10. Kami

10

Kami

I sleep like the dead, which surprises me.

But as the dawn rises—a fact I learn from the flora outside the castle walls, still connected by a tendril of the tree I recently created—Enwiss and a host of guards rouse everyone down here in the dungeon.

There is movement when before there was silence.

They grab more than just Oz, me, and the three guys across from us. The rest must have been spelled asleep as well, because everyone is groggy as we're prodded up and out of the dank stone cells.

Outside, we all breathe in the fresh air. Fae at heart are nature lovers, all of us attuned to earth, wind, fire, and water in one way or another.

The wind rustles, and the scent of something sweet is in the air.

A promise of tomorrow, perhaps.

Before being herded to the arena at Lake Divine, we're moved to a large building near the pier with a communal cleansing station. There are several pipes overhead showering water onto concrete floors with drains.

Nearby is a wall of sinks and mirrors and grooming tools. Apparently, we are to look nice before being killed in the name of some stupid war god.

Awesome.

On the other side of the room are long tables filled with platters of food and jugs of drink.

My mouth waters in response.

Stationed at intervals along the walls are several guards, most of them mages and holding balls of electricity and fire.

Obvious warnings to behave ourselves.

Enwiss steps forward, his big, freakish hands on his hips.

I want nothing but to tear his fat head from his fat neck, especially when he blows a kiss at me and winks.

It doesn't escape my notice that I'm the only female in the group. And now everyone else is noticing as well.

Oz moves closer to me and glares back at Enwiss, who grins.

"Hear ye, hear ye," he mocks, as if announcing a most auspicious event. "Clean up and get fed. That's the deal. Eat as much as you can, because soon you're going to be representing us at the Radiant Trials."

One of the prisoners, a big guy with long, golden hair and black eyes, says in a loud voice, "So you want us to clean up then get dressed back in our filthy clothes? Why bother?"

A few inmates snicker.

The snarky guy grins. "Why is it I have the feeling you were the one behind this stupidity, Enwiss?"

Enwiss snarls, "I wasn't finished, Ries. So shut up."

A mage holding a ball of electricity moves toward Ries.

"Go ahead, fucker. I dare you." Ries smirks and curls his fingers toward himself.

Water falling from the showerheads streams toward him and assumes the shape of a sea serpent, winding around Ries as it bares watery fangs at the fae.

Enwiss sighs, loudly. "Leave off, Arawhel. He's a dead man talking, and he knows it."

Arawhel sneers and backs off, still holding on to his ball of electricity.

"Coward." Ries tries to get a rise out of the mage but fails.

With a shrug, Ries lets the water fall naturally once more.

Others around him show respect.

I doubt anyone else will bother the guy. Commanding water like that, he's likely a water sylph or possibly a mage. He's not blue like most mermen. Regardless, I'm keeping my distance.

Mermen are known to fuck anything that speaks, regardless of consent.

"Your uniforms are over here. Once you're done showering, come and get it. Now clean your nasty bodies. The more time you waste, the less time you have to eat."

That sends everyone rushing to the showers. The open showers, visible to everyone watching.

I hesitate, and next to me, Oz pauses as well.

I don't know why he's being so nice. I don't necessarily trust it, but at this point, I don't have much choice but to accept it.

Oz is huge and mean looking. Handsome but with a cruel twist to his lips.

He's just my type.

And I have no idea why I'm thinking that.

Gah. I must be loopier than I thought.

Realizing that, I understand something else.

I'm not numb anymore. I'm tired, a little scared, and a lot angry .

"Stay near me," Oz rumbles.

I nod.

We walk together to a less crowded area of the showers. There's just him between me and the other prisoners, though the guards by the wall have a clear view.

I can't care about that. Just getting clean then dressed so I can eat.

I rush out of my clothes, keep my head down, and use the water to clean myself as fast and best I can.

Something slimy hits me in the head and travels all over me.

I gasp, and Oz mutters, "It's soap. Just rinse it off."

I sneak a peek and see he's covered in blue bubbles as well. I hurriedly look away, but I can't help what I saw.

Oz is packing big-time. Thankfully, he didn't seem excited to be near me.

I'm in no way disappointed by that, because that would be weird, and I have more important things to worry about.

Especially because like the others, I have to approach one of the guards by the wall to get my clothes.

There's a line, and a fae is standing in front of me bare-ass naked. But it's a nice ass, and at least I have Oz behind me and not some strange cock-bearer.

The fae in front of me grabs his clothes, swears at the guard snickering at him, and turns.

And I see that dickhead who abandoned me in the forest.

He glances at me with a side-eye, then stops and stares in earnest. "Oh fuck."

I just glare, not saying anything.

Oz nods at him. "Keep going, asshole. She's mine."

The fae looks from Oz to me but says nothing and moves away.

I actually feel good that what goes around, comes around. Leave a poor girl to die alone in the forest at the hands of a djinn? This is what you get.

I conveniently ignore the fact that I too am atoning for trying to feed off the guy.

Whatever, karma. Fuck off.

I grab the clothing from a smirking fae, ignore his hungry gaze, and rush to dress away from so many prying eyes.

Except what they have given me is little better than being naked.

The dark blue top cinching my breasts winds around my neck and ties at my back. It's little better than a showcase for boobs. My matching bottoms are a pair of thin trousers that go from sitting low on my waist to flaring out on my upper thighs.

I feel like part of some elf lord's harem.

"Keep walking," Oz warns yet another male who gets too close.

The orc is wearing a sleeveless tunic and trousers that reach mid-calf. Nothing resembling armor.

Like everyone else in here, he's dressed in dark blue and gold, House Ervan colors. Rilitar's House.

A glance around shows we're gathering attention, so I hurry to the food table and accidently sit across from the dickhead who ignored me months ago.

He's bickering with a white-haired male while Ries, the surly water fae, sits next to them, ignoring them in favor of his meal.

I'm surprised to see real food. I indulge, but part of me won't be satisfied until I can break my spiritual fast.

There are plenty of men around who would likely offer a kiss freely.

But I know what they'd want in return. And if they catch me sipping a bit of their energy, I'm not going to be able to defend myself without giving away my secrets .

I glance at Oz but don't want to sap him of any strength.

Unless he makes an unwanted move on me, then I'll hit him with what little power I have.

"Little" being the key word.

I couldn't even save my best friend. Some scary necromancer I am.

My eyes burn, but before I can start crying again—out of the fucking blue—I focus on survival.

There's got to be someone here I can hurt and not feel bad about it.

Not that I normally would feel bad, but right now, I'm angsty and I know it.

Ahza's death, though months ago, still feels fresh. And this situation is less than ideal.

Who the hell can I tap, and will taking it help me or just make me feel worse?

Only one way to find out.