Between Burning Worlds (System Divine #2) - Jessica Brody Page 0,167

sit by the warm fire and watch.

The music came to a halt a few minutes later, and Saros and Castor stepped up onto one of the ladders, and announced, “Okay, everyone! It’s time for the connecteur scramble!”

The crowd cheered and Etienne was suddenly in front of Chatine, his breathing ragged from all the dancing, his forehead damp with sweat despite the chill in the air. “Come on!” he urged, reaching out a hand to help her to her feet. “Get up!”

Warily, Chatine stared at his outstretched hand. “Why?”

“Didn’t you hear? It’s the connecteur scramble.”

“Yeah, I don’t know what that is.”

Etienne rolled his eyes. “It’s only the best part of a linking cérémonie!”

“Still don’t know what it is.”

Etienne leaned forward, clasped onto Chatine’s elbow, and dragged her to her feet. She hobbled slightly as she tried to balance on her good leg.

“Just trust me,” he said, guiding her around the roaring fire. “You don’t want to miss this.”

Etienne led her toward the ladder where the couple was still standing. Clasped in their hands was a small piece of looped metal, just like the one Astra had used earlier to connect the new chalet with the rest of the camp. In front of the couple, a large crowd had gathered. People were playfully jabbing each other with elbows, jostling for space. They all wore eager, determined expressions.

“What exactly am I supposed to do?” Chatine asked Etienne.

“Easy,” he explained, as he pushed his way through the crowd and positioned Chatine near the front. “Just catch the connecteur.”

“And why would I want to do that?”

“Because it’s what you do. And it’s fun.” He reached out and pulled off her mittens, then removed his own and stuffed them all into the pocket of his coat. “Plus, legend has it, whoever catches the connecteur at a linking cérémonie will …” He stopped, looking pensive.

Chatine narrowed her eyes. “Will what?”

“Will have good luck for the rest of the year.”

“Yeah, right.”

“It’s true! It’s ancient Défecteur legend.” He winked at her and then lowered his voice, sounding eerily like a droid. “The Sols shall shine and good fortune shall be bestowed on whoever shall catch the mighty connecteur.”

Chatine snorted. “In case you hadn’t noticed”—she pointed at her left leg—“I’m not exactly in any condition to be running after flying scraps of metal right now.”

Etienne scoffed. “Oh, please. Three days ago, you were about to cross the Terrain Perdu on that leg, so stop with the excuses.”

“Is everyone ready?” someone shouted. Chatine looked up to see that Castor was now waving the connecteur above his head.

The crowd around Chatine whooped and hollered.

“Are you sure?” Saros egged them on.

More cheering as people continued to jockey for position. Chatine was shoved from all directions.

“Nope, definitely not doing this.” Chatine tried to remove herself from the group, but Etienne reached for her bare hand, stopping her.

“Wait.” His fingers wrapped around hers, and she was overcome with a sudden flash of warmth. She looked down. As though she had to see it with her own eyes. See his hand covering hers. Covering the spot where Marcellus’s ring used to be. Like he knew.

When she looked up again, Etienne had moved closer. His piercing, dark eyes locked onto hers. “I’ll make you a deal,” he said quietly, earnestly. “If you catch that connecteur, I will give you …” He paused, as though trying to give her anticipation time to build.

It worked. Something passed through her knees. It felt a lot like wooziness.

“… all of my toast at breakfast for the next two months,” Etienne finished.

Laughter erupted from her. She couldn’t help herself. It was jittering and anxious, but it still worked to chase away the strange sensation that had taken her over just a moment ago.

“How about this?” Chatine countered, allowing her lips to curve into an all-too-familiar smirk. If there was anything that could make her feel like herself again, it was negotiating. “If I catch the connecteur, you will give me …”

She mirrored his pause. He leaned forward, rapt and waiting.

“… flying lessons,” she finished. “On Marilyn.”

Now it was Etienne who laughed. Loud and boisterous and explosive. “No. No way. Nuh-uh. Never gonna happen. Not even if the Darkest Night miraculously ended tonight and the Blue Dawn came tomorrow. Not in a million trillion Blue Dawns. Not even in a million trillion White Nights. NEVER.”

“Fine,” Chatine said smugly as she turned again to leave. But Etienne was still holding on to her hand. She was suddenly acutely aware of how close he was.