LOGINKing Sven stiffens for a fraction before breaking the kiss, eyes boring into me as though I have grown an extra head, which I might have because there is no way I just kissed him and I did not even feel the need to pull away.Unlike the first time I kissed him, I did so because I felt like there was a need to comfort him. And I immediately regretted it. Not today though. This kiss feels different. It feels right.“I would not ask why you did that,” he says, calmly.His dark green eyes gradually circled with rings of fiery gold. The last time I saw his eyes like that was also during our first kiss — or peck, in King Sven’s words – and it was because I had compared him with his mother. It makes me wonder what triggers his golden eyes, but I don’t ask. Quite frankly, now isn’t even the right time to. Not when I still want to kiss him, but the look in his eyes confuses me.Does he hate me? Is that why he broke off the kiss? Just the thought makes my heart cry—“You still kiss like you did
Maggi watches from a distance as the royal physician attends to my swollen ankles, the chains sitting on top of it. The old man wraps them in a bandage, after applying an ointment that stung more than I expected. The same ointment was applied to my neck before being wrapped, now I know I look like someone being choked by a bandage.“No pressure should be exerted on these ankles unless you are keen on losing them, which I am pretty sure you are not,” The man jokes, grey eyes filled with kindness as he stares at me. It’s rare to meet someone who shows me kindness, much less a royal physician. He places my leg gently back on the bed and begins to pack his things. “I should leave now, but I would give you some pain relief medicines and a balm. Your legs should be treated like brittled glass, so I prescribe you apply the balm twice a day. And in the next three days you should be fully healed, same goes with your neck.”“Thank you,” I say, meaning every bit of it. “For attending to someone
OLIVIA’S POV.King Sven’s eyes remain locked on me. Fear is ever-present in them, surprising me, but now his lips are moving. He is whispering words I can’t hear. I try to read his lips, but it’s useless… then he smiles. The smile is warm and reassuring.For a moment, I forget the agony. I forget that I am in a battle of life and death, bleeding out from my neck. I tune out the roaring crowd. It’s just me, King Sven, and that smile. It's almost as if he believes I can win this losing battle.“Fight…” I mumble to myself, eyes still glued to King Sven. “Fight!”“The least I can grant you is a final speech, so…” Lotus says, snapping me out of my Sven-induced trance. His weight on my back crushes me into the dirt. He is deceptively heavy. “Any last words, my gullible darling?”“No,” I spit, tearing my gaze away from King Sven. But my mind races, wondering what the King tried to tell me right on the brink of death. “None?” Lotus chuckles. “I am trying to be nice so I can make your end pai
KYLE'S POV.I must have the worst luck ever, because I have never been lucky. Not once. Not since the day I was born. And once again, my unluckiness rears its ugly head with Nico and the pack guards sudden appearance.“Always suspected you were up to no good, Katniss. And now you’ve just made me rich with the ten bags of denarii I will be cashing once I deliver this Fae to King Sven,” Nico says smugly, looking away from me for a brief moment as he glances at Katniss who stares at him with a death glare. “Thank you, Katniss. But this is where you die since you are practically useless now.”I push Nico on a whim and he stumbles backwards but does not fall as he regains composure quickly. I immediately stand in front of Katniss, trying to protect her. I cannot let her die. I cannot let anyone die all because their only crime is helping me or my sister. Carter’s blood has already been spilled. I make noise with my mouth, to try to communicate with Nico. But he stares at me, dumbfounded.“
KYLE'S POV.Katniss has not come around in the past four days. It makes me wonder if she’s okay, but I cannot leave the basement. I haven’t left in two months now, but I also know I can’t stay here forever. Someday, I would have to leave.I stand from the hardened floor that has been my bed all these while and work out my muscles before going over to check the lamp. The light is slowly dimming, and there is no more fuel left. I fear it will completely go out before Katniss comes back.There is bread by the wall from the last batch Katniss brought four days ago, so I pick it up and start eating. Gracious Elysia, I feel miserable. The bread tastes like a collaboration of sand and mud in my mouth. I wonder if Olivia is doing okay. Last I heard of her Katniss had told me she won her first match in the Dance of the Dead and has just four more to go. “Kyle- Kyle!” Katniss’ voice shoots through as she barges open the door, which does not happen. She is usually quiet. Once her eyes meet mine
For the first time ever, the crowd cheers for me as I walk towards the center of the colosseum for my match but I try not to think too much about it. They do not like me or my kind either way, all they are excited for is the thrill to either see me get killed or see me struggling my way out of death’s hands. I can barely walk, dragging my broken leg on the sand as I move towards the center where the announcer stands with a huge grin on his face. “People of Māui, I remember when the competition first started people gambled on the Fae being out at the very first round. But after winning two matches, and with just two more to go after today’s match, the Fae underestimated seems to be our golden horse of this Dance…” the announcer trails off, laying his eyes on me. “And the first ever slave of King Sven of Māui, Olivia the Fae.”The cheer is even more thunderous as I stop walking, taking my position next to the announcer. I do not feel anything by hearing the people of Māui cheer for me
There's a dull throb in my heart. One different from the one I felt earlier. This is more tamed, aching, spreading around areas in my chest I'll never be able to reach with my hand.Katniss continues to stare at me as she stands by the door, holding it ajar. She raises a condescending brow. “Just b
It’s almost midnight now, and I’ve been training relentlessly for the past five hours, each swing of my staff a desperate attempt to quiet the storm in my mind. Tomorrow is my next match, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t shake Eliana’s words.“Focus, Olivia,” I whisper to mysel
Eliana stares at me, unblinking, arms folded across her chest as she reclines back in her seat. “It’s been five minutes, Olivia. Did the cat get your tongue, or is your brain really slow at processing information?”I blink, trying to focus, but her words feel like they’re swimming throug
My heart thumps loudly as I stare at the large crowd celebrating in front of me. The feeling of my staff does nothing to calm me down. A match has just ended and mine is next. The last fight had been between a Lycan from Selenium and a Gnome from Gnomes, and it had ended in less than twenty minut







