see I was using what they did to us just like a bully guard and I’m ashamed. Ava would have been wary of me forever after that, even if Revek hadn’t attacked her.”
“You were trying to turn her against you. So I’d have to choose between you. Between my sister and my heart’s choice.” Luc walked over to one of the boxes they used as chairs, and sat down. Rested his head in his hands. “I almost don’t care why anymore. What you did goes against everything we said we’d be.”
Massi didn’t answer, and when Luc looked up he saw she was crying. He had never seen her cry, not in all the years he’d known her. Not through anything the Kassian had done to them in the Chosen camps.
He realized he felt cold. “Ava accused you of starting this, and then doing nothing to help her. So are you crying because you’re sorry, or because you’re sorry you got caught?”
Massi’s flinch was like a body blow to him. Because she had been there with him every step of the way in the camps. Helped him when he was beaten and starved and tortured. Never let him down. Until now.
“I did start it. I didn’t realize Rev was nearby and must have seen me pull the knife. It had to have triggered him. But I did try to stop it. I asked Finnian to call you, and I was looking for an opening to intervene when you arrived.” She walked closer to him, but didn’t sit.